Texas Basketball in the NBA: How are former Longhorns doing in 2018-19?
By Shane Black
Jarrett Allen and Mo Bamba
Jarrett Allen, C, Brooklyn Nets
23 G, 23 GS (28.1 MPG): 12.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.2 BPG. .598/.176/.685
After being selected with the 21st overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft, Jarrett Allen has developed into a solid NBA center. Just in his second season, Allen has taken over the starting center job for the Nets. He has an increased role in the offense and is very effective out of the pick-and-roll. According to Synergy, Allen is shooting 67.9 percent off of the P&R.
On the defensive end, Allen still has some learning to do. He swats a fair amount of shots but struggles reading screens and getting in the right position. Allen has given up 1.059 points per possession on post-ups. This is in the 29th percentile in the NBA.
Allen is in the early stages of his second NBA season and is getting the opportunity to play and grow. It is looking like he will have a long career in the pros.
Mo Bamba, C, Orlando Magic
23 G, 0 GS (17.0 MPG): 6.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 BPG. .500/.325/.667
The Orlando Magic selected Mo Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft .The 20-year-old has only played 17 minutes per game largely due to the fact that the Magic have a very good center in Nikola Vucevic. However, when in the game Bamba has played pretty well.
On the offensive end, he has been fairly efficient, connecting on 50 percent of his shots. He has shot 32.5 percent from deep on nearly two attempts per game. This is great news for the Magic. If Bamba can consistently knock down the three, he becomes scary to guard. Bamba has been pretty average on defensive positioning but his 7’10” wingspan has helped bail him out.