NBA Future Prospect: Malik Pope
Malik Pope: 6’10” and 220 lbs. Forward for San Diego State
Malik Pope is currently projected to be an early to middle second round draft pick. While he has the potential to make it into the first round his progression at this point in his collegiate career leaves a lot to be desired. Pope has great size, can score inside and out, and plays above average on the defensive end but his effort is lacking.
Pope’s biggest asset going into the draft is on the defensive end with his ability to block shots, play strong individual defense, and play timely help defense. His athleticism and size make it difficult for wing players to shoot over him and drive the ball past him. Despite his strong defensive ability his motor is the only thing holding him back from being a great defender.
Offensively Pope has all the weapons you would ask for of a power forward. He can shoot from three, work in the mid-range, and take it down into the post. He has a very clean shot, though outside shooting isn’t something he does consistently at this point in his career. While he shows flashes of his ability to score the ball he has a tendency to disappear on offense letting the scoring come from his teammates instead. Pope’s passing ability is also impressive, especially out of the post and double teams.
While Pope shows flashes of his potential to be a great basketball player his most glaring weakness is his effort. At times he seems to disappear on the floor, whether it be standing out at the three point line or losing focus on the defensive end. The most notable area his lack of effort shows up is in his rebounding. Pope is a below average rebounder for his size and it can be solely contributed to how hard he tries when crashing the boards.
Pope’s raw skill will garner a lot of attention from NBA teams come draft time but his motor is currently what’s standing between him and a potential first round spot. The best case scenario for him would be sneaking into the bottom of the first round onto a team like San Antonio or Cleveland where he can sit behind an All-star. Pope is worth drafting as long as the team taking him is ready to work with him to unlock his full potential.
Featured Game: Win vs. Southern Mississippi 66-51
The featured game I chose for Pope was the Aztec’s game against USM in the opening round of the Diamond Head Classic on 12/22/16. Pope finished the game with 9 points on 3-7 shooting with 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. 5 of his 7 shots came from three point range, uncharacteristic of Pope as he had only registered 10 total three point attempts prior to this match up. He spent too much time outside the arc and didn’t look for easier shots until the second half. Pope also missed a lot of rebounds, especially in the first half when at times he seemed frozen in one spot. Despite his lack of effort to find his shot or grab rebounds he was very active on the defensive end evident by his 3 blocks. Pope’s inability to focus and play hard on every play is the biggest thing holding his game back.
Shot Chart 1st Half:
Shot Chart 2nd Half:
