Theo Maledon started in the top French league at 17 years old. He’s one of three French guards — the aforementioned Hayes and Cazalon included — to crack the top 30. A plus athlete at 6-foot-5, Maledon has intriguing tools at the lead guard spot.
He’s a killer in the open court, using his excellent burst to outrun defenders. In the halfcourt, he’s a twitchy ball handler who possesses a nice array of floaters and touch shots inside. His 3-point shooting is strong and should continue to improve.
While not quite on Hayes’ level as a passer, Maledon still does a nice job distributing the ball. He makes solid reads all around and can throw high-difficulty passes. He looks the part of an NBA guard, through and through.