Serhiy Shulga has established himself as one of the best shooters in this year's NBA draft class, showcasing an impressive 40.2% success rate from beyond the arc over the past two seasons. The Ukrainian guard combines size with explosiveness and dynamic movement that has scouts taking notice.
"His shooting touch speaks for itself," one might say after reviewing his numbers. This season alone, Shulga connected on 43.4% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers while hitting an impressive 50% when coming off screens.
What makes Shulga particularly effective is his movement without the ball. He constantly searches for open spaces, demonstrating an innate understanding of floor spacing and timing. By the way, his ability to read defensive positioning allows him to find shooting opportunities from various spots on the court.
With ball in hand, Shulga displays versatility in his dribbling approach. While not yet perfect in this aspect, he shows good balance and flexibility. He attacks closer zones effectively and can handle the ball competently with either hand.
Though not an elite finisher at the rim, Shulga compensates with basketball intelligence. He averaged 4.0 assists against just 1.7 turnovers, showing his ability to create for teammates when driving lanes close. He converted more than half his attempts near the basket last season.
His aggressiveness stands out too. Shulga fearlessly challenges defenders, drawing over five free throw attempts per game last season through his decisive play style and clever use of his body.
Defensively, Shulga might be underrated. He disrupts opposing offenses, isn't afraid to apply pressure in the backcourt, and reads screens effectively.
Can he develop the areas that still need work, particularly his screen usage and finishing ability? That remains to be seen, but the foundation of shooting excellence and basketball IQ certainly gives him an intriguing draft profile.
