Medical Flags Take Center Stage In 2016 NBA Draft
By Bret Stuter
Stephen Zimmerman
UNLV’s power forward Stephen Zimmerman’s season was interrupted following a sprained knee that was sustained on a rather ugly play after the whistle with Fresno State’s Terrell Carter. Before the injury, Zimmerman was averaging 10.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game with solid rebounding and block rates on a per-possession basis. He ended the season with 10.5 points per game and 8.7 rebounds.
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He is one of the few big men who are mobile, can protect the rim, and occassionally knock down a nice mid range shot, all the while still growing and learning at 19-years-old while standing 7′ tall and with a 7’3″ wingspan. He’s versatile enough to play center, power forward,
But he is a big man with a track record of illness and injury, adding to the already twitchy medical concerns. He was taken ill in Hawaii, injured his right ankle the following week, He suffered a bruised him and a bruised thigh, with each injury forcing him to the bench to heal. In an 82 game NBA season around the corner, there are questions as to his durability.
In many cases, those questions have fallen against Zimmerman, who is now projected into the second round. But if he falls to the Sixers who may be in the process of dealing one of their centers, Zimmerman would certainly be worth a strong consideration.
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