Broome 6’10 C at Auburn
Broome is one of the top returning draft prospects coming into the 2024-25 college season. But there is a reason Broome is back at Auburn for a fifth year of college basketball, despite a strong statistical profile and a productive showing at the NBA G League Elite camp. What does Broome have to do to solidify himself as a 1st round prospect? What improvements should we be looking for? Let’s dive into his prospect case.
Meausuring at 6’9” without shoes and around 250 lbs at the 2023 G League Elite Camp, Broome has moderate NBA center size. With a seven-foot wingspan and a standing reach of 9 feet, Broome would be at a size disadvantage against your average-sized NBA center, although not drastically. Broome has physical strength that shows itself at times, but I would like to see him impose that strength more frequently next year. Most likely matched up with bench centers in the NBA, Broome should be able to hold up, but a more convincing display of strength would be encouraging. Broome cannot improve upon his size, but he can improve on his strength and physicality, which will become imperative when battling with behemoths in the league on any given night.
As mentioned earlier, Broome’s statistical profile is overwhelmingly positive, with one glaring weakness: a worrisome career FT%. Almost everything else about his stat profile makes it feel like nitpicking to ask for much more in this upcoming season. The higher you climb, the harder it is to find oxygen, and Broome will find it challenging to build on such an efficient season.
Broome’s shooting efficiency was superb this past season, with career-best EFG% and TS% in a year where he introduced a higher 3-point shooting volume, over doubling the 3-point attempts from the previous year. While encouraging, it is difficult to have too much faith in the shot due to a 61.5% career FT% on 532 career FT attempts. No matter what Broome shoots from the free throw line this year, even if it is a leap of an improvement, there should not be too much trust placed in that number, siding instead with the weighty historical evidence of rather poor free throw shooting. Still, stretching out to the 3-point line is a step in the right direction, and making that stretch element a more concrete part of his game would mean a lot in establishing real estate as a potential DHO hub above the break, where he is a capable playmaker.
Over the course of Broome’s career, his assist percentage has increased and his turnover percentage has decreased, both to highly efficient degrees, refining a skillset in which Broome is able to operate as a useful offensive hub at times for Auburn. There isn’t much more room for statistical improvement in this area, so even maintaining that efficiency would strengthen his case. But on film, Broome’s passing out of DHO situations can and should get even sharper. I would not mind seeing a small jump in turnovers, granted it comes with tape of more nuanced, skillful passing; better and sharper timing on passes, better execution at times, more inventive passing angles. Broome has already proven he can do basic playmaking out of DHO actions, and it would be informative to know how far he can take his passing skill. Auburn will be a highly competitive environment, so it may be unlikely Broome is given enough leash to try out some more intricate passing. But on the other hand, Auburn may have games where they are whooping an opponent, and may give Broome opportunities to expand his game in this way. Not expecting any leaps here though, but a “stretch goal” to look for.
As a play-finisher, Broome is efficient and shows soft touch on hook shots and push shots in the intermediate area. The lefty is very strong hand dominant, heavily preferring to get to that lefty hook out of self-created post touches. Broome’s post game has some counters and some pivots to it, and the left-handed tendency. His paint touch on those floater-type shots is nice, but the release itself is a bit slow and low, focusing on softly adding that touch rather than getting the shot out quickly. Some NBA centers may be tall, long and quick enough to snuff that out if Broome is too transparent about taking it at his leisurely pace. But if paired with a guard who can methodically encroach upon the paint, draw multiple defenders’ attention and lay it off to Broome in that deep paint area with space, he could put that touch to good use. A capable dunker and lob catcher with his decent vertical, Broome gets the job done around the rim, but nothing rim-rocking. As mentioned earlier, Broome could stand to impose a little more physicality in his finishing.
The play-finishing also stems from constant and fluid screening, getting out of screens and DHO actions quickly and into rolls to the rim as a huge cog in the Auburn offensive machine. A veteran at this point, Broome clearly knows how to execute offense and be a useful screener, although the more bone-crushing screens the better.
The offensive synopsis for Broome is that he seems to comfortably pass the basic thresholds in screening, finishing and playmaking (relative to position) but avenues for improvement in those areas seem steep, along with having reasonable hesitation about a shot that is admittedly headed in the right direction.
On the other end, Broome is a solid college defender, executing POA schemes and generally being in the right spot. While his mobility is fluid for his size, it remains moderate mobility. Some closeouts and PnP coverage out to the perimeter can be a bit slow, but that is a difficult position for any center to be in.
The size concern may crop up again with POA defense too, where Broome does put himself in good position, and yet the defense is not deterring much. On more aggressive coverages out on the perimeter, Broome can contain a more apprehensive ball-handler, but it does not take a whole lot of work from a quick guard to get around him or just make the next pass. Broome’s stance can be a bit high at times, and the lateral slides can get a bit hoppy, which more experienced guards can take advantage of or just speed by. In drop, Broome again situates himself well in those 1-on-2 scenarios, but guards don’t seem to have too much stress finishing over him, and bigs don’t seem too bothered finishing around him. Broome does increase the level of difficulty of some of these shots, but hoping to see more disruption, which manifests itself in recovering from blocks. I just wish the main source of disruption wasn’t stemming from getting beat initially.
Lastly, I would again like to see Broome be more physical in the paint and especially against other bigs. I want to see Broome fighting for every inch of paint real estate, pushing post players out another foot or two. I want to see Broome hold up better against strong post players, who gain ground on him too easily. Broome needs to play more like someone who is legitimately 250 lbs.
Yes, Broome does have successful instances too, but point being is that I wish his defensive presence was more impactful. I found many of his steals to be less about him creating the turnover and more about the offensive players’ mistakes. He would also make some risky pokes at the ball out on the perimeter, showcasing quick hands but not sure how available those steals will be at the next level. Broome has pretty good timing and hand placement on some blocks, and he requires both because neither his size nor vertical is overwhelming. He is also quite disciplined about keeping his arms straight up when contesting from vulnerable positions, but it’s typically coupled with not jumping either, which renders the safe contest largely unimpactful.
None of this is not meant to disparage Broome, who is a good if not great college basketball player, a highly productive and efficient player for a top-20 team. But considering his size and strength relative to NBA competition and his current skillset, Broome projects solely as bench big. There is a huge degree of difference between a starter and a bench big, and while a smaller difference between second and third string centers, there is still a meaningful distinction. The level of bench big Broome becomes will be determined by the shot (as is the swing skill of most players), because without it, Broome could find it tough to find separation from other bigs on the roster. All the margins add up, which is why I have been harping on Broome in this piece to stretch himself this season in search of development. Broome will be nearly 23 on draft night. I am not sure how much improvement is feasible, and he may not necessarily need any to be drafted, but in terms of his place on a depth chart, it could change the course of his early NBA career.
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