The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Antonio Blakeney
SG - 6’4, 197lbs - 21 years old - 1 year of experience
In his debut professional season, Blakeney did not sniff much court time at the big league level, spending it mostly in the G-League and then suffering an untimely injury during what should have been a fairly care-free late season audition. But that time in the G-League was spent wisely.
Blakeney led the league in scoring at a colossal 32.0 points per game, and a player who can do that much at that level can generally do some good things in the NBA too. Blakeney’s slightly undersized nature should not be too big of a problem considering his long stride and leaping ability, and although he has been very inefficient in the short NBA stints he got this year, he is still on the right curve. This is after all still a very young player.
Beyond the scoring lie valid questions, however. He does not assert himself defensively and never has, and much as he likes to constantly attack defences, he does so with his own scoring self-interest in mind. Blakeney is a bit ball-dominant and single-track minded in his intent on the court. He thus needs to prove that he is both able to score against NBA calibre athletes and size, but also that he does not only wish to do that.
After going undrafted, Blakeney had it all prove that he could perform at the NBA level. This year, he proved he could do it at the next level below. But that’s different.
Player Plan: Has a second year on his two-way deal. Keep him on it with a view to having a full roster spot in due course.
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SG - 6’4, 197lbs - 21 years old - 1 year of experience
In his debut professional season, Blakeney did not sniff much court time at the big league level, spending it mostly in the G-League and then suffering an untimely injury during what should have been a fairly care-free late season audition. But that time in the G-League was spent wisely.
Blakeney led the league in scoring at a colossal 32.0 points per game, and a player who can do that much at that level can generally do some good things in the NBA too. Blakeney’s slightly undersized nature should not be too big of a problem considering his long stride and leaping ability, and although he has been very inefficient in the short NBA stints he got this year, he is still on the right curve. This is after all still a very young player.
Beyond the scoring lie valid questions, however. He does not assert himself defensively and never has, and much as he likes to constantly attack defences, he does so with his own scoring self-interest in mind. Blakeney is a bit ball-dominant and single-track minded in his intent on the court. He thus needs to prove that he is both able to score against NBA calibre athletes and size, but also that he does not only wish to do that.
After going undrafted, Blakeney had it all prove that he could perform at the NBA level. This year, he proved he could do it at the next level below. But that’s different.
Player Plan: Has a second year on his two-way deal. Keep him on it with a view to having a full roster spot in due course.
