Jade or gravel? Esanger: Lotto area lottery, French rough forward with unlimited defense potential

Name: NoaEssengue

Date of birth: December 18, 2006

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Squad: Bundesliga RatiopharmUlm

Height: 2m06

Weight: 88kg

Wandspan: 2m11

Player template: Grant/Ariza/Bazley

Data statistics:

In the 2024-25 season, Noah Essange played a total of 57 games, averaging 23.3 minutes per game, scoring 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.1 turnovers, with a shooting percentage of 52.4%, a three-point shooting percentage of 27.6%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 71.3%.

Advantages:

1, Inside size + wing level running and jumping ability. He is 2 meters tall + 2 meters 11 + standing and touching height 2 meters 82. Esange also has center-level defensive coverage and forward-level athletic ability; he accelerates sharply in a straight line, has a large stride, and has excellent physical control. He can still end stably when encountering air confrontation.

2. Defensive plasticity and multi-position switching potential. With Esanger's height and wingspan and fast lateral movement speed, he can theoretically achieve unlimited defense switching positions 1-5. His assisted defense area is large and he can frequently destroy the passing route with his keen prediction. In Bundesliga games, he sometimes plays the role of arc top defense in the joint defense. As a weak side assisted defense, he also has a strong presence, and his defensive framework is far beyond his peers and has the potential for the best defensive lineup.

3. Excellent killing and ending ability. Although he weighs only 88 kg, Esanger's free throw rate is comparable to that of a large inside player. He is good at actively seeking confrontation in straight-line breakthroughs, using his long arms to complete high board/scroll picking, and his conversion offensive impact is full, and he can use European steps or tough steps to get up and get fouls. As the free throw shooting percentage continues to improve, the basic shooting potential is shown, and the ability to create lethality is an important compensation for Esanger on the offensive end.

4. The never-ending first-class empty cutter. Esanger has a very sensitive sense of ball-free smell, is good at reading defensive loopholes and penetrates directly into the hinterland, and has a strong desire to switch offensive running; he is full of vitality on the court, actively competes in rebounding, and has an excellent sense of offensive rebounding, and can score points with his bounce and wingspan.

Disadvantages:

1. The mid-range shooting is unstable and lacks spatial attributes. The three-point shooting percentage is only 27.6% Esanger's biggest weakness on the offensive end, and his shooting height and shooting stability are insufficient. He rarely tries to mid-range jump shots, and the offensive end is easily targeted.

2. The ball handling ability is worrying. The ball-holding technique is single, basically a straight line breakthrough with the right hand, lacking the skills of changing direction, emergency stop or back-body. The center of gravity of the dribble is relatively high, and it is easy to drop the ball when pressed, and the ability to create independent offensively is poor.

3. Insufficient confrontation. Esange does have the potential to play in the 5th position of the small ball, but his body is currently a bit thin. The lack of core strength has also led to his ending efficiency at the basket being disturbed by defensive interference. Low-post defense is easily taken by heavy insiders, and a systematic muscle-building plan is urgently needed.

4. Limits of offensive roles. The offensive end is highly dependent on eating cakes and conversions, and the contribution of the half-field position is very limited. The shooting choice sometimes seems too hasty. As a deputy attacker, he has a clear positioning, but his ability to create opportunities is almost zero. At this stage, he can only play strictly according to a fixed system.

5. Defensive concentration and experience. The details of the defense are relatively rough. The assisted defense rotation occasionally loses position, and the focus on the off-ball guard will fluctuate. Sometimes they watch the ball but not the person, and they also need coaching and experience accumulation.

Summary:

Noah Essange may be the most talented and seductive rough striker of this year. He is only 18 and a half years old in the draft, and has proved his value in the Bundesliga playoffs, and his professional experience is far superior to most rookies. Excellent static and dynamic talent, combined with the theoretical framework of unlimited defense switching 1-5 positions, the upper limit of the defensive end is very high. Although the offensive end is poor on the outside, it also has its own unique highlights. To choose Esanger's team, you must have enough patience to train him. If the shooting development goes well, he is expected to become an offensive and defensive forward. If the development is not smooth, he is likely to become a defensive engineer. However, as such a young and potential stock that has entered the professional arena, Esanger is still worthy of some rebuilding teams to bet on the lottery zone.