Miles Bridges Breakdown compiled by Leif Thulin

Age: 20

Position: SF

College: Michigan State

Measurables

Height w/o Shoes: 6’5.25”

Height w/ Shoes:6’6.75”

Weight: 220 lbs

Wingspan: 6’9.5”

Standing Reach: 8’7.5”

Max Vertical: NA

College Statistics (2017/2018)

MPG:

PPG:17.1

RPG:7

ASTPG:2.1

BLKPG: .8

FT%: 85.3%

2-PT FG%: 52.7%

3-PT FG%: 36.4%

Comparisons: Derrick Coleman, Tobias Harris

3 Things to Know

1. Featured scorer in college averaging 17.1 points per game, shooting good percentages (85% on free throws and 36% on 3’s), yet his main selling point his explosive athleticism.
2. A very mature player, electing to return to school when he was projected to be a lottery pick in 2017 in order to develop his game while being more featured on an elite team.
3. He is an excellent athlete and could become a defensive menace with his elite combination of speed and strength focus permitting.

Strengths

• Explosive athlete.

• Strong finisher with both hands.

• Good attacking the lane from closeouts.

• Crafty in the lane.

• Great mechanics on his shot and has above average success so could translate to NBA 3 point shooting to compliment his explosive athleticism.

• Works hard, plays intelligently with a set of good intangibles.

• Very good rebounder for height.

• Has the motor and athletic tools to defend multiple positions.

Weaknesses:

• Lacks the ball handing of a 3 but has length of one, thus making his position unclear.

• Struggles to draw fouls and tends to drive wildly.

• Subpar passer.

• His defensive effort seems inconsistent but has bigtime defensive potential.

Summary:

Miles Bridges is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft due to his huge offensive workload in college which would be unlikely to carry over in the same way, while at the same time, he is one of the best athletes in the draft and shoots 85% from the charity stripe. While Bridges has excellent potential, his stock is limited by being a tweener positionally and subpar length. Bridges will have the defensive versatility that is ever so coveted in today’s NBA, having the speed to defend guards on switches and battle bigs in the post is invaluable and he has the capacity to do so. His rare athleticism and capacity to play a premium quasi-position in the 3 and D with the capacity to defend 2 through 4 coupled with his compact mechanics and proficient percentages shooting from the outside. This unique skill set should lead to a lottery selection, with NBA teams only worrying about his ability to stretch his range and defend larger forwards in the post. Overall, his athleticism and shooting make him quite the prospect but also contribute to his only knock due to his muscular frame lacking length placing him as a tweener positionally.

Locke’s Take:  There is a real chance the NBA game is going  to open up the world for Miles Bridges.  The one major concern is he is a two foot jumper, a powerful two foot jumper, but that takes too long in the NBA to finish around the rim if you are always going off two feet.  He also has no dribble pull up game at the current time.  However, with those two concerns aside he might have a game that flourishes in the NBA.  He is super strong.  He has good explosion.  He can attack a close out.  He is a good and quick shooter.  He moves the ball well.  It is not clear if he can handle out of the pick and roll very well.   The Michigan State floor was tight as is all of college basketball and when he gets to the NBA and can play off the angles with room he may be a force.  Defensively, he is going to be super switchable and effective from the beginning.  Would be my most like non top 10 steal of the draft.