Mo Bamba
C, Texas · 2018 NBA Draft, 1st round, pick #6 (ORL)
Why he went too high Patterns
Nothing in our pre-draft data flagged him as a risk: his profile looked like a typical pick in his range. The gap opened after the draft, on the field.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #3 (#2 at his position), close to where he went (#6).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.8% of the time (765 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
20.1 years old on draft night (born 1998-05-12).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 50.4% of the time (246 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Path to the draft
Played college basketball at Texas.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 53.2% of the time (1,015 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Length
Wingspan 7' 9" at 6' 11" tall (+10.0 in.), per ESPN's draft profile.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.1% of the time (135 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 368 games over 8 NBA seasons (~56% 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 bust for him.
Career numberslive
| Seasons | 8 |
| Games | 368 |
| Minutes / game | 16.7 |
| Points / game | 6.7 |
| Rebounds / game | 5.4 |
| Assists / game | 0.8 |
| Win Shares (career) | 15.7 |
| VORP | 3.0 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -0.1 |
Career Win Shares + VORP (Basketball-Reference, through 2025-26) + 2026-27 estimates from ESPN season stats.
The 2018 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2018 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 Within 10 picks of ESPN's rank | 51.8% n=765 | |
| Age 20 | 50.4% n=246 | |
| Path to the draft US college | 53.2% n=1,015 | |
| Length +5 in. or more | 51.1% n=135 | |
| 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 | 6' 11", 226 lbs |
| Wingspan | 7' 9" |
| Age on draft night | 20.1 |
| Born | 1998-05-12 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #3 overall (#2 C) |
Picked around him 2018 redraft
| 3 | Luka Dončić | redraft #1 |
| 4 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | redraft #8 |
| 5 | Trae Young | redraft #4 |
| 7 | Wendell Carter Jr. | redraft #12 |
| 8 | Collin Sexton | redraft #17 |
| 9 | Kevin Knox | redraft #42 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.