Raptors: 3 first-round picks Christian Koloko will be better than
By Mike Luciano
2. Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat
In a year that lacked turns of elite European prospects that declared for the draft, Jovic was one of the few who came over with a degree of hype. The Heat took a flier on the 6-10 Jovic, hoping that they can coax some offensive potential out of him as they contend for a championship.
Jovic is without question a better scorer than Koloko right now, as he can shoot from the perimeter and handle the ball well for someone his size. Where Koloko stands out compared to Jovic is his athleticism, as Toronto’s rookie has tremendous mobility for someone that big.
Christian Koloko is a better defender than Nikola Jovic.
Koloko is going to be several tiers above Jovic as a defender. On top of the fact that Jovic has lacked effort on the defensive end at times, his substandard athleticism when compared to Koloko gives the Raptors’ big man a higher floor than a stringy 6-10 player still trying to figure out which position suits him best.
Jovic will have a long career in this league, but he will be very specialized due to his physical shortcomings. Koloko has the athleticism needed to become a starter in this league eventually, and Toronto may offer him a quicker pipeline to minutes than Miami will with Jovic.