Guest Post: 2017 NBA Draft prospect Kostja Mushidi has all the makings of a star

Evan Wheeler writes about the Denver Nuggets for FanSided’s NuggLove. You can follow him on Twitter @EvWheelz.

If all the hype surrounding Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram has you focused entirely on the 2016 NBA Draft right now, that’s OK. Just know that Germany’s Kostja Mushidi, who will be eligible to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft, is waiting for his time to shine.

Mushidi first burst onto the scene during the 2014 FIBA U16 Championships. Germany only finished seventh in the standings, but Mushidi made a lasting impression by scoring 28 points in the team’s final game against Bosnia. He spent the rest of the year playing for the Dragons Rhoendorf of the German Pro B league, but he only appeared in 18 games for the club and averaged 2.9 points per game.

Mushidi then set the Euro scouting community ablaze with his performances during the FIBA U18 Championships. It was there where he averaged 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while playing 25.4 minutes per game for Germany. He caught the attention of scouts from the get-go, scoring 16 points in Germany’s opening game of the tournament against Serbia. Mushidi never looked back, either, finishing with double-digit scoring numbers in seven of Germany’s nine games.  

Mushidi is currently playing for Strasbourg’s youth team in the Euroleague. He signed a two year deal back in August, with fellow European prospect Frank Ntilikina playing a major role in his recruitment. Mushidi has had a promising start with the team with impressive averages of 17.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in the Espoirs league. 

Mushidi is a projected first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by most draft analysts. Personally, I view him as a top ten player given his two way potential at the next level. Let’s take a look at why that’s the case.

Defense

Mushidi is already a tremendous defender, showcasing the potential to be an NBA All-Defense type of talent down the road. He has the motivation and mindset of an elite defender, too, which is rarely seen from a player his age.

“I love playing defense,” Mushidi told Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress during the FIBA U18 European Championship. “I love getting into guys heads and to get on their nerves.”

What makes Mushidi special is his versatility as he’s proven capable of sticking with opponents on and off the ball. Thanks to his solid lateral quickness and quick feet, Mushidi is an effective on-ball defender and he does a good job of getting into a low stance and staying in front of his assignment. He gets physical with opponents off ball, too, fighting hard to get through screens and forcing his man to work for position. 

Mushidi’s length (6-4 wingspan) also allows him to patrol the passing lanes and crash the defensive glass, as you can see below:

The only time Mushidi struggles on the defensive end is in the pick and roll. He occasionally reads a screen wrong, leaving his big in a 2-on-1 situation. Mushidi is still an adequate pick and roll defender, however, and should only improve with time.

Offense

While Mushidi is great defensively, there’s a lot to like about him on offense — he has a well rounded skill set for a player of his age. He has proven himself as a capable playmaker, operating best with the ball in his hands. Ultimately, I see him as a combo guard who can play both the one and the two, especially if he improves as a shooter.

Mushidi has impressive vision, but he’s also a willing passer with a great feel in the pick and roll, where he can be utilized as a dual threat. Below are a few examples of Mushidi showing his ability as a playmaker in pick and roll situations.

Mushidi is a capable shooter at this point in his young career, though he’s much better shooting off the catch than the dribble. While he has solid mechanics overall and a fairly quick release, he shoots with his elbow extended outward too much at times. Mushidi only hit 30 percent of the 3s he attempted in the FIBA U18 European Championships, but he shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc in three of Germany’s nine games during the tournament.

Mushidi still has strides to make when it comes to creating his own shot. He has the quickness and explosiveness to get past defenders and into the lane, but generally struggles to create for himself off the dribble. Mushidi is a good athlete, though, who finishes at the rim and has the length to score through contact, leaving reason to believe he’ll improve in time.

Mushidi is also dynamite in transition, where he uses his quickness and athleticism to put pressure on the defense in the open floor. He’s particularly good at grabbing a defensive rebound and pushing the ball immediately up the court. Here’s a prime example, where you see Mushidi grab the defensive rebound, turn on the jets and explode to the rim for an easy two in transition.

Demeanor

The biggest reason I believe Mushidi can be a franchise player at the next level is his demeanor. Mushidi is not afraid to mix it up and talk some trash with his opponents. He’s already a fiery competitor and has no problem letting this show on the floor. He isn’t going to back down from anybody, either, and he has the drive as a competitor to be the best. He will need to learn when and when not to let his emotions show as he matures, but he has the personality of a star.

Conclusion

This is far from a final evaluation of Kostja Mushidi since more things will be exposed about his game over the next two years. At this moment in time, though, I believe Mushidi is a elite talent whose ceiling will only get higher. While DraftExpress has him ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the 2017 NBA Draft, Mushidi has the skillset to become a dominant two-way player. He needs to improve as a shooter, but it’s hard not to fall in love with his raw tools and confidence.

“Definitely LeBron James,” said Mushidi when asked who his biggest inspiration is. “He’s 30 years old and he’s a dominant player in the league right now. He’s just making buckets, passes and taking rebounds, and that’s what I want to be like. I just want to be dominant, I want to be a game changer like him. He’s definitely a game changer and that’s who I look up to.”

Whenever he decides to make the jump to the NBA — which could be as soon as 2017 — there is no doubt in my mind that Mushidi should be a lottery pick. Just don’t forget his name between now and then.