Mario Hezonja - Best European Prospect in 2015 Draft

[Maga_1]

Mario Hezonja has been playing for Barcelona this year in Liga Endesa and Euroleague, guaranting solid minutes in both competitions at age 19 (born in 1995).

Fitting in Pasqual's rotation is not quite easy most of the times but he has been fortunate with all the injuries that depleted Barcelona this year (Navarro, Oleson and Abrines for some time).

He's a SG/SF with a very athletic ability that can shoot the lights out when he's on! (An unusal) very good defender because of his strenght and reaction which can defend both positions easily and lock them up.

Still needs to improve his decision making and ball handling, which can be easily improved with age and experience.

Last game in a blowout against Manresa, Hezonja had 8/8 from 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzbXWYiGEg8

[shallehalle]

Wrong. Porzingis is the best European Prospect in the 2015 NBA Draft.

[Maga_1]

Wrong. Porzingis is the best European Prospect in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Based on what?

[Euroleague]

Wrong. Porzingis is the best European Prospect in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Hezonja isn't a prospect. He's a talent. Two completely different things. One guy is a "prospect", meaning he is just seen as a guy that might develop into something (a prospect), the other guy already is something, but is far from a finished player, but is playing off sheer ability (a talent).

[Euroleague]

Mario Hezonja has been playing for Barcelona this year in Liga Endesa and Euroleague, guaranting solid minutes in both competitions at age 19 (born in 1995).

Fitting in Pasqual's rotation is not quite easy most of the times but he has been fortunate with all the injuries that depleted Barcelona this year (Navarro, Oleson and Abrines for some time).

He's a SG/SF with a very athletic ability that can shoot the lights out when he's on! (An unusal) very good defender because of his strenght and reaction which can defend both positions easily and lock them up.

Still needs to improve his decision making and ball handling, which can be easily improved with age and experience.

Last game in a blowout against Manresa, Hezonja had 8/8 from 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzbXWYiGEg8

Maga....Hezonja is a very, very talented player but what in the world are you talking about with him being a good defender? He is awful at defense.

[SpanishACB]

mario is already a top 3 pick any year

[Dr.J4ever]

I know for a fact that he is being closely monitored by the 76ers. Philly will draft very high this year and many fans are keenly discussing Super Mario.

Our GM, Hinkie, likes long athletic players that can play multiple positions. Defense is a primary consideration.

How has his development been going?

[Andrew Wiggins]

Based on what?

i watch these guys every week and porzingis has skills that few 7 footers in the nba have.

there's several wings with hezonja's size and ability that declare for the draft every year. he's also not a good defender. at all

[Luka27]

Did I see correctly that result was 64:13 at one moment? :biggums:

[hawksdogsbraves]

Did I see correctly that result was 64:13 at one moment? :biggums:

You certainly did. The Spanish league is tough man, tough from top to bottom :bowdown:

[SpanishACB]

How has his development been going?

he's already playing at pro level, found his way into the rotation of europe's arguably most in form team at the moment.

with him it's just a matter of when and not if.

[GOBB]

he's already playing at pro level, found his way into the rotation of europe's arguably most in form team at the moment.

with him it's just a matter of when and not if.

You really did a piss poor job detailing his development. i mean shit in this very thread people are questioning his defense. Has it improved? Has his team defense improved? You cant get much from your post about how his development has actually gone. :confusedshrug:

I guess that is why you have 2 red boxes. Lets see if I can get you up to three.

[SpanishACB]

You really did a piss poor job detailing his development. i mean shit in this very thread people are questioning his defense. Has it improved? Has his team defense improved? You cant get much from your post about how his development has actually gone. :confusedshrug:

I guess that is why you have 2 red boxes. Lets see if I can get you up to three.

if you're asking me to put more effort in my posting by teasing me with some sort of internet karma system then I think you assume I care as much as you do.

wrong! I'm not like you, sorry.

[pauk]

Great shooter....

[Maga_1]

I actually don't know how you guys say that he's a bad defender, i really don't understand that.
I think he's agood 1 on1 defender, just needs to get used to rotations and being focus on defense... but at his age, i think he's an above average defender.

About his development i think the talent is all there and it's clear right now. He's improving (slowly), he's trying to develop his main weakness - consistency - while being a good option off the bench.

Comparing with someone that US fellows might have seen in NCAA this year in limited minutes, imagine a much more mature and proven talent Mykhailiuk from Kansas.

[Maga_1]

Ohh and about Porzingis, yea he definitelly has all the physical tools and shows glimpses of good footwork but i think he is still a very unfinished project.

But that's me, i tend to very stubborn about interior young players :lol

[Milbuck]

Wanted him on the Bucks. Heard he had some off the court problems, but I love his game. He's projected #10 on DX, and we should end up with the 16th or 17th pick..if only we could trade up.

