Almost exactly one year ago, many people thought Nico Mannion was going to be a top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
In the end, he was selected by the Warriors with the 48th overall pick, and will start this season on a two-way contract.
Mannion's freshman year at the University of Arizona did not go according to plan, as he shot just 39.2 percent overall and 32.7 percent from deep.
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But his high school coach believes big things are in store for the 19-year-old point guard.
“His ability to get to the basket will be better on the Warriors," Charlie Wilde told The Athletic's Ethan Strauss. "Defenses are going to think he can’t score, then he’s going to score and they’re going to have to do something about it.”
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You gotta love the confidence.
"Excited about the learning curve for him," Steph Curry said of Mannion during a Wednesday video conference call with reporters. "He doesn't lack confidence at all. He knows he belongs.
"He knows he has the potential to have a long career in this league."
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Mannion absolutely will have more space to operate as a pro, as the paint is way more open in the NBA compared to college.
As of now, he is allowed to suit up in 50 of Golden State's 72 games. It's very safe to assume he will appear in some G League games as well with the Santa Cruz Warriors.
If and when that happens, yours truly will provide some video breakdowns of Mannion's performances.