Age

20.7

Height

6'8"

Weight

230

Workload

MIN%

29.1

USG%

9.4

TS%

51.0

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

6.7

REB

11.6

AST

2.4

STL

1.4

BLK

1.5

TOV

0.8

Efficiency

RIM FG%

63.6

MID FG%

0.0

3PT FG%

25.0

FT%

71.4

Jump to full report

Report by: Neema Djavadzadeh

Usman Garuba

Forward Houston Rockets

Hyper motor big with elite defensive instincts and budding playmaking ability.

Age

20.7

Height

6'8"

Weight

230

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

6.7

REB

11.6

AST

2.4

STL

1.4

BLK

1.5

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Usman Garuba.

Entering his 2nd year with the Houston Rockets, Spanish Forward Usman Garuba seems to be finding his footing. The former 23rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has been anchoring the Rockets best lineups, and impacting the game with his energy and defensive intensity. Garuba has thrived so far this season, being in 4 of the top 6 lineups in net rating on the Rockets. Garuba is still very raw, and it is evident in his game. However, his impact on the court is also evident, and makes him one of the better defenders in the NBA.

Offense

Offensively, Garuba is still very rough around the edges. Although his lack of shooting and handling is also a concern, one of his biggest weak points is his inability to control the ball. Garuba often fumbled passes, allowing the ball to bounce off his hands and away from him. This became an issue with passes, rebounds, gathers… basically anything that involved putting both hands on the ball. His inability to hold onto the ball became a cause of struggle, although it has seemed improved so far this season.

Where Garuba has shown some improvements is in the short roll. Usman has a good feel for passes, although sometimes makes reads a tad too late. He will often miss reads to open guys behind him, as he still lacks the awareness and handling ability to turn around a find them. However, he is still a decent decision maker in these instances around the nail, and has shown flashes of being able to punish defenses in this low-volume connector role.

A necessary improvement in his game will be spot up shooting. Usman could easily play in a PJ Tucker style role offensively, if he can respectably hit the corner 3. He is a bit too short to be a consistent roll man, so this could be another route to success for Garuba offensively.

Defense

Where Garuba will make his career is on the defensive end. Garuba is a versatile defender, quick enough to stick in front of smaller wings, but long enough to guard some of the biggest big men in the league. He averages near 2 blocks and 2 steals per 70 possessions, and has stood out on many defensive metrics across the board. The tape shows this as well, as Garuba’s hustle and determination to disrupt plays has been one of the staples of the Rockets’ defense.

An adjustment he will need to make that has been slowly happening is his over-aggression defensively. In Spain, Garuba was allowed to use his body to lunge into balls, push guys around and utilize his size in a more brute manner. Now, in the NBA, he needs to learn how to be less physical. Although he hasn’t fouled as much as expected in the NBA, his over-aggression does occasionally lead to unnecessary fouls or over-playing plays, giving the team open looks. By being more disciplined, Garuba can become the all-defensive level player that many hoped for pre-draft.

Overall

Playing behind Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith, it might be hard for Garuba to get consistent minutes moving forward. With recent reports stating that Garuba will be playing behind Bruno Fernando as well in the rotation, Usman will likely have to fight for his minutes throughout the season. Luckily for him, his play-style relies on defense and hustle, two things that will help cement you into a rotation. With work on the shooting touch, helping him understand reads and improving his hands, Garuba could see himself being a game-winner on the court with his intensity and impact on the defensive end.

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