Magic draft Anthony Black at No. 6 overall
With the No. 6 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Arkansas guard Anthony Black.
Standing at 6-foot-6 with a 39-inch vertical, Black has excellent size and athleticism for a point guard. The 19-year-old is a tenacious defender. He averaged 2.1 steals in his freshman campaign at Arkansas, along with 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Black has potential to be an excellent floor general and do-it-all guard with stellar passing vision and feel for the game. The main knock on Black is his unpolished jump shot. He made just 30.1% of his 3-pointers on a measly 2.6 attempts per game with the Razorbacks.
Bio
Position: Guard
School: Arkansas
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 210 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-8
Max vertical: 39 inches
2022-23 stats with Arkansas
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 45.3 | 30.1 | 70.5 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 12.8 |
Strengths
- Great athlete. Size, agility, and quick feet allow him to hound opposing guards defensively. Uses his length and quick hands to be disruptive as an off-ball defender, creating deflections and steals.
- Comfortable navigating the pick-and-roll and consistently makes correct reads. Uses change-of-pace moves to keep defense off guard.
- Court vision. At 6-foot-6, can see over the defense from anywhere. Able to skip cross-court passes off of drives and a good lob thrower.
- Excellent in transition - can go coast to coast and finish in traffic.
Weaknesses
- Shows flashes but doesn't consistently create offense for himself in the half court. Often needs to be more aggressive attacking the basket.
- Poor 3-point shooter. Not always comfortable when open off the catch. Not much of a pull-up threat in the mid-range.
- Mediocre free-throw shooting (70.5% at Arkansas) raises concern about ability to improve shot at the next level.
NBA comparable: Lonzo Ball. Like Ball, Black is a tall point guard with excellent court vision and defensive prowess. Black is perhaps more athletic, but his shooting is as concerning as Ball's was when the latter entered the league. However, the former No. 2 pick developed into an above average catch-and-shoot threat. If Black adds that element to his game, he'll be a terrific all-around player, just like Ball in his recent healthy seasons. He can still provide value even without the shooting, but it will be harder.