Mo Bamba

#91
The more I watch Bamba’s tape, the more I’m liking the kid. His footwork is rare for a big man. You can see that even with his length, he still jumps at the right time to block those shots. And he jumps high. And that record sprint? That’s probably the best pair for a speedy PG like Fox.

Bamba has a legit chance to even go #1 in this draft.
 
#92
His 3/4 sprint time makes it even more egregious that he often jogged back in transition. Maybe that's just a kid who needs to increase his cardio level/work capacity but my fear is that his motor just runs hot and cold.

Bamba isn't Wilt. I can squint and see him as an all-star player but it's almost certainly not because he's a team's leading scorer. Peak level Bamba would be a defensive anchor that sets the tone for the whole team and scores efficiently without necessarily having plays run for him. Open threes as part of the secondary action as he comes up court (like Boogie loved) and off the pick & pop,easy buckets in transition, off offensive boards, from lobs and dumpoffs etc and occasionally from post-ups. Mo could eventually be a 16 ppg scorer just by being aggressive and opportunistic. He'll need a massive gain of lower body muscle to establish and keep position in the blocks but I don't ever see that being his bread and butter. I don't think he'll ever be a go-to scorer because I don't know how he'd create his own shot.

But a quicker Gobert who hits open shots? That's a valuable piece. I don't see the unlimited Giannis-like potential because he's not a ball handler, doesn't have a face-up game, doesn't shoot off the dribble etc though I suppose there's an outside chance he could develop those skills.

The issue I have is with the idea that Bamba will definitely reach his potential as an elite defender. He's got amazing tools and he is a very bright kid but on the court I very rarely saw a killer instinct from him. How great does he really want to be? Interviews are one thing. Willie has talked about how nobody would outwork him in the summer etc only to come back essentially the same inconsistent player.

Bamba has maybe the biggest floor to ceiling gap of the prospects at the top of this draft.
The dysfunction at Texas may have something to do with his inconsistent effort. I am not offering this as an excuse, but there were not the guards or the system around Bamba to get the most out of him. The concerns you have over Bamba (motor) and Bagley (defense) are valid. I share them more or less. But if we are talking about a guy with this extraordinary physical and athletic profile who dabbled with going to Harvard, he checks a lot of the boxes. Bamba is closing the gap on Bagley to go #2. Donovan dominated his athletic testing and his physical profile and was one of the reasons I fell in love with him as a prospect. The Kings need to twist the arms of the agents and get these guys in a gym and let them go at it. 4 year / 30M contract awarded to the winner! Heck even invite Michael Porter while you are it, he can be the ball boy and serve the refreshments. :p
 
#94
When it comes to motor/motivation or whatever those issues might be with a guy (real or perceived) I think the information gap between fans and front offices is just enormous. Being able to interview former coaches, teammates, the player themselves, etc... provides so much more information into who the player/person is than just the tape.

I have plenty of doubts about Bamba as well but his potential seems other-worldly. He showed so much at times and so little at others that I don't know how to rate him as a prospect. I would absolutely love to have a true defensive anchor on the Kings, especially if he can develop that 3-pt. shot and be a threat from there as well. If the evaluation is that he is likely to reach that potential I think he would have to merit serious consideration for the number 2 pick or be a target on a trade down a spot or two.
 
#95
Another good thing with a Bamba pick is that Georger is definitely a big man coach. If he can make a lumbering Marc Gasol a defensive anchor, how much more an agile super long kid that runs sprints like a gazelle.
What I like about Bamba is his block to his foul rate. As mentioned in the video above, he rarely bites on fakes so helps avoid foul trouble:

Mo Bamba: 3.7 blocks per 2.5 fouls (30.2 MPG)
Jaren Jackson: 3.0 blocks per 3.0 fouls (21.8 MPG)
Willie last season at Kentucky: 1.7 blocks per 2.0 fouls (25.9 MPG)

