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Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Profile: Aleksej Pokusevski

By Zach Lung

There are no pictures of Aleksej Pokusevski, so here is head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
There are no pictures of Aleksej Pokusevski, so here is head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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This is not Aleksej Pokusevski, but it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and he played in the same division of European basketball as Poku. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
This is not Aleksej Pokusevski, but it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and he played in the same division of European basketball as Poku. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Aleksej Pokusevski NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Profile: Strengths

Pokusevski sept last season on Olympiacos B in the second division of Greece; the same league where two-time NBA MVP,Giannis Antetokounmpo became a household name among NBA scouts.

Curiously, most sites list him as a center but he largely played shooting guard for Olympiacos B. In 11 games, Pokusevski averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.

Any player in the 2020 prospect pool would be more than happy to showcase Pokusevski’s skill set. He is an impressive playmaker, a versatile defender, and a capable shooter. His potential is clear if any team is able to successfully utilize his unique combination of skills and frame.

Pokusevski’s vision is impressive, making passes reminiscent of fellow countryman Nikola Jokic. He also has above average ball handling skills, especially for his size, allowing him to make numerous plays in transition or while driving to the basket in the half-court.

Poku has also flashed offensive potential as a scorer from all three levels. In fact, his offensive game tape gave me visions of an alternate universe where Kevin Love lost about 60 pounds. He is a crafty player who uses finesse to finish around the rim and even has ability to hit a step-back jump shot.

He tends to be a streaky shooter, as is evidenced by his 32 percent shooting from beyond the arc. However, his shooting form looks fine and his 78 percent free throw shooting suggests that he will able to knock down shots consistently at some point.

Pokusevski’s defensive versatility as a perimeter or rim defender is also intriguing. His rare combination of agility and wingspan can often cause nightmares for opponents. He is agile enough to defend multiple positions and break up passing lanes for steal opportunities.

Meanwhile, his timing is superb which contributed to 1.8 blocks per game in 2019-20 and 3.5 blocks per game in the season prior.

Aleksej Pokusevski has all the potential in the world to become a special player if an NBA team is able to effectively minimize his clear weaknesses.