Stanford Basketball: 2019 NBA draft profile of Cardinal forward KZ Okpala

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: KZ Okpala #0 of the Stanford Cardinal dunks against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 01: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots as KZ Okpala #0 of the Stanford Cardinal defends during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on December 01, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Areas Okpala needs to improve on

Most of the weaknesses when it comes to Okpala in the NBA has to do with his frame, the 6-9 215lb. forward will have to add some weight to help improve parts of his game at the next level. He is going to have to add pounds in order to finish at the rim, at Stanford finishing through contact wasn’t a strength.

At the defensive is where Okpala needs the most improvement. He has great length, with an 8-10 standing reach and 7-1 wingspan, but he hasn’t quite learned how to use that length on defense as he’s not much of a shot blocker and isn’t very disruptive in passing lanes despite the length. A guy with his length and size should be a better rebounder than he is at this point, pulling down 5.7 this past season.

He also needs to learn how to play better defense without fouling because bigger players will take him into the paint and attack, he can also be tentative defensively, fearing foul trouble. The good thing for Okpala and the team that drafts him, the weaknesses in his game can be fixed with some work, allowing him to reach his full potential as an NBA player.

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