Azuolas Tubelis

Position: Power forward

Team: Arizona

Height: 211 cm / 6’11″

Weight: 111 kg / 245lbs

Wingspan: 211 cm / 6’11”

Born: March 22, 2002

Lithuanian power forward Azuolas Tubelis had good years in NCAA for Arizona and this season, he was a double-double machine. Tubelis helped his team win the Pac-12 tournament and was named to the AP 2nd Team and first team All-Pac-12. Though Tubelis is not on most of the draft experts’ big boards and his chances to get selected in the 2023 NBA Draft doesn’t seem guaranteed, he has a lot to offer and seems like even if he ends up undrafted, he is ready to continue with his professional basketball career and will not go back to college. 

STATS

• Averages:

35 games, 30.2 min, 19.8 pts, 9.1 reb (2.7 off reb), 2 ast, 1.1 stl, 0.7 blk, ( 57% FG%, 31.3% 3P%, 76.4% FT%)

• Per40:

26.4 pts, 11.9 reb (3.4 off reb), 2.7 ast, 1.7 stl, 1 blk 

• Advanced Stats:

119.1 ORTG, 94.7 DRTG, 62.0 % TS%, 10.7 OREB%, 21.8 DREB%, 16.7 REB%, 14.1 AST%, 2.1 STL%, 2.3 BLK%

STRENGTHS

• Good feel for the game.
• Can initiate the offense after grabbing the rebound.
• Solid rebounder, uses his body well and has good timing, can create and finish second chance points.
• Has nice footwork and post moves, knows how to get to the basket and finish with his left hand often using the backboard to his advantage.
• Has great timing for deflections and steals.
• Runs the floor well for his position, can finish fast break opportunities.
• A fierce competitor, has passion for the game.
• Has good face to face offense especially against bigs who have slower first step.

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Tends to commit easy and unnecessary fouls
• Is a good finisher inside the paint but does not have the softest touch, can miss the easiest shots or get lost around the rim especially when guarded by bigs.
• A hustle defender with good hands but not fast enough to guard wings nor big enough to be a solid rim protector.
• Does not have a strong mid-range game, tends to try floaters when he’s closer to the paint but his shooting is not a huge threat.
• His athleticism is likely to lack in the NBA on both ends
• Too dependent on his left hand
• Shows glimpses of passing skills but does not seem like he has what it takes to become a playmaking big.
• Does not stretch the floor well, did not play many pick and pops for Arizona and his 3-point shooting needs a lot of work.
• Not a solid screen setter, needs much more screen assists and PnR plays to have a place in the NBA with his playing style.

OUTLOOK

Azuolas Tubelis can contribute to NBA teams with his rebounding skills and scoring around the rim but it might be hard for him to stay on the floor because of various aspects of his game. Tubelis is not a huge weapon behind the 3-point line although he shows some upside. His athleticism is likely to be adequate for EuroLeague level but with his size and strength, him staying in front of NBA bigs is not so likely. His game is often compared with Domantas Sabonis but his upside as a playmaker and screen setter is not even close with Sabonis’, who is probably the best screen setter in the NBA and one of the best playmaking bigs. If he improves his shooting and becomes an elite finisher around the rim with better PnR plays and playmaking skills, he can be a solid rotation player in the NBA. He’s been practicing for some NBA teams and there is a chance for him to get drafted in the late second round. For now, he seems more like a EuroLeague player to me but I also believe even if he ends up being undrafted, he’ll get chances to prove himself in the Summer League.

