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.