Ht/Wt: 6' 8" / 200 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Barcelona
Class: Intl 

2015 Draft Profile - Mario Hezonja

Strengths
Hezonja is a terrific athlete capable of finishing strong at the rim, either off the dribble or by catching lobs. He possesses an excellent first step that helps him get by his man and use his athleticism and strength to finish over bigger defenders. What allows him numerous opportunities to attack the paint is his sharp shooting from the outside. He's a fantastic catch and shoot player, but has proven he can be effective off the dribble as well, thanks to a high release point. Hezonja is good at creating space for his jumper with his body or by using subtle fakes such as jab steps or step-backs.

Another aspect to his game that feeds into his perimeter shooting is how well he moves without the ball. He utilizes screens and typically refuses to just stand in the corner, making him difficult to cover. Because of a combination of size, strength and athletic ability, Hezonja is extremely versatile on the defensive end. He is able to stay with guys out on the wing and can battle with bigger opponents in the post. His game should translate well in the NBA.

Weaknesses
There are times Hezonja shows disconnect and a general lack of focus, especially on the defensive side of the basketball. On occasion, he'll lose track of his man and shows poor awareness. He has a tendency to display poor body language as well. Often times he complains to officials and fails to remain even-keeled through the ups and downs of a game.

Although he has an intriguing skill set on offense, his decision making is an area needing improvement. As a confident jump shooter, he settles for contested long range shots too often and can force the issue. He looks to do things on his own offensively and plays a little too much isolation ball. Learning to play within the flow of the offense and sticking to team concepts would lead to better scoring opportunities.

NBA Player Comparison
It's not a perfect match, but Hezonja has a blend of qualities similar to that of Klay Thompson. The elite level that Thompson can defend at is what Hezonja should shoot for because it's possible for him to reach it. Both players are sensational outside shooters with textbook mechanics and use their precision to open up other areas of their offensive games. Each player gets the unfair label of players that just catch and shoot, when the reality is they both have far more dynamic offensive skill sets. They also possess more athletic ability than they receive credit for. Thompson blossomed into an All-Star this season, and Hezonja could follow suit down the road.

Statistics
PPG: 7.1 APG: 1.3 RPG: 2.0 SPG: 0.8 BPG: 0.1 FG%: 49.5 FT%: 76.0 3PT%: 43.6

Mario Hezonja Videos

Mario Hezonja - Highlights 2015


Mario Hezonja vs Real Madrid 2015 Matchup Video


Mario Hezonja 2015 NBA Draft Scouting Basketball





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