Rockets select Usman Garuba with No. 23 pick

With the No. 23 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected former Real Madrid big man Usman Garuba.

Garuba began his professional career in 2017 with the Spanish club's reserve team. Two years later, he made the full-time leap to the senior team as a 17-year-old, surpassing Luka Doncic as the youngest starter in Real Madrid's storied history.

The Spaniard is already a high-impact defender in arguably the top basketball league outside of the NBA. However, he remains a work in progress on the offensive end. This past season, Garuba earned the EuroLeague Rising Star award as well as the ACB Best Young Player honor.

Bio

Position: F/C
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 229 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-2
Max vertical: N/A

Strengths

• Has the footwork to contain guards and strength to hold his own in the post against big men
• Excellent pick-and-roll defender
• Causes disruption on the perimeter with his active hands and length
• Flashed ball-handling skills in the half court and transition
• Skilled passer out of short rolls

Weaknesses

• Doesn't create much of his own offense
• Despite showing progression on his jumper, he has yet to establish himself as a reliable perimeter threat
• Needs to clean up his shot mechanics
• Undersized at the five