NBA Comparison: Anderson Varejão

Strengths: Solid physical frame with broad shoulders and good lower body balance… Has decent length and a strong base, allowing him to hold his ground in the paint… Runs the floor hard and shows good coordination for his size… Not an explosive athlete, but fluid in his movements and consistently plays with energy…Very efficient around the basket… Uses good timing and footwork to finish in traffic… Capable of sealing deep position and scoring with either hand, especially with short hooks or quick drop steps… Has a knack for finding scoring angles without relying on athleticism… Excellent offensive rebounder who creates second-chance points through activity and positioning… Operates well in Pick and roll situations as a screener, setting strong screens and rolling with purpose… Willing passer who can read the floor on short rolls or kick-outs from the post… Shows awareness and anticipation on the defensive end… Rotates early and positions himself well as a help defender… Uses verticality to contest shots without fouling… Not a shot-blocker by nature, but alters looks with positioning and timing… Good rebounder on the defensive glass—boxes out consistently and limits opponents to one shot… Makes smart decisions and rarely over-commits on closeouts… Measured very well in combine measureents with a 7’1 wingspan a 9’1 standing reach and a 34 inch max vert …

Weaknesses: Solid vertical explosiveness and burst but doesn’t;t seem to fully utilize it in games … Frame has room to fill out, especially in the upper body… Can get bumped off balance by stronger bigs at the next level… Needs to improve core strength to finish through contact and hold post position against physical opponents…Offensive game is still developing outside the paint… Lacks range as a shooter, has not shown confidence or touch beyond mid-range… Free-throw shooting remains inconsistent, which raises questions about long-term shooting projection… Doesn’t have advanced counters when his first move is cut off… Can be predictable when posting up, especially when forced to his left… Not a natural playmaker, sees the floor well, but needs to process decisions quicker under pressure… Still learning how to handle switches and tighter passing windows… Defensively, his lack of quickness can be exposed in space… Has trouble staying in front of faster forwards or containing on the perimeter after switches… Doesn’t offer much as a rim protector due to limited lift… Relies more on positioning than intimidation in the paint… Must improve defensive stance and lateral mobility to stay on the floor against smaller, quicker lineups…

Overall: Almansa is a high-motor, modern big with a polished inside game, strong rebound instincts, and the IQ to contribute in short-rolls and passing out of the post… His pedigree at international youth tournaments and experience across Overtime Elite, G League Ignite, and the NBL show a player with pro polish and adaptability… The path to being an NBA rotation regular goes through improving his strength, consistent shooting, and defensive versatility… In the right developmental context, he projects as a valuable bench big—a role-player who can finish, rebound, screen, and space the floor just enough… With time and physical traction, he could become more than a situational piece—for now, he’s a motivated, skilled interior player with intriguing upside…

Notes: Izan Almansa measured 6′ 9.25” barefoot, 220.4 lbs, 7′ 1.75” wingspan, 9′ 1.50” standing reach with a 28.0 no step vertical and 34.0 maximum vertical at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. … Measured 6′ 9.25” barefoot, 9′ 2.00” standing reach, 219.6 lbs, 7′ 1.00” wingspan, 28 standing vert, 35 max vert at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine …

Stefanos Makris 6/26/25