Tag: Deni Advija

Obi Toppin’s parents say he wants to play for the Golden State Warriors

Obi Toppin’s parents revealed what team their son wants to play for in the NBA.

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors are expected to own a top pick in the NBA draft. Instead of focusing on a run to the NBA Finals, the Warriors are locking in on the top prospects available in the upcoming draft class.

Since the start of the season, players like Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Deni Avdija have headlined mock drafts. However, with the college basketball season over, Dayton’s Obi Toppin has been linked to the Golden State Warriors.

Toppin’s parents joined Sonya and Dell Curry’s podcast “Raising Fame,” and the connection between the Flyer and Golden State grew. Toppin’s parents were asked what team their son hopes to play for in the NBA. Roni Toppin quickly answered, “Golden State — let’s go to the Bay.”

Toppin’s father, Obadiah, agreed with his son’s choice.

I got my few point guards that I always dreamed of playing for — just because they were the truest point guards — like Steph Curry. I think Obi would be great playing with Steph Curry.

After averaging 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and one steal per game for the Flyers, Toppin was recently named the 2020 AP National Player of the Year.

The Brooklyn native’s ability to run the floor with unparalleled athleticism would immediately give Draymond Green and Curry another lob threat alongside Marquese Chriss.

With the NBA season on hold due to the coronavirus, Golden State’s front office will have extra time to catch up on their draft homework.

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Former Warriors’ big man Andrew Bogut breaks down LaMelo Ball’s game

In a recent interview, former Warriors’ center Andrew Bogut offered a scouting report on LaMelo Ball.

With the college basketball season over due to the coronavirus, the NBA has turned attention to the upcoming draft. Anthony Edwards, Onyeka Okongwu and Obi Toppin are currently billed as top prospects from the college level.

Yet, there is a steady crop of prospects coming from outside of the NCAA’s realm. Names like Killian Hayes, Deni Avdija and RJ Hampton will be popular when the draft rolls around in June.

Another name ready to make the jump to the NBA is LaMelo Ball. The youngest Ball brother spent the past season playing for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia’s National Basketball League.

In the NBL, Ball and the Hawks faced off against the Golden State Warriors’ former center Andrew Bogut.

With the Warriors slated to own a top pick in the 2020 draft, Bogut offered up a scouting report on Ball in an interview with Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto and Matt Kolsky on San Francisco’s 95.7 The Game.

I saw a little bit of him. He played really well against us one game. He has a great ability to get into the paint from the guard position — can handle the ball very, very well and I think his passing and playmaking is at an elite level already. Obviously, his jump shot — which has been talked about a lot — will determine on how well he goes in his career. I think it’s very inconsistent from three, and it’s kind of a herky-jerky shot that he’ll probably have to fix much like his brother has. His brother is shooting the ball very, very well with New Orleans this season. I think his playmaking and the way he runs a team for a guy that young really stood out for me. The defense has to improve, but I think that’ll change with coaching and development in a good NBA program. But he’s looking at a chance to be a No. 1 pick or a top-five, top-ten pick. It’s great for our league to know that he came over here and played and we hope he does very, very well in the NBA.

In one game against Bogut and the Sydney Kings, Ball tallied 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the field in 27 minutes. The Chino Hills product added six assists and six rebounds for the Hawks. Bogut recorded five points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes for the Kings.

With Golden State’s need for a scoring option behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Ball could be an intriguing option at the top of the draft for the Warriors.

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Potential Warriors top prospect target declares for the 2020 NBA Draft

Top-prospect Anthony Edwards has officially declared for the 2020 NBA draft.

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors are in line to hold a top-pick in the NBA draft. With no March Madness tournament and the college basketball season over due to the coronavirus pandemic, prospects are starting to declare for the NBA draft.

Star freshman Anthony Edwards has officially entered his name into the 2020 draft. In his first season of college basketball, the potential first overall pick averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 32 games for the Bulldogs.

The 18-year-old guard shot 40.2 % from the field and 29.4 % from beyond the arc during his first season in the SEC. Edwards racked up three games of 30 or more points for the Bulldogs, with his career-high of 37 coming against the highly ranked Michigan State Spartans in the Maui Invitational Tournament.

The freshman is a streaky shooter, drilling six and seven 3-pointers in single games this season, but he did finish the final 10 games of his college career, only shooting 21.9% from long distance.

The Atlanta native is valued for his playmaking skills, whether he’s slashing downhill to the basket or trying to open up the floor for his teammates. The young combo guard was the focal point in Athens, yet he only recorded over five assists once in his career. At the next level, his passing numbers could rise. Still, the freshman’s explosive nature will quickly catch the attention of the NBA.

At 6-foot-5 225 lbs and only 18-years-old, Edwards would give Steve Kerr a piece of clay to mold into the Warriors core. Whether he’s riding next to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the backcourt or leading the offensive attack for Golden State’s bench unit, Edwards is an exciting name to watch leading up to June.

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NBA Draft: USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu is a name to watch for the Warriors

USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu is a name to know for the Golden State Warriors.

Instead of preparing for a deep playoff run, the Golden State Warriors are lining up for a top pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

With the NBA schedule on pause and the college basketball season over due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Warriors’ front office, it’s time for Steve Kerr and Bob Myers to turn their attention to the upcoming draft class.

While James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards might lead many mock drafts, the 2020 prospect pool has a bit of mystery to it. With there being no consensus top pick, Golden State scouts in the front office will need to do their homework.

A prospect that is quickly rising up draft boards is USC big man Onyeka Okongwu. The 6-foot-9 freshman was a teammate of the Ball brothers at Chino Hills high school and is now making a name for himself at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

Could Onyeka fit with Golden State at the top of the draft? Warriors Wire looked at how the Trojan freshman could fit in the Bay Area.

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Watch: Steph Curry threads no-look highlight reel pass with left hand

In his first game back from injury, Steph Curry drops highlight-reel dime with his surgically repaired left hand.

It has been 58 games since Stephen Curry suited up in his No. 30 Golden State Warriors uniform. Finally, Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors, that changed.

In Curry’s return to Golden State’s lineup for the first time in four months, all eyes were on his left hand. Since getting injured in late October against the Phoenix Suns, Curry’s hand has gone through two surgeries and a tedious rehab.

Outside of scrimmaging in practice, Curry’s hand has gone through a limited amount of full-contact situations. The two-time Most Valuable Player’s hand was bound to get tested against the Raptors.

The six-time All-Star didn’t waste any time using his surgically repaired hand. Curry whipped a behind the back no-look pass to Andrew Wiggins underneath the basket for an easy layup.

Via @Warriors:

Curry still has a long way to go as he works back from injury over the remaining 20 games on the schedule. Still, his highlight reel pass with his left hand is a positive sign for the future.