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With the No. 48 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Arizona guard Nico Mannion. The 19 year old is 6’3 and played one year at Arizona, where he started all 32 games. He averaged 14.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 39.2% from the field and 32.7% from beyond the arc.
Mannion also comes from Steve Kerr’s alma mater, which I’m sure didn’t influence the Warriors decision at all, but is still pretty fun.
If Mannion wants to stick with the Warriors, he’ll need to improve his offensive efficiency. However, he’s proven to be a very talented playmaker, and the Warriors could really use some of those off the bench. If his passing translates to the NBA level, he could replace Ky Bowman as a back of the bench point guard option for the Warriors.
He does have a nice looking jump shot, so the Warriors are likely a little optimistic that he can develop a reliable and efficient jumper. And given where he was drafted, he could be put on a two-way contract which would help him stick around.
Mannion was No. 40 on The Ringer’s big board, and No. 43 on The Athletic’s.
Welcome to Dub Nation, Nico Mannion!