2016 NBA Draft Prospects: Breaking Down NBA Future of Dragan Bender

Dragan Bender’s rise to the top of the 2016 NBA draft discussion was steady and well-documented. From Eurocamp 2013 and the 2014 (Under 18) European Championship to his MVP showing at Basketball Without Borders in 2015, Bender has gradually strengthened his image and built up his NBA resume.

And he’s still just 18 years old. 

Bender doesn’t see too many minutes with Maccabi Tel Aviv, but this season represents just a small piece of the scouting pie for evaluators who’ve been watching him for quite some time. 

With an NBA out in his contract this summer, according to Sportando.com, Bender should be available to come straight to the United States. He’s the top wild card in this year’s draft and a good bet to be one of the first five players taken in June. 

Relevant Stats

In 33 total games between Euroleague, the Israeli Super League and Eurocup, Bender averaged just 12.1 minutes. The good news: Scouts have been watching him since 2013.

During the 13 games in which he played at least 15 minutes, Bender averaged 9.6 points. He also knocked down 26 of his 65 three-point attempts (38.5 percent) in 2015-16—a key stat highlighting his potential as a stretch big in the NBA.

Unfortunately, his 7.3 rebounds per 40.0 minutes is abnormally low for a big man, though it’s also from a relatively tiny sample size. 

Strengths 

At 7’1″, Bender blends NBA center size with a forward’s mobility. He’s not explosive, but he’s light on his feet and nimble with just enough bounce.

His identity in the pros will ultimately revolve around jack-of-all-trades versatility. 

For a teenager his size playing pro ball, Bender has a good-looking shooting stroke with range. His mechanics and 2.5 threes per 40 minutes are highly encouraging. It’s easy to buy his jumper as a future everyday weapon. 

A convincing jumper, along with basketball IQ, suggests Bender isn’t such a such a risky gamble. 

When given the ball and space on the wing, he’s shown he can put it on the floor and finish with body control off one foot. He’s also a threat to take a defensive rebound coast-to-coast or initiate the break.

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