YPSILANTI, MI - DECEMBER 18: Emoni Bates #21 of the Eastern Michigan Eagles dribbles the ball ... [+] during a college basketball game against the Detroit Mercy Titans at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on December 18, 2022 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesEmoni Bates, the 6-foot-9 prospect once called “a young Kevin Durant,” began his NBA pre-draft workouts this week with the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets, who own five picks in the June 22 Draft, are said to be intrigued by Bates, who averaged 19.2 points on 40.5% shooting – 33.0% from 3-point range – 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30 games (29 starts) this past season at Eastern Michigan. Bates, who spent his freshman season at Memphis, was the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year and ESPN’s No. 3 high school prospect in 2021.
“The workout was great. Good energy, everybody was on the same page locked in,” Bates said of the workout in a video posted by the Hornets. “Everybody just trying to get better, it’s positive energy in here. So you know, I love that environment.”
Charlotte is the type of team that could take a flyer on Bates because of their plethora of picks: they pick in the lottery and then own Nos. 27, 34, 39 and 41.
Once upon a time, Bates was in the mix for the one of the top spots in this summer’s draft — maybe the top spot. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 15-year-old and was called “a young Kevin Durant” by ESPN and was said to “often resemble a 6’ 9” Stephen Curry” in the SI story.
But a lot has happened since then. The short version is Bates was on his second school after transferring to Eastern Michigan from Memphis, and last fall he had felony gun charges dropped after he was pulled over by police while driving someone else’s car. A gun and weed were found in the vehicle.
A source close to Bates’ camp said earlier this year they had spoken with 20 teams and his draft projection ranges from 20-45, which sounds about right.
“He will be a polarizing guy,” one NBA scout said of Bates. “I would guess someone will take a chance.”
“He’s a talented offensive player who right now is a 2nd-round pick,” a second NBA executive said. “Risky, but worth the risk.”
In January, made national news by scoring 29 straight pointsin the first half of Eastern Michigan’s 84-79 loss to Toledo and finished with 43 on 65% shooting while going 9-of-14 from three.
“That dude is an offensive player,” ESPN’s Seth Greenbergsaid on air after the game.
Bates also scored 36 in a loss to South Carolina, 30 in a loss to then-No. 22 Michigan, 29 in a loss to Florida Atlantic and 26 twice, most recently in a Jan. 7 win over Central Michigan.
“He started getting compared to Kevin Durant, and that’s hard for any young person," Michigan coach Juwan Howard, an NBA veteran, said after the game on Nov. 11.
He added: “There’s a chance for this young man to do some special things in the game of basketball.”
A year ago, as a 17- and 18-year-old, Bates averaged 9.7 points during a turbulent season under Penny Hardaway at Memphis.
NBA scouts are still weighing Bates’ potential upside.
“I’m all over the place,” a third scout said. “Perspective is a big thing with that one. I think it’s about deciphering who the kid is compared to the background and story…if he can be salvaged … what type of kid is he? Does he value winning? Can he do things other than scoring that impact the bottom line?”
It will be fascinating to see where he lands in the Draft, but Charlotte has enough picks to take a chance.
Adam Zagoria, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2023/05/06/emoni-bates-works-out-for-charlotte-hornets-who-own-5-nba-draft-picks/
By: Adam Zagoria, Contributor
Title: Emoni Bates Works Out For Charlotte Hornets, Who Own 5 NBA Draft Picks
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2023/05/06/emoni-bates-works-out-for-charlotte-hornets-who-own-5-nba-draft-picks/
Published Date: 05-06-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greatest NBA Dynasty ever?
This topic is hotly debated and has been talked about for decades. The "showtime Lakers of 1980-1989" dominated the league for nearly a decade, winning five championships led by Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During this period, the Lakers featured stars such as James Worthy (Byron Scott), and Kurt Rambis.
From 200 to 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers (later known as Shaw and Kobe Lakers) were a formidable force. They were defeated by Shaquille Bryant and Kobe Bryant, both Hall of Famers. They won three consecutive championships between 2000 and 2002.
The 1990s Chicago Bulls were also a dominant force, winning six championships as a team under Phil Jackson, their legendary head coach, and being led by Michael Jordan who is widely considered to be the greatest player ever. The Chico Bulls (1995-1996) are one of the most famous teams in NBA History. They won three consecutive NBA championships and had a record 72 wins. In 2015-2016 the Bulls' 72-10 record for regular season broke by the Golden State Warriors.
The 1960s Boston Celtics were perhaps the most famous dynasty of the NBA. They won eight consecutive championships and eleven titles under Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. Led by legendary players such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones, the Celtics created a winning culture that has been unmatched for decades.