These numbers do not reflect the shots he will change and force miss without being credited for the block. Being able to stay on the floor and affect the game this way is immensely valuable. It allows the guards to play more aggressive on the perimeter, and funnel their man into help. Ideally you force the opponent into long twos, the worst shot in basketball.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#97
So here's my question, why couldn't he fix his shooting before the season started and during it? It was broken...I'm not sold on his stroke until I see it in SL. Lots of guys have better mechanics in an open gym, it's just a matter of transferring it to an actual game.
Quincy Douby comes to mind. ;)
 
#98
You assesment lacks persepective IMO, it's riddled with holes and untruths. The Kings need a lot of things, not just a franchise player Hayward was a Max player in the west on a good defensive team and his teams were always just pretenders, it takes more than a franchise player to cut the mustard out west, you need to play the game well in all facets to compete. Mo could be on of the great shotblockers, he will improve immensely in his first few seasons, he can help the kings in areas that cost MAX$$$ on the open market in free agency.

If WCS can smoothly transition to defending PF's well the kings will have a formidable frontline that can deter even stars. The defense would improve drastically, and the kings have a big chunk of capspace to buy a big peice at SF.

For a teenage kid with 7'10 wingspan his shooting touch is promising, shooting is the easiest skill to improve and he's got a good foundation to start from and soft touch he could end up a solid 3Pt%. And 80%Ft shooter.
I get that you like Bamba and I agree that he has potential. IMO he has a lot further to go to reach his potential than the other top players. His strength is his blockedshots and rebounding. However, he lacks strength as a post defender and will struggle on the perimeter IMO. He did a good job of blocking guys from behind when beaten in college. In the NBA, those players will be faster and he will be guarding them at 24 ft instead of 20 ft. Meaning they will have more ground to put distance between them.

As for his offense, h is basically a guy who can score around the rim at this point. His shooting is poor at the moment, he has no real post game, he can't dribble more than twice, and he has no feel for passing the ball. That is a lot of stuff to have to improve on to become a good player. There is no doubt that he might work hard and develop into a great player, but he also has the biggest bust potential IMO.
 
#99
I get that you like Bamba and I agree that he has potential. IMO he has a lot further to go to reach his potential than the other top players. His strength is his blockedshots and rebounding. However, he lacks strength as a post defender and will struggle on the perimeter IMO. He did a good job of blocking guys from behind when beaten in college. In the NBA, those players will be faster and he will be guarding them at 24 ft instead of 20 ft. Meaning they will have more ground to put distance between them.

As for his offense, h is basically a guy who can score around the rim at this point. His shooting is poor at the moment, he has no real post game, he can't dribble more than twice, and he has no feel for passing the ball. That is a lot of stuff to have to improve on to become a good player. There is no doubt that he might work hard and develop into a great player, but he also has the biggest bust potential IMO.
His bust potential is near 0%. This kid is gonna be bigtime he's not the next Hasheem Thabeet. Mo is one of the best shotblockers on the planet already and will be for the next 10+ years. He wouldve led most professional leagues in blocks this szn
.

He's 225 lbs right now he will fill out and be way more effective too. His future improvement is a fait accompli, it's a foregone conclusion. Only injury can slow him down IMO.
 
His bust potential is near 0%. This kid is gonna be bigtime he's not the next Hasheem Thabeet. Mo is one of the best shotblockers on the planet already and will be for the next 10+ years. He wouldve led most professional leagues in blocks this szn
.

He's 225 lbs right now he will fill out and be way more effective too. His future improvement is a fait accompli, it's a foregone conclusion. Only injury can slow him down IMO.
Everybody has bust potential especially one with 0 offensive game
 
Go watch that mcdonalds all star game and see how Mo coulda got like 7 blocks but was letting em off easy. He's an elite athlete who's able to antincipate defenders movements.

Mo is like a harpy eagle snatching lesser birds out of the sky. He's got a good sense of when to stand straight up and let his length do the work to avoid the foul too.

Coac Cal doesnt throw around Anthony Davis comps but thats who he used to compare him too during recruitment. I believe Mo wouldve showcasesd better at UK than Texas.

