NBA Comparison: Alain Digbeu /Sam Young

Strengths: Aboudou possesses NBA level athleticism and strength for a wing player … He is very adept in reading the defense and back cutting off the ball and finishing with authority with alley-oops … Likes going baseline and good at finishing around the rim … Looks for easy baskets and goes strong to the hole which has helped him keep a 45% shooting clip from the field which is good for a wing player … His body is NBA ready which is rare for players coming from France … Has played and seen personal and team success at the highest level of competition in Europe … Has played in the highest French league for the top team for a few years now with Chalon, who were champions of France in 2012 … Played over 120 minutes in Euroleague competition in 2013 shooting 49.5% from the field … Has learned how to come off the bench and be a role player for elite teams which should help him transitioning to the NBA … Because of his athleticism and strength, has been asked and shown the ability to defend some 4’s …

Weaknesses: He has played a 3/4 for Chalon, mostly roaming the baseline and will need to transition to more of a 2/3 wing perimeter player to have success in the NBA … Could be closer to 6’5 than 6’6, so he’s undersized for a SF … While his shooting form has good fundamentals he has neither confidence in his jump shot nor great results … He is a high 50% to low 60% free throw shooter and shoots 3 pointers in the low 30% … Tentative to take any jump shot outside of a wide open three … Does not have a mid range game … Needs to find a counter move other than driving to the hole … Handles still need some tightening … Only averaged 16 minutes per game as a role player for Chalon …

Outlook: You can not teach the natural strength and athleticism that Aboudou possesses … With some work on his outside shot he could become a rotational player at the NBA level. It would be of no surprise if an NBA team picks him somewhere in the second round …

Eric Guilleminault 4/26/13