The San Antonio Spurs have a variety of fascinating younger expertise within the group. That features on the group’s G League affiliate in Austin, the place an undrafted sophomore is making a giant splash in his first 5 video games.
Dominick Barlow is main the G League in scoring to begin the season. He’s averaging 28.6 factors and seven.2 rebounds whereas capturing 58.3% from the sphere and 33.3% from deep. These are all enormous statistical leaps over his numbers final season, the place he averaged 9.5 factors and 4.4 rebounds in 16 video games. It’s a small pattern dimension, however up to now Barlow has dominated his competitors.
Barlow has been doing most of his injury on the rim, the place he’s capturing an eye-popping 77.6%. Spurs followers shouldn’t be shocked to see Barlow thrive at attending to the basket. In the summertime league we noticed Barlow flash his mixture of dimension, power athleticism and creativity find methods to complete inside.
Barlow’s deal with is superior for a giant of his age. He was nice taking part in the Zach Collins position of a connective hub on the prime of the important thing for the summer time Spurs, and has had some attractiveness attacking out of this place within the G League. He’s received nice instincts on when to assault, and the power to alter speeds and shift his physique to open up lanes for himself.
Above all else what makes Barlow such an intriguing prospect is his athleticism at 6-foot-9. He can explode off the bounce into an athletic end on the rim, which additionally makes him a menace in transition.
He caught a physique in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Blue final week. That is one other show of Barlow’s excessive stage power and athleticism. This rim ending might do the massive league membership wonders on the again up heart place.
Barlow is capturing 33% from three, however on simply 14 makes an attempt. He’s taking extra jumpers within the G League, with about 28.4% of his makes an attempt approaching jumpers in accordance with Synergy. The outcomes aren’t fairly there but, as he’s changing simply 29.6% of his soar photographs. That’s a serious swing ability for Barlow. If he’s in a position to shoot it at a decent clip from outdoors the paint, he might play the 4 or 5 for San Antonio.
In fact Barlow’s fast worth for the massive league membership is on the defensive finish. His potential to protect 1 by means of 5 on switches is immensely priceless. He’s received fast toes and guards his tail off. His athleticism makes him a decent defender on the rim. Within the G League, opponents are capturing simply 38.2% when Barlow is the first defender.
The Spurs have a little bit of a query mark on the backup heart place. Charles Bassey is a powerful inside defender, rebounder and screener, however doesn’t supply a lot on the offensive finish. Sandro Mamukelashvili has gotten some run, however hasn’t defended at a excessive sufficient stage to remain on the court docket, regardless of his offensive versatility. May Barlow be a contented medium? He might present defensive versatility mixed with some offensive intrigue.
As of proper now, Barlow continues to be creating, and the G League is a superb place for him to get a variety of reps. If he continues to play in addition to he has on this small pattern dimension, he could also be knocking on the doorways of San Antonio’s massive man rotation quickly.
