Anthony Black sees great chemistry with the Wizards appeared in the original NBC Sports Washington
CHICAGO – The last three NBA draft picks have seen a new versatility of point guard entering the league. They are tall, slender and versatile, combining creative passing with an innate sense of the game.
Tyrese Halliburton in 2020. Josh Geddy in 2021. Dyson Daniels in 2022 (give him time). Anthony Black could be next.
The Arkansas star is expected to enter the top 10 in the 2023 NBA Draft next month and at 6-foot-7, he has a wing size with a vertical jump of 39 inches and one of the best defensive skills in this year’s class. With the Wizards getting the eighth overall pick, he sees a good fit in DC
“Just a great team. They have some good goalscorers. I don’t know what they’re thinking, but I think they need a keeper. I feel like I can come in and make an impact on the team and even help these guys get better.” [I could] Play with the Razorback too,” Black said Wednesday at an NBA Draft rally.
Black, 19, was referring to Wizards man Daniel Gafford with a Razorback suspension. Arkansas could have up to three first-round picks this year between Black, Nick Smith Jr., and Ricky Council IV. Black is the highest rated prospect among them.
It’s easy to see how he would fit in with magicians. Monty Morris and Dillon Wright, their starting point guards, are both one year away from free agency. It would be good timing for a long term answer at the guard post.
Black can also provide convertible defense for a team with some intriguing defensive pieces, but he can use a long stopper to tie them all together. Because of his height, length, and speed, Black can protect multiple locations in the next level.
“I usually guard the smaller guards, so I can support the guards a little bit and keep my hands up,” said Black.
He added that his height helps him as a passer as well because he can see across the defence, just as a tall quarterback can see up his offensive line. Despite this, Lions get much more out of their material gifts. He has a knack for anticipating and reading corners, and constantly finding his teammates for toned-down looks at both halffield and in passing.
Black says it’s hard to describe his intrinsic sense of the game, but he knows he has it.
“I’m not sure. I think a lot of how I feel about the game comes from my vision. I played football at a young age and I tell people I think it helped pass the corners. Just delivering the ball at the right time and then the goal.”
“Other than that, I really don’t know. I don’t know if you can actually dig [down] Or if you have something. I might just be lucky to have it.”
Black, who is originally from the Dallas area, averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 36 games with the Razorbacks last season. He shot 45.3% from the field and 30.1% from three, the latter of which has led to question marks over his outside shooting.
Lions will likely develop this skill over time to reach their full potential. He sees himself as a point guard and the better he gets at shooting, the more teams will have to respect his range. This dynamic can dictate how they guard in the pick-and-roll game, which is a crucial component of a point guard position at the NBA level.
Despite this, Black seems to have a pretty good understanding of what he needs to work on and who he can learn from. When asked about player comparisons, he cited two Oklahoma City Thunder guards and provided details.
“I love watching [Josh] Jedi just to see and feel it, it’s ridiculous. The passes he makes and the speed with which he plays, I love watching him. But I also watch [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] a little. I’m starting to add some of his stuff, especially in the middle class area.”
Both are great watchdogs in the gaming industry who helped make the future bright for the Thunder. Perhaps Black could have the same effect in Washington.