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SG Malaki Branham (B1G Freshman of the Year, San Antonio Spurs)

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2022 NBA Season bump

San Antonio Spurs Film Study: Malaki Branham
How the rookie wing scored efficiently in his preseason debut, and how he can improve going forward.

Pounding the Rock broke down some Jeremy Sochan game tape on Monday, and we’re jumping back into the film room to assess another young player that shined for the San Antonio Spurs in their preseason debut. The good guys added five rookies to the mix this summer, but only Malaki Branham had any level of success scoring against the Houston Rockets.

While the proverbial middle child from their draft day haul didn’t check into the contest until the 5:32 mark of the third quarter, he instantly provided a much-needed scoring punch. Branham displayed his unique repertoire, curling around screens, relocating on the perimeter, and fooling defenders with calculated hesitation dribbles and ball fakes.

The Ohio State product finished an otherwise miserable team outing on a positive individual note, so tune in for a quick recap of how the 19-year-old dropped 10 points in 14 minutes.

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2022/10/4/23387954/san-antonio-spurs-film-study-malaki-branham

 
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Skull Session: Ohio State’s 2021 Class Has Unfinished Business, Kyle McCord Paced All Quarterbacks Who Faced Michigan in 2023 and the 2014 CFP Title Game Reigns Supreme

Ohio State’s 2021 class has unfinished business, Kyle McCord’s stats led all quarterbacks who faced Michigan in 2023 and the 2014 CFP title game reigns supreme.
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BRANHAM *HANDSHAKE* WEMBY. The San Antonio Spurs have a 6-30 record in 2023-24. Not great, Bob! But what is great is the potential for former Ohio State men’s basketball star Malaki Branham and Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 rookie from France, to lead the franchise with five NBA Finals championships back to its former glory.

Last week, the Spurs faced the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortage FieldHouse. Before the game, the Cleveland-based franchise welcomed Braham, an Akron native and St. Vincent-St. Mary’s graduate, home to the Buckeye State.



After the Cavs handed the Spurs a narrow 117-115 defeat, Branham discussed several topics with Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Among them were Branham’s relationship with his Hall of Fame head coach Greg Popovich and his future running pick-and-rolls with Wembanyama.

ON POPOVICH​

Branham said he's a more physical defender than he was last season as a rookie. He's also playing point guard more lately, which he considers an encouraging sign of his development under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last August.
“It's a little adjustment because I wasn't thinking about playing point guard at the beginning of the season, but with Pop believing in me, I'm all ears,” Branham said. “Him believing in me to put me at the point guard position full time is very good. ... [Popovich is] one of a kind. He's a Hall of Famer. He's going to get on you, especially on the defensive side. You've got to have tough skin, for sure. … He can see the potential [in me], and if he sees the potential he's going to be hard on you.”
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ON WENBANYAMA​

Branham said stern coaching has “made me become a better” player. He and Wembanyama are just 20 years old, so there is plenty of room for them to grow into what the Spurs envision. Branham explained he and Wembanyama are “still learning each other — the chemistry on the court.” Branham can see great value in observing the center with a unique combination of size and ball-handling skills.
...
It didn't take Wembanyama long to detect a strength of Branham while they practiced together for the Summer League.
“His mid-range [shot] was incredible at practice,” Wembanyama said. “After pick and roll, if he wasn't guarded he would score four or five straight mid-ranges, jump shots, and I think in today's NBA it's having a reliable and signature shot [that allows players to thrive]. It's a great thing, and he could probably build off that for his career. He's very young. He's almost the same age as me, so it's a guy who has a great future.”
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I am excited to see Branham evolve in the NBA.

Branham was a late bloomer in his lone season at Ohio State. He came on in January, February and March and ended the year 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game across 32 appearances with the Buckeyes.

As of Wednesday, he's averaged 8.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest in his second season with the Spurs. Perhaps we will see the same year-long improvement in San Antonio as he did in Columbus.
 
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NBA coaching kinda seems like an oxymoron. But a 19 year old does need it. Do enjoy watching any Buckeye excel at the higher levels. But don't really watch the pro game much. For me, no buy-in, but must say, the talent level in the NBA is so high it tends to cancel itself out.
 
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