Alexi

Basketball thoughts | 🇧🇬

[Div B @statcenter]

D West doesn't hate analytics. He doesn't know the first thing about analytics if he thinks it would've hated MJ lol.

No, he hates what he perceives as the *people* of analytics. The nerds (like me I guess) who dare to say that watching games is awesome and instructive, but that numbers can be valuable too bc they let you count the good and bad stuff that happens on a court. That when it comes to understanding this game that we all love, "all of the above" is a better policy than eye test or data sheets.

Nah, D West just wants to keep it how he's always known it, shut out any humility or growth, and personally insult people who think differently.

tldr: D West just wants to Make Basketball Great Again. Get the red cap ready.

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@mcfNBA @patelsahil2002 I don’t disagree but what made you put Christian Collins in the fade tier

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

61-99

“my guys” in this range are Duke Miles, Tobe Awaka, Micah Handlogten, Kowacie Reeves, and Prophet Johnson (shout out @JackBDann )

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

Here is my 2026 NBA draft board

Had a ton of fun this cycle reflecting on my evaluation process

“my guys” for this range would be Kingston Flemings, Morez Johnson, Ebuka Okorie, and Baba Miller

I would love to hear anybody’s thoughts

31-99 are included below ⬇️

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

31-60

“my guys” in this range are Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rafael Castro, Ernest Udeh, Malique Lewis, and Robert McCray

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@AtTheLevel The system definitely favors Reed but the tape is a lot more convincing in those two categories than Sanogo’s was

Also I don’t really care about Michigan priors considering that it was two years ago and we have an equal more recent sample with Uconn

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@fhjckaka @CoreyTulaba Also listed at 6’6 and is an all time great now so he really shouldn’t be used as a comp for anybody anyways

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@fhjckaka @CoreyTulaba Shai is listed at 195 and is one of the greatest developmental stories of all time 💀

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@fhjckaka @CoreyTulaba He has put on zero weight in the last year despite being in one of the top strength programs in the entire country, why should I believe otherwise at this point

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@fhjckaka @CoreyTulaba Name top lead guards in today’s league under 180

The only one that comes to mind is Trae young, a massive outlier offensive talent who still struggles heavily on defense

Weight was a problem for Philon even at the college level at times

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@MasonFrancois12 @CoreyTulaba Low dunk, rebound, and steal rate along with not popping as a vertical athlete on tape

Has good decel and body control but not an explosive athlete

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@MasonFrancois12 @CoreyTulaba I want to believe but I have a hard time believing his finishing will fully translate because of his weight and lack of explosiveness athletically

The defense will also hopefully come back a bit effort wise in a reduced role but guys his size will always be picked on

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@fhjckaka @CoreyTulaba That’s fair but he put on literally zero weight this year despite it being one of his biggest weaknesses last year

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@nbanerdd Already should be a locked in lottery pick

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@onballcreator Peat would’ve had a hard time developing his shot while playing for a championship contender

Unfortunately the wing room in Arkansas became too talented for Meleek to have a big offensive load most likely

Anderson had to capitalize on being a first round lock as a small guard

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@patelsahil2002 @AAa66206155 @mkumb00 Nah

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@patelsahil2002 @AAa66206155 @mkumb00 Does TO suppression really matter that much in upside conversations if you’re not an ELITE scorer or playmaker and you’re an older player who is just fine defensively

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@BBB8421 @JonChep @DXContent @valenciabasket @NBADraft Noa Essengue was reportedly measured at 6’10 barefoot last summer but after being drafted is now at 6’8

He wasn’t the only international player that received this disparity

[Alexi @BalkanHoops17]

@Goyov1 @JonChep @DXContent @valenciabasket @NBADraft He was estimated to be 6’5 or 6’6 possibly with shoes as far as I’m aware

I did see listings that were taller but I just assumed that to be hopeful speculation

Even if I’m wrong on De Larrea prospects like Noa Essengue were 6’10 barefoot last summer but now are listed at 6’8