[Euroleague]

I know for a fact that he is being closely monitored by the 76ers. Philly will draft very high this year and many fans are keenly discussing Super Mario.

Our GM, Hinkie, likes long athletic players that can play multiple positions. Defense is a primary consideration.

How has his development been going?

Not this crap again...........

You do this endlessly with Saric, calling him a "point forward", "tweener", small forward/power forward, "combo forward", etc., when he is a pure power forward.

Now you start this same crap with Hezonja? This guy is a shooting guard. PERIOD. Just stop it.

[Euroleague]

i watch these guys every week and porzingis has skills that few 7 footers in the nba have.

there's several wings with hezonja's size and ability that declare for the draft every year. he's also not a good defender. at all

Not to say that Prozingis isn't skilled, but you might want to frame your argument differently. Skilled and NBA 7 footer is generally an oxymoron.

To say few NBA 7 footers have the skills, is not saying much, as the number of 7 footers in the NBA with skills is almost to be counted on one hand.

[Euroleague]

I actually don't know how you guys say that he's a bad defender, i really don't understand that.
I think he's agood 1 on1 defender, just needs to get used to rotations and being focus on defense... but at his age, i think he's an above average defender.

About his development i think the talent is all there and it's clear right now. He's improving (slowly), he's trying to develop his main weakness - consistency - while being a good option off the bench.

Comparing with someone that US fellows might have seen in NCAA this year in limited minutes, imagine a much more mature and proven talent Mykhailiuk from Kansas.

Hmmmm...........

Well, I really can't possibly imagine how you could say he's a good defender. He seems like a terrible defender to me, but OK, whatever.

Anyway, he's obviously an offensive type of player, and that's what the NBA is all about anyway - offense. Regardless of what NBA fans think, no one cares about defense in the NBA and it really does not matter at all.

So, it's really a non issue if he's looking to play in the NBA. The main thing they care about in today's NBA for a two guard is ability to run the floor, handle the ball, and shoot the 3, and he's fantastic, especially considering his age and level of experience, in all of those areas.

If he went to a team like Golden State.............he could be an orgasmic type player, once he matured.

[Dr.J4ever]

Not this crap again...........

You do this endlessly with Saric, calling him a "point forward", "tweener", small forward/power forward, "combo forward", etc., when he is a pure power forward.

Now you start this same crap with Hezonja? This guy is a shooting guard. PERIOD. Just stop it.

Why are you always so mad?

I never said Saric is one of the players Hinkie was looking to play multiple positions. I understand he's a PF, but with Mario, I was genuinely asking for more information about him.

You see the 76ers will be an emerging team. We have multiple players who can already play multiple positions defensively. We have elite athletes with length playing PG, SG, SF in MCW, Jakar Sampson, KJ Mcdaniel, Jeremy Grant, and we even have a PF/Center in Noel who will be able to defend on the perimeter. Add Embiid to this mix, and you get the idea about the 76ers bright future.

I believe I read somewhere that Mario is an athletic 6'7 SG. If he is, he could probably play SF too since both positions in the NBA can be interchangeable these days. I was hoping you were kind enough to give some information.

That's all. No need for you to go catatonic.

[Rooster]

i watch these guys every week and porzingis has skills that few 7 footers in the nba have.

there's several wings with hezonja's size and ability that declare for the draft every year. he's also not a good defender. at all

Hezonja probably soft just like most Euros are. :oldlol: Can't play defense with a little bump here and there .

[vinvin01]

Wanted him on the Bucks. Heard he had some off the court problems, but I love his game. He's projected #10 on DX, and we should end up with the 16th or 17th pick..if only we could trade up.
Why would you want him on the Bucks when you have 2 great prospects on the wing (Parker et Giannis) and Inglis that is a good prospect and could become a good role player ?

If I'm the Bucks, I'm definitely trying to find a big man or a point guard.

[GOBB]

Hmmmm...........

Well, I really can't possibly imagine how you could say he's a good defender. He seems like a terrible defender to me, but OK, whatever.

Anyway, he's obviously an offensive type of player, and that's what the NBA is all about anyway - offense. Regardless of what NBA fans think, no one cares about defense in the NBA and it really does not matter at all.

So, it's really a non issue if he's looking to play in the NBA. The main thing they care about in today's NBA for a two guard is ability to run the floor, handle the ball, and shoot the 3, and he's fantastic, especially considering his age and level of experience, in all of those areas.

If he went to a team like Golden State.............he could be an orgasmic type player, once he matured.

Yeah because no one talks about Harden not playing defense. Or Carmelo Anthony. Or Kevin Love. :rolleyes:

[Euroleague]

Why are you always so mad?

