OKC Thunder 30 for 30, Part 10- Examining big man Noah Vonleh
Strengths
Motor and Rebounding
Standing 6’9 with an enormous 7’4 wingspan Vonleh is an animal on the glass, averaging an impressive 12.3 rebounds per 36 minutes last season including 2.9 offensive rebounds. Not the greatest leaper by any stretch, Vonleh maximizes his physicality down low to establish positioning and attacks loose balls with ferocity. Listed at 245 pounds, the 22 year-old is a load on the low block making him a difficult assignment to move out of the post.
Possessing a huge motor for a man of his size, Vonleh is hustler and makes intangible plays unaccounted for on the traditional box score. His high energy and intensity alters momentum of games and is valuable when teams are flat. Vonleh is in constant motion and is rarely found with his feet stuck to the ground.
In his only game winner to date, Vonleh created his own luck and received a fortuitous bounce of the ball to carry Portland to a 99-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs. As a lucky as it may be, the big man put himself in the right spot at the right time.
Post Defense
Vonleh’s massive frame allows him to compete and often overpower post players on the block. His improved defensive IQ and physical tools allow him to make correct offensive reads, allowing him to bother shots despite lacking athleticism.
With only a handful of centers capable of playing in the post, his defensive skill down low is somewhat redundant in today’s game. However when bigs like Memphis‘ Marc Gasol and Portland‘s Jusuf Nurkic come to town, deploying Vonleh is a smart decision to dilute their games in the post.
Weaknesses
Consistent Perimeter Shooting
In order for Vonleh to stay in the NBA, the big man needs to recreate his game and establish a consistent jumper. The former Indiana Hoosier product has shown flashes of a perimeter game, becoming more confident with taking shots from beyond the arc.
In Chicago’s 135-102 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Vonleh scored 14 points but more importantly landed four triples in the process.
Despite showing potential as a shooter, Vonleh only shot 30 percent in 21 games for Chicago. His 2.9 attempts per game was a career high and if he is to surviVe, he needs to shoot more consistently from the outside.
Tunnel Vision
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Vonleh lacks IQ on the offensive end, often looking to shoot the ball instead of finding team mates in better position for quality looks. He averages a terrible 0.4 assists per game across his time in the pro’s and is a black hole with the ball in hand.
Vonleh plays like a poor-mans Julius Randle minus the offensive skills. He tries to physically overpower players with the ball and doesn’t have the necessary footwork to skillfully get by opposing defenses. Vonleh must improve his passing skills and/or footwork to be a legitimate threat on the block. Having neither one makes him a liability on that side of the ball.