The Klingons’ stock in the college ranks is rising by the day.
On the 18th (KST), local American media ‘Clutchpoint’ reported on the situation of the 2024 NBA Draft.
According to the report, “The Atlanta Hawks, who have the No. 1 pick, are considering selecting Donovan Klingen, a center from the University of Connecticut in the United States.”
The Hawks are said to be interested in Klingon because he’s an immediate impact player who doesn’t need to grow up, and Atlanta is in a position to challenge for the playoffs again next season. NBA sources added that Atlanta is giving 텍사스홀덤 Klingen serious consideration.
Klingon was arguably the best center on the college level. At the University of Connecticut, he played the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons. In both seasons, the team won the NCAA championship.
In his first season, 2022-2023, he was a backup center. Despite playing as a backup center, Klingen was highly regarded for his presence whenever he came out.
In his second season, he was the starting center and dominated the floor. Klingen averaged 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game and was a dominant presence on defense. Klingen’s contribution to Connecticut’s championship run was immense.
Klingen’s biggest strengths are his 6-foot-8 height and 6-foot-9 wingspan. Klingen has been known for his physicality since high school, and he’s carried that into his game at the collegiate level. His height allows him to defend the basket, which is his biggest advantage. Add to that his ability to provide quality screens for his fellow guards, and he’s a great lubricant for the offense.
His weaknesses include his lack of speed, quickness, and three-point shooting due to his height.
You might think that he’s not a big man for the modern game, but many teams in the NBA this season utilized two big men, so in that sense, he fits the modern game.
Atlanta, in particular, is a team in desperate need of a solid center. They have two big men in Clint Capela and Onyeka Okonkwo. However, Capela is aging and less athletic, and Okonkwo hasn’t been able to convince us that he’s a legitimate starting-caliber big man.
Atlanta has great guard talent in Trae Young and Dejonte Murray. The big man’s role is likely to be strictly as a backup to the guards. Klingon is a good fit for Atlanta in this regard.
Klingon’s current draft ranking projection is around the top five. If Atlanta were to select Klingon with the first overall pick, it would be higher than expected, but it wouldn’t be a huge upset.