Shaka Smart has a new deal and some very nice recruits there and on the way. In my opinion Texas was a really dissapointing compared to their talent level this season and that Mo's presence is the paramount reason it wasnt super ugly, disaster level laughingstock.
 
LOL why? It was just two guys fighting position. I wouldn't draw anything major from it. It gets messy out there without a ref to intervene and when the competitive fires are stoked! The takeaway from my perspective is Ayton was much stronger in his base which allowed him to deny Bamba. He created a wall Bamba could not penetrate. But Bamba was not passive. He kept trying to get where he wanted to go. It was a learning experience for him and exemplified why Ayton is such a force. The last play was an exclamation point.
OK, so I was mostly joking. But neither of these guys would know a back-to-the-basket game if it bit them in the arse. And both made desperate finger role attempts that were laughable. You look at this video and see potential; I see disappointment. And I thought I was the optimist.
 
Everybody has bust potential especially one with 0 offensive game
He shot 60% from 2pt range. 68% ft's for a player that size and age in 4 attempts per game thats promising, no?

Rudy Gobert has posted more efficient #'s every year, so will Mo.

Mo doesn't need plays ran for him to be super effective THATS A GOOD THING. You seem to enjoy oversimplifications idk how this simplicity has eluded you. Theres 10 players on the court right? And only one ball? Efficient players who dont need the ball seem important to me.

Mo projects to be a demon on the offensive boards, he's a ballhawk and omnipresent on the court, the action znd ball gravitates to him, he gets his hands on everything..

Mo is a hard counter to small ball lineups like gobert is, the warriors hate having to deal with rudy Draymond cant really bother him. they are too small to grab boards on mo and they cant outrun him and he dwarfs them at the rim.Mo patrols the upper atmosphere.
 
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The more I watch Bamba’s tape, the more I’m liking the kid. His footwork is rare for a big man. You can see that even with his length, he still jumps at the right time to block those shots. And he jumps high. And that record sprint? That’s probably the best pair for a speedy PG like Fox.

Bamba has a legit chance to even go #1 in this draft.
Great Match with Fox, Mo provides him with plenty of opportunity to apply pressure. kings will have acquired franchise pillars at PG and C in consecutive drafts. The team identity heading in a clear direction of an athletic team that can defend and run with some budding firepower.
.
Throw a player like Will Barton a nice deal to start at SF. In the 2nd rd take a guard like Elie Okobo. Their set. Randolph and Koufos expire and they cement the frontcourt for the next bunch of years next summer.


If injuries occur and distort the timeline that 2020 draft could hold 'the final peice' especially if the one and done rule goes away that year.
 
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Fox will beat his man in the blink of an eye and look for a quick lob to Mo. It'd happen constantly.Mo's got the presence of mind to make those reads fluently. He's deadly in that 'dunk position' you often see bigs lurking in.You'll see an unreal barrage of putback dunks from jaw dropping contorted angles from that position too.

Mo is rediculous. He makes the court look tiny. Once you see him running the court vs Antetokounmpo you will have a greater appreciation for his rarity as an athletic specimen.
 
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The thing with Bamba is I don't think he's worthy to be picked at #2. If we trade down then ok I can get over it, but he's just got way too many holes in his game to be a number 2 pick. I like the guy and I like what be brings to the table, but he's got a lot of "what ifs" going on and that concerns me.
 
His bust potential is near 0%. This kid is gonna be bigtime he's not the next Hasheem Thabeet. Mo is one of the best shotblockers on the planet already and will be for the next 10+ years. He wouldve led most professional leagues in blocks this szn
.