Azuolas Tubelis (PF | 208 cm |  ‘02) ~ Lithuania

16.6 pts, 2FG-47.2%, 3FG-25.0%, FT-65.7%, 8.9 rebs, 2.9 ast, 2.4 stl, 2.9 to, 1.0 blks

Maybe Azuolas is the player that made the most highlight plays in the tournament. Strong and athletic player that feels comfortable in transition where he is really hard to stop. Loves to run the floor and even capable of pushing forward after securing a rebound. Very good rebounder, has good motor and feel for rebounds and knows how to use his athleticism and strong body to create some space. Shooting from distance is still a work in progress. Left hander, his release looks low and a little shaky to me. Active in defense, versatile and can cover much ground and many positions. Capable of defending forward on perimeter and down low. Also showing some great instincts for steals and for blocks when helping from the weak side. There were a lot of left handed power forwards coming out of Lithuania from Paulius Jankunas, Donatas Motiejūnas, Domantas Sabonis and I think Tubelis is somewhere closer to Jankunas and Motiejunas in terms of upside.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Azuolas Tubelis – Arizona

12.2 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.6 BLK, 49.8%, 31.0 3P%

Tubelis put up good numbers during his first collegiate season and was clearly the most impactful European freshman. He led the team in rebounding and was the second highest scorer. Despite missing out on PAC-12 Rookie of the Year to Evan Mobley of USC, Tubelis did make the All-Rookie Team. His ability to stretch the floor on offense and growing versatility on defense, makes him an interesting player to watch the next few years. His interior defense and playmaking need some work, but Tubelis seems to have a bright future ahead of him.

Azuolas Tubelis (’02), Rytas Vilnius, 6’9’’, PF

20.5pts, 2FG-66.7%, 3FG- 0%, FT-73.7%, 12.5rebs, 2.5ast, 2stl, 2.3to, 1.8blks

Started dominating from the first whistle and in the end got selected as an MVP of the tournament. At times the game looked too easy for him, it almost seem like a walk in the park, Azuolas was simply grabbing defensive rebounds, converting them to fast breaks going coast to coast and then to dunks at the other end. Was unstoppable in a straight line, has a bit mechanical dribble and is not the best at changing direction but clearly overpowered other players going downhill and didn’t seemed to be bothered by the contact getting a lot of 2+1 opportunities. Put up solid numbers from the FT line on this occasion after really struggling in the summer at U18’s. Had a lot of success playing face-up, challenging his defender 1 on 1 as well as rolling to the rim off the PnR, on both clearly preferred to go to the left and finish with his more dominant hand which made him a bit predictable. Did a nice job of distributing the ball from inside to shooters or cutters, when noticed traffic under the rim or help coming his way.

Didn’t have much to show from distance, only taking two attempts from behind the arc missing both and usual poor mid-range game, would benefit hugely if he could stretch the floor little bit for his team, but tends to stick to inside game.

Augustas Marciulionis (’02), Rytas Vilnius, 6’3’’, PG

18.3pts, 2FG-63.3%, 3FG- 26.7%, FT-76.7%, 3.8rebs, 6.5ast, 1.3stl, 3to, 0blks

Second player from Rytas who got selected to All-Star five after a very good tournament leading his team to the first place. Always aggressive in the lane, it’s where he usually does most of the damage, nicely separates from his man thanks to confident, dazzling dribble and takes appropriate action depending on defensive rotation. Able to shake off more persistent defenders inside with rapid deceleration or a euro step. Uses well his strength and good body control in the paint and is able to finish through some contact with either hand. Averaged most assists in the tournament, beautifully distributed the ball on his drives and on PnR’s, opens up a lot of opportunities for shooters outside with his drives and kicks, sees passing lanes opening up and takes full advantage of them with good timing.

Scrappy on-ball defender with active hands and always high effort level but I feel like he sacrifices his position too much sometimes to go after steals instead of playing sound positional defence. Doesn’t excel as a shooter, had a fair amount of shots taken from deep late in the clock to ‘’save’’ the possession so that brought the numbers down but still needs to be more consistent in that regard.

Kind of Jankunas with better speed. Fills the statline with blocks, steals, drawn fouls etc. Understands each other with Marciulonis perfectly. Thick in upper and lower body, can jump and drive in straight line. Shaky shooter.