Name: Nikola Pekovic Position: Center Height: 6-10 (2.08m Weight: 250 (113kg) Pro Team: Partizan (Serbia) Nationality: Montenegrin Birthplace: Bjelo Polje, SR Montenegro, Yugoslavia Birthdate: 1/3/1986 Drafted: Selected by the Minnesota Timberwoles in the second round (31st pick overall) of 2008 NBA Draft.

Strengths: Runs the floor decently well … Excellent finisher around the basket where he is capable of finishing with a power dunk … A physically rugged player with great upper body strength … This often enables him to absorb contact and finish in the post with regularity … Fundamentally, he understands the value of not putting the ball on the floor in the low post … Does a great job of getting his body wide after establishing position … This gives guards an easier target to pass into where he has the soft hands needed to catch the most difficult of passes … Aggressive player whose physicality often results in a good deal of contact where fouls are sure to follow … Unlike most big men, Pekovic has the solid free throw shooting ability to take full advantage … Quality rebounder in his area thanks to his basic, but refined boxing out of opposing players … Post footwork is solid where he is able to keep his balance while executing in the post with some quickness … Back to the basket moves continue to show great promise with a nice jump hook and good shooting touch around the rim … Mental approach to the game is the type that NBA teams covet, as he brings toughness and intensity on every play … Will not back down from a challenge or be intimidated … Feel for the game and basketball IQ are very underrated and have shown considerable growth since last season … Understands what he is capable of doing and never operates outside of his comfort zone … Owns a great motor in that Pekovic moves constantly, working the block all around the low post looking for the pass …

Weaknesses: By European standards he is deemed a top notch athlete, but by NBA standards he will be viewed as average … Gets so many of his points by being physical with his defender that it's highly doubtful this same effort would be effective in the NBA … Back to the basket moves could stand some variety such as an up and under and, most importantly, a turnaround jumper … Could stand to expand his range out to 16 feet from the basket … Isn’t a tremendous rebounder out of position as he lacks agility and length … While listed at 6-11, upon appearance he looks closer to 6-9 ½ to 6-10 … Struggles to be effective at times when defended against athletic players with length … Lateral movement seems a step slow and will be a detriment to him defensively on the next level … When operating in the post Pekovic can get a little lost where he is in relation to the basket … Court vision is virtually non-existent in that once he gets the ball he will rarely pass it out … Lacks the explosiveness to be a shot blocker … Doesn’t have the necessary skills to contribute much to an up-tempo offense, which means any team drafting him must do so with the knowledge that he is a half court offensive player … A late bloomer in some regards, but his accession to Europe’s elite should have some scouts wondering how much upside is left in the tank … Can be a little too aggressive on defense, leading him to being foul prone … There have been talks in European circles that Pekovic is very committed to staying overseas - if that is the case, teams who consider drafting him must be wary of wasting a pick that may never come over in the early part of the draft …

Matthew Maurer - 5/14/08