2016 NBA Draft: Where does Rebels’ big man Stephen Zimmerman stand?
By Matt Johnson
With the 2016 NBA Draft looming, UNLV center Stephen Zimmerman Jr. appears to be a likely second-round pick.
When it comes to basketball, conventional wisdom indicates the more size a team has, the better off they will be. After all, who wouldn’t want a seven-foot presence that can post up on offense while also serving as a rim-protector on defense?
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Stephen Zimmerman Jr. is about to find out which NBA team shares those sentiments.
Like many others, the former UNLV center will wait to hear his name called once the festivities get underway inside the Barclays Center on June 23.
Where will Zimmerman go? Most predictions have the seven-foot pivot squarely falling to the second round. Draft Express projects Zimmerman going to the Houston Rockets at pick No. 43.
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But is Zimmerman ready for the rigors of the NBA?
In his one season at UNLV, the Las Vegas native put up decent numbers, averaging 10.5 points and a team-leading 8.7 rebounds per game. He also shot 47.7 percent from the field and connected on 62.4 percent of his tries from the foul line.
Yet most analyses of the Las Vegas native indicate Zimmerman is more a work in progress than a finished product ready to contribute immediately at the professional level.
While playing for the Runnin’ Rebels, Zimmerman posted up often, relying heavily on a variety of fakes that allowed him to use his dominant left-hand to score.
On the defensive end, he proved to be a reliable presence, swatting away a team high 51 shots in 26 games.
Zimmerman also has good touch when faced up to the basket and can consistently finish when given the opportunity within 15 feet.
A lack of physical strength and quickness could come back to haunt him however.
In that regard, Zimmerman is much like other one-and-doners who feel the need to fast-track to the NBA.
For a post-player, strength becomes a big issue. Tasked with keeping opposing centers from gaining traction on the block, NBA posts take a beating on a nightly basis. And it’s in this area that Zimmerman will need to prove his worth.
Currently, the big man is listed around the 235-pound mark, which will likely require him gain another 20 to 25 pounds before his impact can be truly judged.
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Nevertheless, he possesses a 7-foot-3 wingspan, which allows him to be a difficult matchup in one-on-one situations.
The question is whether Zimmerman’s lack of strength and lateral quickness will hinder his adjustment to the pro game.
At this point in his development, popular sentiment indicates Zimmerman will require a few years before making a noticeable impact as an NBA post.
There is upside to Zimmerman’s game. He possesses sound offensive instincts with a soft touch. Zimmerman is also long enough to alter shots when matched up in one-on-one situations down low.
Still, whichever team drafts him will need to be patient as he learns the rigors of NBA basketball.
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As a result, Zimmerman’s status as a projected second-round pick appears to be both probable and appropriate.