I never said Saric is one of the players Hinkie was looking to play multiple positions. I understand he's a PF, but with Mario, I was genuinely asking for more information about him.

You see the 76ers will be an emerging team. We have multiple players who can already play multiple positions defensively. We have elite athletes with length playing PG, SG, SF in MCW, Jakar Sampson, KJ Mcdaniel, Jeremy Grant, and we even have a PF/Center in Noel who will be able to defend on the perimeter. Add Embiid to this mix, and you get the idea about the 76ers bright future.

I believe I read somewhere that Mario is an athletic 6'7 SG. If he is, he could probably play SF too since both positions in the NBA can be interchangeable these days. I was hoping you were kind enough to give some information.

That's all. No need for you to go catatonic.

Hezonja is more like 6-8 by the looks of him. Remember as I have told you here over and over, most of the players in Euroleague are listed in barefoot height, not shoes height like in the NBA. Euroleague players are on average taller than NBA players.

Due to that the guards are much bigger in Euroleague and that the players are mostly listed barefoot (just how they tend to do it).

Hezonja looks to me to be more like 6-8, than the 6-6 or 6-7 you see him listed at. Which makes sense, because again, players are usually listed barefoot.

Just like how Saric is really probably more like 6-11 for example. I mean looking at him, he looks a good 6-10 to 6-11. Where NBA fans call him "undersized" and say he's 6-9 or 6-10. Again, players are listed barefoot there. He's also bigger than Americans grasp.

Anyway, on Hezonja playing SF, yes he obviously has the size, since he's about 6-8, but he has no game of a SF at all and he is not defending anyone at all. So if you want defense and length and playing multiple positions, he makes no sense for your draft pick.

He's pretty much 100% a pure two guard and that's it. Because all he does is handle the ball, pass it, and shoot it. He really provides nothing else to a team. So that generally isn't something you look for in a swingman, and certainly not in a wing defender, and it is really not what a small forward is usually looked to do either.

I mean he's basically just a big two guard that can shoot, pass, and handle the ball.......you know Kevin Martin style. But would you ever imagine Kevin Martin at small forward? I think not.

[Milbuck]

Why would you want him on the Bucks when you have 2 great prospects on the wing (Parker et Giannis) and Inglis that is a good prospect and could become a good role player ?

If I'm the Bucks, I'm definitely trying to find a big man or a point guard.
Giannis and Jabari are our 3/4 going forward, Hezonja's a 2. I know we need a PG but not at the expense of losing out on a talent like Hezonja. I'd go BPA if he's still available.

[Euroleague]

Giannis and Jabari are our 3/4 going forward, Hezonja's a 2. I know we need a PG but not at the expense of losing out on a talent like Hezonja. I'd go BPA if he's still available.

That team is great for running and regular season and everything...just don't expect to ever do shit in the playoffs with such a team like that.

It's the east, so first round is easy, but even in 2nd round you might get a team that can play in half court, certainly in conference finals you will. No one can play defense out of those 3. Absolutely horrible man defense in half court.

Hezonja can't guard his man and neither can Giannis and your 4 then is both too slow and too small. Teams like Bulls, Wizards, Hawks, etc would annihilate a team like that.

Unless you are drafting Hezonja to be your 6th man, and/or trading Parker.

[Dr.J4ever]

Hezonja is more like 6-8 by the looks of him. Remember as I have told you here over and over, most of the players in Euroleague are listed in barefoot height, not shoes height like in the NBA. Euroleague players are on average taller than NBA players.

Due to that the guards are much bigger in Euroleague and that the players are mostly listed barefoot (just how they tend to do it).

Hezonja looks to me to be more like 6-8, than the 6-6 or 6-7 you see him listed at. Which makes sense, because again, players are usually listed barefoot.

Just like how Saric is really probably more like 6-11 for example. I mean looking at him, he looks a good 6-10 to 6-11. Where NBA fans call him "undersized" and say he's 6-9 or 6-10. Again, players are listed barefoot there. He's also bigger than Americans grasp.

Anyway, on Hezonja playing SF, yes he obviously has the size, since he's about 6-8, but he has no game of a SF at all and he is not defending anyone at all. So if you want defense and length and playing multiple positions, he makes no sense for your draft pick.

He's pretty much 100% a pure two guard and that's it. Because all he does is handle the ball, pass it, and shoot it. He really provides nothing else to a team. So that generally isn't something you look for in a swingman, and certainly not in a wing defender, and it is really not what a small forward is usually looked to do either.

I mean he's basically just a big two guard that can shoot, pass, and handle the ball.......you know Kevin Martin style. But would you ever imagine Kevin Martin at small forward? I think not.