He's 225 lbs right now he will fill out and be way more effective too. His future improvement is a fait accompli, it's a foregone conclusion. Only injury can slow him down IMO.
There is a lot more to basketball than blocked shots. I'm not comparing him to Thabeet who I was about 90% sure would bust in the NBA. What I am saying is that there is a strong possibility that he is never more than a defensive player. With the #2 pick, I expect more than that. If all he ever becomes is a defensive role player (very possible) then that would be a bust IMO. Now he may be better than that, but to say that outcome isn't possible is ludicrous.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
I know some on here feel Bamba is a bit late to the party as far as making an impact worthy of a second pick but that's not the primary reason he is being considered in the top 5. You draft a player like Bamba for potential and to say that he wouldn't have an impact in the league today because its all three pointers and pick and roll is silly talk. It's not as if he is a stiff out there, for a guy with his stature and length, he moves pretty nimble. The question now is how much of an offensive game can he develop. I don't have any concern about him holding his own on the pick and rolls and one on one defenses over time. He just needs the proper tutelage and guidance and whether its with the Kings or another franchise, he has a good head on his shoulders and work ethic to go with it. He understands what is required for him to stay in this league long term, in my opinion.
 
For one there was that Iverson-Motumbo core that carried the Philly to NBA Finals. That’s one speedy PG and a long big man with limited offense but a legit shot blocking presence. Kings already got a super speedy PG. Abd definitely Bamba is more agile than Motumbo. So I think Bamba will do damn fine next to Fox and the rest of the young core.

Folks can argue that the NBA today is different from that era. Well, that’s the same about how folks are worried that Bamba gets bullied in the paint coz Shaq, Hakeem, and Malone are retired. Only Cousin is legit bully down low these days.
 
3.04seconds 3/4 court sprint !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yall realize how crazy that is? Mo's amajor OUTLIER. His athletic profile is extreme even by NBA standards. Thats faster than john wall and donovan mitchell and dwayne wade

He's built like a young Wilt Chamberlain. He was skinny at this age too,, thats why they called him Wilt the Stilt.

Gobert ran 3.57 and was older. Gobert is built like Chamberlain too im under the impression he was 7'1 in shopes with 7'8 1/2" wingspan.. Wilt had better hands tho easily but wilt had possibly the strongest hands in nba history.
Are the Kings going to the Olympics or are they going to be playing basketball?:p;)
+1 for giving more weight to skill than to raw athleticism (not sure which thread this is discussed in any more).
Also making a distinction between physicality and athleticism. Softness is a much bigger minus than lack of explosiveness/speed..
 
There is a lot more to basketball than blocked shots. I'm not comparing him to Thabeet who I was about 90% sure would bust in the NBA. What I am saying is that there is a strong possibility that he is never more than a defensive player. With the #2 pick, I expect more than that. If all he ever becomes is a defensive role player (very possible) then that would be a bust IMO. Now he may be better than that, but to say that outcome isn't possible is ludicrous.
Lol. Defensive role player? That outcome isnt possible. Call me ludicrous and you can be the voice of reason if it makes you feel better. This style of typecasting is how a lot of sillyness gets perpetuated around draft time. Why? Why is it a strong possibility "he is never more than a defensive player"? Care to qualify how you've deduced its 'very possible' hebecomes a defensive role player?


the term your looking for is defensive anchor btw.

Are offensive rebounds not a part of offense in Sacramento? Am I in the twilight zone or something similar? People keep repeating this nonsense about his offense but wont dare directly respond about his potential on the glass.

IMHO these arguments against mo are so unfounded it's funny. Many of these worries are completely erroneous . The way yall tell it he's the 2nd coming of Nerlens Noel right?
 
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dude12

Hall of Famer
Lol. Defensive role player? That outcome isnt possible. Call me ludicrous and you can be the voice of reason if it makes you feel better. This style of typecasting is how a lot of sillyness gets perpetuated around draft time. Why? Why is it a strong possibility "he is never more than a defensive player"? Care to qualify how you've deduced its 'very possible' hebecomes a defensive role player?


the term your looking for is defensive anchor btw.

Are offensive rebounds not a part of offense in Sacramento? Am I in the twilight zone or something similar? People keep repeating this nonsense about his offense but wont dare directly respond about his potential on the glass.

