Anunoby suffered a season-ending ACL tear that put a damper on his surefire lottery campaign. After coming on strong in last year’s tournament and carrying it into this season as Indiana’s unquestioned defensive cornerstone, the added uncertainty is a major blow for someone whose tenure as an elite prospect was so brief. That doesn’t, however, mean that he shouldn’t be gaining some traction in the lottery conversation.
At 6-8 with a wingspan that — in some reports — measures all the way up to 7-6, Anunoby is a gifted physical specimen. He has the length and strong core needed to defend virtually any position at a high level in some capacity, and still carries the potential to be this class’ best perimeter defender. He can switch at will while also taking on the burden of defeding the opposition’s best player providing the type of versatility that has become imperative in today’s league.
With so many prospects lauded for their offensive potential, Anunoby has been able to fly well under the radar for much of the season. He’s someone who crept all the way up to 7th in my big board prior to the injury, yet never really got much notice in the discussion of best prospects in this year’s class. Elite defenders are an incredibly valuable commodity in today’s league, and overlooking Anunoby due to the simply fact that his offensive game isn’t quite as plentiful as those mentioned ahead of him is — simply put — a mistake.
Previous Ranking: N/A
Anunoby’s offensive game isn’t a liability either, which further emphasizes that rationale. He was shooting 31.1 percent from threes, which isn’t a great number, but doesn’t display some improving utility in that facet of his game. He’s also an adept slasher, using his physical tools to finish through contact at the rim. His length also brings the intriguing possibility of sliding him to the four spot at times, further expanding a team’s offensive capacity, especially in transition.
He’s not going to be a star offensively — that’s just not how his game in wired — but he’s more than capable of producing on that side of the ball. He’s the ultimate combination of unicorn-like physical tools and 3-and-D upside, and should still be well within the mid-first round conversation regardless of his newfound injury concerns.