Tag: 2019 NBA Draft

Serbian rookie Alen Smailagic logs career night in G League Santa Cruz

The Warriors second round pick out of Serbia, Alen Smailagic scored 29-points in a career night for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League.

A week ago, there was excitement in the air when the Golden State Warriors recalled, Serbian, Alen Smailagic from the G League. The second-round pick didn’t end up making his NBA debut and is now back in the G League— showing out.

Smailagic registered a career-night against the Agua Caliente Clippers, scoring 29 points on 66.7 percent shooting, adding five three-pointers. The 19-year old rookie added six rebounds, two blocks and three steals against the Clippers. Smailagic’s big night puts him a step closer to making his NBA debut with Golden State.

Smailagic has tallied 25-points or more in his past two games in the G League, dropping five three-pointers in each contest. Smailagic, at 6-foot-10, was primarily listed as an athletic banger and is now flexing a bit of shooting to his game, an impressive development by the Serbian who is still technically a teenager.

The rookies’ firsts season officially with Golden State was put on hold when he injured his ankle at the start of NBA training camp, once finally, healthy Smailagic reported to the Warriors G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

Smailagic has only been down in the G League for nine games, but in each contest, the big-man is displaying a new skill. Smailagic is averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game as the Sea Dubs starting center.

The Warriors frontline is a bit clogged with the arrival of Marquese Chriss along with Willie Cauley-Stein, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. While playing time in the NBA could be limited for Smailagic, expect him to continue to rack up minutes in the G League.

If Smailagic’s game keeps trending upwards, it could put the Warriors in a position where there only move is to bring up their 19-year old center.

Jordan-Shaq factor: Early grades for the top 15 picks in 2019 draft

While keeping the Jordan-Shaq Factor in mind, we have made some early grades for the first 15 players selected in the 2019 NBA Draft.

With each new NBA draft class, there’s always hope—argumentatively speaking—that one select rookie will one day become the next Shaq or the “Air Apparent.” And that’s still a problematic prognostication, especially this early in a rookie’s career. (It’s almost impossible if we’re honest.)

But Michael Jordan, who dropped 45 against San Antonio in only his ninth game, and Shaquille O’Neal, who was averaging double-doubles with ease at the same point, do highlight a key benchmark: Grading rookies this early in the season, looking for signs of possible elite talent, can be done.

So, while keeping that Jordan-Shaq Factor in mind, let’s take a look at the early grades for the top 15 picks from the 2019 draft.

15th pick: Sekou Doumbouya

(Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Taken out of the French League by the Pistons, Sekou Doumbouya is only 18 years old—that’s young. But if he’s developed in the G League and becomes something close to one of the NBA stars he looks up to—Pascal Siakam—then look out!

Early Grade: TBD

Sekou Doumbouya :: Romeo Langford :: Tyler Herro :: P.J. Washington :: Cam Johnson :: Cam Reddish :: Rui Hachimura :: Jaxson Hayes :: Coby White :: Jarrett Culver :: Darius Garland :: De’Andre Hunter :: R.J. Barrett :: Ja Morant :: Zion Williamson

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