IMHO these arguments against mo are so unfounded it's funny. Many of these worries are completely erroneous . The way yall tell it he's the 2nd coming on Nerlens Noel right?
Are you saying you like Bamba?
 
Are the Kings going to the Olympics or are they going to be playing basketball?:p;)
+1 for giving more weight to skill than to raw athleticism (not sure which thread this is discussed in any more).
Also making a distinction between physicality and athleticism. Softness is a much bigger minus than lack of explosiveness/speed..
You fail to recognize scarcity. Speed is extremely important in maintaing defensive integrity lol. When was the last time a slow footed team won anything in the NBA?

Lack of footspeed is what completely doomed Hasheem Thabeet to bust status. Goberts footspeed allows him to be 1st team all defense. Do you disagree with either of those statements? Nobody thought Deandre Jordan was soft or unathletic he fell to the 2nd rd tho, these qualifiers u try to use dont hold up upon closer inspection and any volume of examples..

he's a kid thats 7 feet tall harshly judging his physicallity at this stage is foolish, look at his frame. He's got broad shoulders he will add tons of strength and weight in the coming years.
 
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You fail to recognize scarcity. Speed is extremely important in maintaing defensive integrity lol. When was the last time a slow footed team won anything in the NBA?

Lack of footspeed is what completely doomed Hasheem Thabeet to bust status. Goberts footspeed allows him to be 1st team all defense. Do you disagree with either of those statements? Nobody thought Deandre Jordan was soft or unathletic he fell to the 2nd rd tho, these qualifiers u try to use dont hold up upon closer inspection and any volume of examples..

he's a kid thats 7 feet tall harshly judging his physicallity at this stage is foolish, look at his frame. He's got broad shoulders he will add tons of strength and weight in the coming years.
physicality comment not directed necessarily at Bamba, was just ranking different aspects of a basketball player with skill being the most important, then physicality, then raw athleticism. When was a last time unskilled, soft, extremely athletic team won anything in the NBA? ;)
 
Bamba has a great agent. The guy had one of the most middling seasons for a sure-fire one-and-done this side of Porter and has done nothing but pump out viral videos every two weeks since the end of the season. People get mad when I say it, but Bamba fans are true believers: Gobert is a given...everything else is simply icing for his Hall of Fame cake. He’s fine, but we’re seeing one of the great sales jobs in NBA draft history.
 
physicality comment not directed necessarily at Bamba, was just ranking different aspects of a basketball player with skill being the most important, then physicality, then raw athleticism. When was a last time unskilled, soft, extremely athletic team won anything in the NBA? ;)
It doesnt work like that and i dont cast those type of stones /labels. "unskilled" is not very descriptive IMO, if i thought that a player was unskilled id use better words to be specific and i'd discuss scenario's and potential rammifications instead what we get here seems like a bunch of stones thrown from a bunch of glass houses.
 
It doesnt work like that and i dont cast those type of stones /labels. "unskilled" is not very descriptive IMO, if i thought that a player was unskilled id use better words to be specific and i'd discuss scenario's and potential rammifications instead what we get here seems like a bunch of stones thrown from a bunch of glass houses.
the "unskilled" sentence was trying to point out that you responded to a statement that skill should be ranked higer than raw speed by asking "when a slow footed team won anything". straght to slow footed.
 
Bamba has a great agent. The guy had one of the most middling seasons for a sure-fire one-and-done this side of Porter and has done nothing but pump out viral videos every two weeks since the end of the season. People get mad when I say it, but Bamba fans are true believers: Gobert is a given...everything else is simply icing for his Hall of Fame cake. He’s fine, but we’re seeing one of the great sales jobs in NBA draft history.
So you think Mo's 'a gimmick? Lol middling season? Your standards are whats mad.


Ive fired tons of ammo into this thread most of which has gone unresponded to while people show up with the same basic complaints/labels. So my time in this thread is nearing its end. Im not gonna keep repeating myself. I've said my peice. Been watching mo since PSA Cardinals.