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2018 NBA Draft: Rodions Kurucs seeks to prove his assets are more than projections

By Tamberlyn Richardson

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Rodions Kurucs, #17 poses during FC Barcelona Lassa 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Media Day at Palau Blaugrana on September 25, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/EB via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Rodions Kurucs, #17 poses during FC Barcelona Lassa 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Media Day at Palau Blaugrana on September 25, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/EB via Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft, Rodions Kurucs
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MARCH 09: Rodions Kurucs, #17 of FC Barcelona Lassa in action during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 25 game between FC Barcelona Lassa and Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade at Palau Blaugrana on March 9, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/EB via Getty Images) /

NBA Draft prospect Rodions Kurucs potential is evident, unfortunately there simply isn’t much evidence of it this past season as the European was nailed to the bench.

Rodions Kurucs is a European who projects positively, yet witnessed a dip in his stock this past past year. This is mostly due to a decision he made this past season. Last season the small forward ended up withdrawing from the 2017 NBA Draft because he no doubt recognized getting out of his contract with Barcelona would preclude his play Stateside.

In response, Kurucs elected not to re-up his contract with his Spanish team so he could be eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft. This resulted in him being nailed to the bench. It was a typical power play by his club. Still, the overall assets appear to be there, it’s just a matter of getting to see more of him.

Kurucs could end up being the typical grab and stash prospect. Or a team with depth could bring him over to the U.S. and develop him in their G-League system.

Player specifics:

  • Height: 6’10”
  • Weight: 190 lbs
  • Position: Small Forward
  • Age: 20.4
  • International: FC Barcelona Lassa of the Liga ACB and FC Barcelona Bàsquet
  • Home town: Cēsis, Latvia

Statline:

Per Game Table
Season League(s) G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2014-15 EuroCup 1 7.0 3.0 3.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0
2016-17 EuroLeague 1 3.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0
2017-18 Liga ACB, EuroLeague 10 5.9 0.6 1.5 .400 0.2 0.7 .286 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.2 1.4
12 5.8 0.8 1.7 .500 0.2 0.7 .250 1.000 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.2 1.9

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/15/2018.

Per Game Table
Season Club League(s) G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2017-18 FC Barcelona Lassa Liga ACB 6 7.2 1.0 2.2 .462 0.3 1.2 .286 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.3 2.3
6 7.2 1.0 2.2 .462 0.3 1.2 .286 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.3 2.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/15/2018.

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