Mario Kasun
C · 2002 NBA Draft, 2nd round, pick #41 (LAC)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Signals in our data that pointed to him being undervalued: pre-draft rankings. Details below.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #13 overall (#18 at his position), but he lasted until pick #41: teams let him slide 28 spots past that ranking.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 68.6% of the time (194 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
22.2 years old on draft night (born 1980-04-05).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.9% of the time (339 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
C (ESPN draft listing).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.1% of the time (182 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 73 games over 2 NBA seasons (~45% of a full 82-game schedule each year).
Every line comes from data: Basketball-Reference career data; ESPN's draft profile; Wikidata birth dates. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a steal for him.
Career numbers
| Seasons | 2 |
| Games | 73 |
| Minutes / game | 7.8 |
| Points / game | 2.7 |
| Rebounds / game | 2.6 |
| Assists / game | 0.2 |
| Win Shares (career) | 0.8 |
| VORP | -0.7 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -7.0 |
The 2002 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2002 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Pre-draft rankings Slid 10+ picks past ESPN's rank | 68.6% n=194 | |
| Age 22 | 51.9% n=339 | |
| Position Center | 51.1% n=182 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 7' 0" |
| Age on draft night | 22.2 |
| Born | 1980-04-05 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #13 overall (#18 C) |
Picked around him 2002 redraft
| 38 | Tito Maddox | redraft #46 |
| 39 | Rod Grizzard | redraft #51 |
| 40 | Juan Carlos Navarro | redraft #31 |
| 42 | Ronald Murray | redraft #21 |
| 43 | Jason Jennings | redraft #52 |
| 44 | Lonny Baxter | redraft #27 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.