Tag: melvin ajinca

French prospect Melvin Ajinça, a potential first-round pick, to enter 2024 NBA draft

Ajinça recently returned from a two-month injury absence and put up his best outing, recording 19 points and nine rebounds in a win.

Melvin Ajinça, a 6-foot-7 forward from France, has declared for the 2024 NBA draft after one season with Saint-Quentin in the LNB Pro A, his agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN on Wednesday.

Ajinça, the cousin of former seven-year veteran Alexis Ajinca, is averaging 10.4 points and 3.3 rebounds on 35.1% shooting from 3-point range. He recently returned from a two-month injury absence and had his best outing on Saturday, recording 19 points and nine rebounds in a win.

He started the year a bit slowly after transitioning to the top league in France, but he eventually settled in and showcased himself at a high level. His return has helped Saint-Quentin in its attempt to qualify for the playoffs.

Ajinça, who will turn 20 on the first night of the draft, began playing professionally in 2019 with Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball. He eventually joined Saint-Quentin with the junior team before earning promotion to the senior roster this season.

He is considered a potential first-round pick this year. He brings good size to the next level and is highly touted for his shooting ability with his smooth lefty stroke. He has a quick release and is lethal, at times, coming off screens and on the move.

He leaped up draft boards after a tremendous showing with France last year in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup alongside Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. He was the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 19.3 points and 2.9 rebounds en route to the silver medal.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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2024 NBA Mock Draft: Latest first-round projections at midway point of season

Rookie Wire took a look at the 2024 NBA draft class and where the top prospects stand as of Feb. 1.

The top NBA draft prospects worldwide have collectively reached the second halves of their respective seasons as they look to showcase themselves in front of scouts and executives.

The class this year has seen several players help their stock, while others have struggled and fallen down draft boards. Some players have also dealt with recent injuries and other factors that have prevented them from reaching their potential.

The draft is widely considered open at the top of the board, with several prospects in the conversation to be the first selection. Unlike last year, when Victor Wembanyama was the consensus No. 1 pick, there is no clear-cut choice this year.

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Prospects will continue to see their standing fluctuate over the remaining two-plus months of action on the court as scouts have more time to evaluate them. The sheer unknown atop the draft board should create plenty of storylines to follow over the remainder of the season.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that the draft will be expanded to a two-night format, with the first round set to take place on June 26 at the Barclays Center. The second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York the following night.

Rookie Wire looked at the class and where the top prospects stand at this point of the season. The order was determined by the reverse order of the NBA standings as of Feb. 1.

Note: Player fit wasn’t necessarily taken into account with each pick. Pick protections and other notes courtesy of Tankathon.

San Antonio Spurs take two forwards and a floor general in new 2024 NBA mock draft

San Antonio has three bites at the apple in the coming 2024 NBA draft.

The San Antonio Spurs need to surround Victor Wembanyama with complimentary players, and in the eyes of Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, San Antonio has three bites at the apple in the coming 2024 NBA draft that he has a trio of prospects in mind for the Spurs to select.

And while mid-January is not when most of us tend to start looking at the coming draft, for folks like Wasserman, things are just starting to heat up with the collegiate and overseas seasons now well underway. The B/R draft expert sees San Antonio turning to both the NCAA ranks and players currently suiting up in other pro leagues.

Let’s take a look at who he thinks would fit well with the Spurs.