The San Antonio Spurs are also a top contender for the best NBA dynasty. From 1999 to 2007, the Spurs won 4 championships, and had one of league's greatest runs. They were led by future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, as well as Gregg Popovich who was their head coach. Their basketball approach improved, emphasizing team-first mentality, which made them successful.
With four NBA Championships in the past decade, the Golden State Warriors have been one of the most successful basketball teams. They are led by superstar players Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors' exciting brand of basketball has been a hit with fans all over the globe and they are now considered the greatest NBA Dynasty.
It's difficult to pick one team that is the greatest NBA Dynasty. Each team had their own set of coaches and players that made them great, but certain teams stood out because of their dominance. There are many contenders for the title of greatest NBA dynasty, including the Bulls Bulls Celtics Spurs Warriors, Bulls, Bulls, Celtics and Celtics.
Who invented basketball
While the origins of basketball are not known, many believe that James Naismith invented it in 1891, while he was a teacher at Springfield College, now the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Training School. Naismith created the rules and attached a peach basket to an elevated track. He then divided his class of 18 into nine teams and started to teach the basics of his new game called "Basket Ball." The original version featured a soccerball, two peach baskets and a gymnasium. Players could only shoot at the basket from below; goaltending was not yet a part of the game. Basketball spread quickly across America and was soon organized with professional teams playing at large venues. Today, it is one of the most popular sports in the world.
Who was the first to score a basket in the NBA?
Ossie Schectman was an American pro basketball player. He scored the first basket with the Basketball Association of America, which later became the National Basketball Association. The first basket was scored by Ossie Schectman on November 1, 1946 in a game between New York Knickerbockers (Toronto Huskies) and New York Knickerbockers (New York Knickerbockers). Schectman's historic first basket opened up the BAA's inaugural season.
What rivalry does the NBA have?
The NBA's most fierce rivalry is held by Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
The NBA Finals' most-matched teams have been the Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers, who met 12 times. Nine of these meetings have been won by the Celtics. They met for the first time in 1959. However, they continued to excel during the years that followed, particularly in the 1960s and 1980s when they would meet six and three times, respectively. They still met twice in that same year, despite the fact that 2000 was a new millennium.
How long does it take you to become a NBA star?
To be a professional NBA star you need to put in a lot of effort and time. To become a NBA superstar requires years of hardwork, physical conditioning, skill development, and years of dedication. Most players spend between three- and five years at college learning their skills before they can be drafted. Players must excel in the NBA and earn a spot on their team's starting roster. To do so, players must receive professional guidance and training from coaches. The ultimate goal of becoming a NBA superstar is not possible in a few short years. To achieve such honors, you need to be committed, dedicated, and patient. With the right mindset and determination, however, anyone can reach their goals and become an NBA superstar!
How long is a player allowed to stay on waivers
If a NBA player is dismissed by their team during the regular season, they will be on the waiver. Waived NBA players are eligible for a waiver 48 hours before another team can claim them. If more than one team claims the player in that time frame, priority goes to the team with the worst record.
What is the salary cap in NBA?
The NBA salary cap sets a maximum salary that each team can pay. Each year, the league sets this limit. This is to ensure that teams do not sign multiple high-priced players or create an unfair advantage. In order to make trades or sign free agents, teams must remain below the cap. They can go above it if certain exceptions are made, such as offering Bird rights to players or signing them a contract with a portion taken out of the salary cap and the rest as a bonus. The league's salary cap is an integral component and helps ensure that there is a fair balance between the teams.
Statistics
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
External Links
si.com
- NBA Free Agency Preview - Biggest Questions and Rumors
- The NBA Bubble is a Unique Experience.
sbnation.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos
- The lowest ever recorded viewership for Game 1 of the NBA Finals is seen in ratings history
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Join the Victor Wembanyama Tankathon?
- Recent NBA Intel: Sources expect Zach LaVine will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls
How To
Are NBA players compensated for their injuries?
NBA players with guaranteed contracts receive their money in full even when injured and unable to play-- some have even made millions without playing a game. They may lose out on bonuses, though, and their contract may not be renewed after it expires. Non-guaranteed players will not typically receive any pay until their health allows them to return to the NBA. Although the NBA can offer some assistance, such as a lump sum settlement or disability payments, it is not guaranteed that players will receive any pay during an injury absence. On a case by case basis, leagues and teams can assist those in financial need.
A team can also offer some assistance through the Injury Disability Plan. Ultimately, it depends on the individual and his team's situation. In some cases, players may be allowed to bargain with their teams for some compensation during an injury absence. The league and the team cannot guarantee payment for injuries, but players need to be aware that they can help. Each situation is different and should be evaluated individually. The NBA has a comprehensive set of rules regarding injuries and payments during injury absences-- understanding these can help players come to agreements with teams or make informed decisions about their financial security. If you have any questions or concerns it is important to talk with a professional.
