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OKC Thunder NBA Draft: 3 guards to avoid

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder draft prospect profiles: France's Theo Maledon tries a shot at the point guard contest during an All Star Game (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder draft prospect profiles: France's Theo Maledon tries a shot at the point guard contest during an All Star Game (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder 2020 Draft: Theo Maledon of Asvel Villeurbanne (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) /

Theo Maledon draft prospect preview:

Specifics:

  • Height: 6’4″
  • Weight: 174 pounds
  • Wingspan: 6’8.5”
  • Position: Guard
  • Birthdate/Age:  June 12, 2001 – 19 .5 years
  • International: ASVEL, France – EuroLeague
  • Home Town: Rouen, France

Stat lines:

At first glance, Maledon’s stats for this past season are confusing given the variance between the ASVEL Pro A team versus the EuroLeague LDLC ASVEL club.

Specifically, his free throw shot was over 20 percent better in the former while his field and perimeter efficiency were markedly better in the latter.

An injury to his shoulder that caused him to miss games likely created issues that appeared in his shooting efficiency.

Per Game Table
Season Team League G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2PA 2P% FTA FT% TRB AST PTS
2017-18 Lyon-Villeurbanne LNB Pro A fr 9 3.6 1.1 .200 0.7 .000 0.4 .500 0.2 .500 0.6 0.4 0.6
2017-18 ASVEL EuroCup eu 2 5.5 1.0 .000 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0
2018-19 Lyon-Villeurbanne LNB Pro A fr 33 17.8 4.9 .491 2.1 .406 2.8 .554 2.1 .868 2.1 2.2 7.4
2018-19 ASVEL EuroCup eu 18 17.8 5.2 .409 2.1 .351 3.1 .446 2.6 .826 2.4 2.1 7.1
2019-20 ASVEL LNB Pro A fr 20 15.6 5.0 .390 2.6 .294 2.5 .490 2.1 .902 2.0 1.9 6.5
2019-20 LDLC ASVEL EuroLeague eu 22 17.7 5.7 .456 2.2 .367 3.5 .513 2.0 .689 1.8 3.1 7.4
3 Seasons 15.9 4.7 .438 2.1 .346 2.7 .509 1.9 .822 1.9 2.1 6.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/16/2020.

Current Ranking:

Wide range on where Maledon will be selected from a high of 16th to a low of 39th.

Strengths:

  • Potential – youth is on his side and since he’s playing in Europe against pros there is an opportunity to stash and develop him
  • Well developed paint game
  • Strong fundamentals with both hands (and off both feet)
  • Solid control managing the game as the lead guard
  • High IQ mixed with great instincts

Weaknesses:

  • Hard to know precisely what his ceiling will be given his youth and the fact he’s playing against pros already
  • Hasn’t figured out how to capitalize on his length on either side of the court
  • Needs to develop greater offensive versatility (too predictable currently)

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer lists Derek Anderson, Nate McMillan, Kirk Hinrich as possible NBA comparisons.

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