(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Not so long ago, Emoni Bates was considered to be one of the can’t-miss talents on his way to the NBA.
He was viral and famous as a high school player, drawing comparisons to Kevin Durant and looking like one of the stars of the future.
But several off-court issues hurt his draft stock, up to the point where he wasn’t even a one-and-done player and had to transfer before falling all the way to the No. 49 pick, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking a chance on him.
Notably, it seems like that opportunity is paying off, as the Ann Arbor native has been on an offensive tear during the NBA 2K Summer League, once again showcasing those God-given traits and scoring ability that put him in the spotlight years ago.
Emoni Bates has been impressive so far at NBA Summer League @BatesEmoni pic.twitter.com/Piyf6jxfhf
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) July 10, 2023
Bates is a natural bucket-getter and someone who could be a plug-and-play guy in the league because of his shot-making skills.
But just like has happened with multiple talented players before him, there are some red flags and concerns about his character and off-court behavior, and he’ll have to work quite hard to turn the narrative around about him.
That’s the kind of elite value a team hopes to get with the No. 49 pick.
He could turn out to be a legit rotation player and even a perennial All-Star if he stays locked in, and the risk is pretty much non-existent.
Bates still has a chance to fulfill his destiny in the league, and it’ll be up to him to fulfill his true potential or not.
The post Cavs’ 2nd Round Pick Is Turning Heads In Summer League appeared first on The Cold Wire.