See, when you want to, you come up with good analysis.

I didn't know that he's not much of a defender, but is he a very good athlete-as in speed, jumping ability(highlight dunks), etc..?

Because if he is a very good athlete, like I heard, then all it takes is effort on his part and coaching to make him good defensively.

[shallehalle]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ACuB0Hm4I

Porzingis

[Andrew Wiggins]

Not to say that Prozingis isn't skilled, but you might want to frame your argument differently. Skilled and NBA 7 footer is generally an oxymoron.

To say few NBA 7 footers have the skills, is not saying much, as the number of 7 footers in the NBA with skills is almost to be counted on one hand.

take off your tinfoil hat and stop being a contrarian, paranoid, little bitch boy all the time :lol

[Euroleague]

See, when you want to, you come up with good analysis.

I didn't know that he's not much of a defender, but is he a very good athlete-as in speed, jumping ability(highlight dunks), etc..?

Because if he is a very good athlete, like I heard, then all it takes is effort on his part and coaching to make him good defensively.

Yeah, he's athletic, but not the kind of athletic you are talking about. He's a run and jump and explosive athlete. He's not a move and lateral quickness athlete.

And just remember that I am the actual one telling the truth on that kind of stuff, because before Papanikolaou came to the NBA, remember all those people coming here and saying how "athletic" he was and remember i kept saying he was not athletic and he was slow as freaking hell?

Yeah well..............I WAS OBVIOUSLY TELLING THE TRUTH and was 100% RIGHT and all those people saying I was "lying" and "trolling" totally disappeared.

Like I said, Papanikolaou was the slowest small forward in Euroleague, that sure the hell is not "athletic", yet a whole bunch of people were coming here and trolling saying how he was "athletic", was "one of the most athletic players in Europe". blah blah blah

People don't understand how basic athleticism works I guess if they didn't play sports, or especially if they didn't play the actual sport we are discussing. And if some guy dunks or blocks a shot and there is a highlight of it, then he must be "athletic"...........

But no, that's actually an athletic play, it does not necessarily mean you are athletic.

So just trust what i am saying, as everything I said about Papanikolaou was true.

And if you will go back, EVERYTHING I said about Rubio has been proven true - NO ONE here even dares attempt to question or debate that now. And pretty much everything I said about Mirotic is already proven true, and even though some trolls tried to question that here a few times, everyone pretty much has already learned to keep their mouths shut on that too.

So what I am saying is - yes Hezonja is athletic, but it's all running to a certain spot and in a straight line, and jumping to explode to the basket. He really doesn't do much more than that, although he does have very good body control also around the basket, agility, and good quickness with the ball.

But he does not show much of anything in terms of quickness or speed laterally or movement with his feet. So you can't just say this nonsense like, "he is athletic so all the NBA coach has to do is coach him up and with effort he will be a good defender".

No..........because he does not have those tools physically, no matter how athletic he is. And he plays on a team and for a coach that absolutely DEMANDS defense and DEMANDS absolute effort on defense and that coaches players to all one to one and team defense and all fundamental aspects of it.

He is already getting the best coaching possible as it is.

This argument is the same nonsense people kept saying as, "once Rubio comes to the NBA and gets actual real pro coaches, and not those minor league coaches in Spain, he will actually learn to shoot." Yeah..........still waiting on that one. :rolleyes:

It's just a bunch of bullshit. Hezonja is indeed athletic, and with proper technique and effort you can do good on defense, but he's always going to be a bit slow with his feet and a bit weak physically, and he's going to be a bit over sized as a two guard, so just slow in general in trying to defend.

So that does not translate into a "good defender". But like I said, in the NBA that's not really what teams are worried about or looking for these days with the reffing and the rules and the style of play out of a two guard. It just does not matter that much. You can always have a designated wing defender on the team anyway.

Teams really are looking for those two guards that can handle, pass, shoot, create their own shot, drive, create for others, shoot the 3, have long range - stuff like that. Hezonja fits all of that.

He's perfect in a team looking to play a certain style of basketball like the Warriors play. Put him in a system like that, where you can just shoot 3s all day and not worry about it, and he would be perfect. I don't think he fits as well in a team that is more structured, because he's definitely very, very trigger happy.

[kurple]

do you really think anyone will read that?

[GOBB]

do you really think anyone will read that?

Seriously. This guy is a nut job. You give a prospect props and he bashes them. You don't give a prospect props, he praises them. It's like he drool whenever he sees a post to go against for virtually no reason.

[Andrew Wiggins]

Seriously. This guy is a nut job. You give a prospect props and he bashes them. You don't give a prospect props, he praises them. It's like he drool whenever he sees a post to go against for virtually no reason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histrionic_personality_disorder