When the Memphis Grizzlies signed Olivier-Maxence Prosper to a two-way contract over the summer, I thought it was a good flier to take as a former first-round pick with positional size for the forward spot. At the very least, it was a “second draft” opportunity at some depth on the wing.
Prosper’s first impression was his energy and hustle. He flies around the floor and looks to put pressure on the opposition on both sides of the court. Early in the season, it seemed like he needed to harness his energy a bit better. Nonetheless, you can never question his motor on the floor.
It has been channeled quite well, as his energy and motor activate several skills in his game. He puts pressure on the rim, sprints out in transition, and hustles on defense.
These skills have popped out in a real way this season, and he’s coupled it with a tremendous shooting leap. This year, he’s shooting a career-best 39.9 percent from three — up six percent from any previously highest mark through his collegiate and NBA careers.
It’s a real jump and a testament to Prosper’s work ethic that’s shone since arriving in Memphis, as he honed in on his shooting through more in-game reps and simulating through different in-game situations.
“Power of practice,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “It’s not only like how we always talk about putting in the hours. It’s also what he puts into those hours, his focus and how present he is in every one of the workouts. We knew going into the season, and he knew, that that’s going to be a swing skill for him to improve. I think the other teams have learned that that’s a bad idea.”
In addition, he’s getting them up at around 2.9 attempts per game — not necessarily letting it fly, but it’s a good mark given that doesn’t diminish his weaknesses. The volume ties into a key factor in Prosper’s shooting jump: confidence.
“I always saw myself as a really good shooter,” Prosper said. “Also, it’s just mental, man. It’s confidence and believing that you can make the shot. I don’t care if I miss three in a row; I feel like I’m going to make the next one. That’s the transition between now compared to my previous years—not focusing on the last shot, focusing on the present moment and shooting with the same confidence and same stroke. That’s how you’re going to be able to make more shots in the NBA and become a really good shooter.”
In fact, his shooting has elevated his overall game and has served as an enhancement to his energetic skillset, en route to getting his two-way contract converted into a standard one last month.
Through the whirlwind of this season, Olivier-Maxence Prosper has shone with his work ethic and transformed himself into a “3-and-E” (energy) forward capable of handling different roles and responsibilities.
Prosper’s energy stands out the most within his defense. He’s an active defender looking to disrupt this opposition, whether it’s on the ball or as a help defender. This year, he’s had to take on different roles — most notably, shifting to guard more 5’s.
“His defensive activity is tremendous,” Iisalo said. “How he guards some of those high-post situations in transition.”
He ranks in the 81st percentile in steal rate at 1.9 percent, and the Grizzlies generate 1.4 percent more turnovers with Prosper on the floor — which ranks in the 74th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.
He possesses the ability to turn defense into offense with his cycle creation. When he generates a deflection or steal, he darts up the floor — looking to quickly maintain the advantage over the defense. He scores 1.409 points per possession in transition, sporting a 75.9 effective field goal percentage. The Grizzlies create 3.7 percent more transition plays with Prosper on the floor, which is in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass.
Speed kills, and Prosper has lived up to that message to a T.
Prosper has been superb at finishing around the basket, converting on 73 percent of his shots at the rim. He possesses many traits that activate his finishing. His size is an asset for sure. He blends speed and aggression that makes it hard to stifle him at the rim when you factor in his size. This aggression is also highlighted in his decision-making, as he’s decisive and deliberate with his intention to attack the basket.
It’s leveraged significantly in three ways: (aforementioned) transition, driving, and cutting.
He’s scoring on 55.8% of his drives with 0.986 points per possession. When he doesn’t have the clear advantage against a tilted defense, he’s improved his control and first step to get to his spots. He’s also developed solid footwork with his Euro and gather steps. With being slotted as the de facto 5, he gains the step on his slower matchup by faking handoff actions to get a clear lane to the basket.
With his cutting, he’s generating 1.515 points per possession, scoring on 72.4% of his field goal attempts off cuts. As he’s typically slotted near the slot in the team’s actions, he looks for chances to crash the paint from the slot when the ball-handler drives downhill.
Finally, the shooting has opened up his game to a real degree. He’s mainly a catch-and-shoot guy, often looking to re-space. As he’s guarded mainly by 5’s, he often makes defenses pay for giving him space.
As a result, it’s amplified other aspects of his game. It’s bolstered his potency as a pick-and-roll roll man, as he shot 46.2 percent on pick-and-pop three’s (26 attempts). In addition, he’s used the threat of his jumper to attack closeouts to get to the basket.
“Everybody knows that I love to attack the paint. I’m a dynamic driver and stuff, but now people have got to respect the 3. You make a couple, guys have got to close out harder, and it just makes the whole paint so much more wide open. It allows me to use my athleticism and get downhill. It definitely opens my game up and allows me to be more versatile.”
Olivier-Maxence Prosper has amplified his game this season, as he’s showcasing his energy and motor with more substantial minutes. In addition, he’s taken big strides as a shooter.
This isn’t just a sample driven from high-usage, or from reps that deviate from his standard role. He’s finding his stride in the flow of the system. Sure, he may be playing the 5 here and there, so he’s taken on responsibilities offensively and defensively he’s not accustomed to. However, he’s doing all the things that would be asked from him in a healthier context — bringing defensive energy, creating chaos, running the floor, pressuring the rim, and now spacing the floor.
In the process, Olivier-Maxence Prosper has proven he belongs in the NBA.
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