Consensus five-star recruit and top NBA prospect Emoni Bates failed to impress scouts with less-than-impressive measurables at the Memphis pro day.
Emoni Bates measurements from the Memphis Pro Day. pic.twitter.com/T2csW4jrpc
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) October 6, 2021
Bates has been hyped as a “generational talent” since his early teens – now scouts are questioning whether his measurables will impact his ability to succeed at the next level.
Chief among scouts’ concerns is Bates’ hand-size (8.25/8.25) – for comparison Los Angeles Clippers’ star Kawhi Leonard, who’s noted for his extraordinarily large hands, measures in at 9.75/11.25.
Players with small hands have historically struggled to protect the ball at the NBA level.
Another point of concern is Bates’ negative wingspan.
For comparison, recent top picks with similar heights to Bates, such as Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum and New Orleans Pelicans’ star Brandon Ingram, posted +3 and +7 inch wingspans respectively.
Bates also failed to impress scouts with a meager 31.5 inch approach vertical – just slightly better than Detroit Pistons’ rookie Luka Garza (29.5).
Of course, Bates, 17, still has a lot of room to improve.
On one hand, it feels unfair to judge a player based solely on their measurables, especially when they’re just 17 years old.
But there’s no doubt that organizations around the NBA are doing just that.