3 NBA Draft Prospects for the Memphis Grizzlies Entering February

The Double Down

The next NBA Draft prospect to examin is essentially the 6’7″ version of the Memphis Grizzlies’ current first round selection, Jaren Jackson Jr.

This prospect is currently enrolled as a North Carolina Tar Heel and he goes by the name of his Nassir Little, also known as the closest prospect there has been to Kawhi Leonard.

Little has freakish measurements with a 7’1″ wingspan and an already NBA-ready frame, weighing around 215 pounds. Nassir, like the previous two NBA Draft prospects mentioned, has his struggles from deep in shooting only 25%, but his form is surprisingly decent.  He has shown improvement the past couple of years, too.

Nassir is also surprisingly decent in putting the ball on the floor to create a shot and he makes the most of the very small amount of minutes Roy Williams is giving him at UNC. Little averages nearly 11 points and over four rebounds per game, but does so in less than 19 minutes per outing. Amazingly, he does it all at 51% from the field despite the long-ball troubles!

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That is a kid making it happen in samples, which is also something Jaren Jackson Jr. experienced in his only season under Tom Izzo at Michigan State.

Nassir Little has absolute lockdown potential as a defender, latching onto guys like a pitbull, easily covering positions one through three as well as most stretch forwards. He is highly explosive with hands as big as some torsos. Little serves as a great offensive rebounder at his size, usually as a put-back king who has a knack for tip-in dunks specifically.

The UNC prospect does not waste any time producing on the harwood, which is great to know of a high-potential, but raw, prospect. It means he is not lazy nor lacking much confidence. Little’s 51% from the field helps, but knowing his per-36 stats are 20 points and nine rebounds per outing says this kid has elite two-way potential — again, dare I say to the level of a Kawhi Leonard.

Nassir’s per-36 stats alone are even better than Jaren Jackson Jr. last year, plus their builds are so similar that it is essentially completing the Hoops Avatar set. Imagine this talent next to Dillon Brooks, Jevon Carter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. with the intensity and defensive energy. It would be absolute euphoria for the Memphis Grizzlies.