Yoan Makoundou — 2000 International Class
NBA Draft’22: Auto-Eligible Prospects
Melun, France / DOB: 08.09 2000 / 6’9–225lbs / Cholet — NLB ProA France
STALINE: 10.4pts, 5.3rbs, 1.2blk, 0.9ast / 52.3 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 75.0 FT% / 23.00Min in 38GP
ROLE — BANKABLE SKILL: High Motor Rim Runner — Off-ball Game + Athletic Tools
OFFENSE
- Excellent physical built with athleticism, fluidity and speed. Knows his lane like a true transition animal: 2.3pts per game in the open court by InStat. Great hands and grip to catch the ball. Dunks absolutely everything. Battle-proved lob-threat and vertical spacer.
- Off-ball motion plays and timed cuts are the other main weapon. Again his coordination and leaper power become a force at the rim and in traffic when he runs the baseline or breaks through the middle hunting for dishes and dimes.
- Improved shooting ability from the 3pt-line with almost two attempts per game. Two-motion form that needs time and space, but leaves him some room to go for catch-and-drives in the pick-and-pop or after relocating. Handle needs tightening.
- Not much of a post game. A bit raw down low: uses his strength and always looks to finish over the left shoulder. Not a concern given his ability as offensive rebounder with a reliable second jump. Very little shot creation by himself. Basic reads as a passer.
DEFENSE
- High energy and value as anchor and weak side defender with his athleticism, quickness and agility. Fits as tagger, rotational defender and shot blocker even in the perimeter. Time reaction can still be better to avoid fouls. Long legs to cover ground and closeout shooters.
- Hip turn needs work in PNR defense and against mismatches. Despite having the physical tools to hedge and ice ball-handlers, he has some tendency to over-commit his feet and stance in drop defense allowing the driver to go by him at times.
- A force to be reckon in defensive transitions: runs back fast challenging shots from behind. Strong under his glass using his lower body and shoulders as well as his impressive pop and reach.
MATCHUP VERSATILITY: 4–5, some swichability
SWING FACTOR: Shooting + Defensive IQ
SUMMARY THOUGHTS
Although he has improved his shooting numbers a great deal over this season, Yoan Makoundou is not your traditional euro power-forward, but more of a small-5 rim runner that can play ‘catch me if you can’ with matchups, clean the glass and help offensively without needing to see much of the ball. He could very well fit into the NBA if he keeps improving his range and cut on defensive breakdows. Still just 21 on Draft night, Makoundou’s physicality and athletic traits will be hard to go unnoticed even if he might be considered raw as post-scorer and in need of controlling his instincts at times. Can he be more of a traditional roll-man in the future? It’s questionable if NBA teams will ever require that much of him, as he’s never going to be a primary attacking option. It’s true he doesn’t create much offense for himself, but his exuberance as play-finisher doesn’t grow on trees. On his own end he might lack some awareness and know-how, but if those come together alongside a quicker release, he will get his chance to shine in at highest level sooner than we might expect.
