By ADAM ZAGORIA
Mohamed Bamba’s measurements at the NBA Draft Combine surely have NBA decision-makers intrigued.
The one-and-done star from Harlem, N.Y., and Texas posted a 7-foot-10 wingspan, the longest at the Combine, three inches more than Kansas freshman Udoka Azubuike and almost five inches more than Michigan State freshman Jaren Jackson Jr.
Longest wingspans at the ’18 #NBA combine
1. Mo Bamba (7’10)
2. Udoka Azubuike (7’7)
3. Jaren Jackson (7’5.25)
T-4. Isaac Haas / Austin Wiley (7’5)
6. Ray Spalding (7’4.75)
7. Wendell Carter (7’4.5)
8. Bruno Fernando (7’4.25)
9. Kevin Hervey (7’3.5)
10. Keita Bates-Diop (7’3.25) pic.twitter.com/tQttHKlPVB— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) May 17, 2018
Historically speaking, Bamba has a longer wingspan than Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside and JaVale McGee.
Here’s a look at how 20-year-old #Texas center prospect Mo Bamba’s 2018 #nbadraft combine measurements stack up historically, according to the @DraftExpress database pic.twitter.com/027puo5hl2
— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) May 17, 2018
The 7-foot Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks during his lone season in college.
Still, he told ESPN he’s “totally changed” his shooting mechanics since his time at Texas.
“Oh, everything,” he said on air Thursday. “I’ve lowered my shooting pocket, jumping forward, keeping my elbow out instead of tucked in. My mechanics are really coming along.”
He added: “I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people with how much feel I have on the offensive end.”
Bamba told ESPN he’s so far done 13 interviews at the Combine.
“I just wanted to get a feel for everyone,” he said. “The same way how they’re interviewing me is the same way how I wanted to interview them, and get as much information as possible.”
He’s currently projected as the No. 5 pick to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Draft, and like Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, Bamba is going through the Draft process without an agent.
Bamba is also expanding his business interests as he heads to the NBA. He’s the Chairman and Founder of Lenox Partners, the umbrella business that Bamba founded with mentor Greer Love to handle all of his various interests.
“Bamba’s rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote.
“He brings a ton of defensive potential, including the versatility to step out onto smaller players, though he also can float at times and doesn’t always look engaged on the floor.”
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