N’Faly Dante, a great player for the Oregon men’s basketball team, may not have received his request for an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA, but he still has a chance to play in the NBA.
On Tuesday, Dante traveled to the Bay Area to train with the Golden State Warriors. Through the Milwaukee Bucks, the Dubs acquired the 52nd pick in the NBA Draft. June 26 at 11 p.m. PDT will see the first round of the draft on television, followed by the second round on ESPN the next day at 7 p.m. PDT.
“Warriors Radio was told by Dante that the workout was excellent.” “Shooting threes is new to me. However, it was fantastic.”
Dante allegedly worked out for the Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets in the past. In May, he went to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where scouts and general managers from every team were present.
Dante’s request for an additional year of eligibility through the NCAA was recently turned down. He played in just six games in 2020–2021 after suffering an ACL injury. Even though Dante’s tenure at Oregon ended poorly, he is one of the most underappreciated big guys going into the draft.
In 21 games this past season, Dante, a two-time member of the All-Pac-12 First Team, averaged 17.0 points per game on 69.5% shooting, 9.2 rebounds per game, and 1.9 blocks per game. He was awarded MVP of the tournament after leading the Ducks to an unlikely run at the Pac-12 title.
Dante assisted Oregon, ranked No. 11, in defeating South Carolina, ranked No. 6, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-10 center is a strong defensive player who mostly attacks with put-backs and lobs. He is a powerful rim protector and does a great job cleaning the glass. Given his troubles at the free throw line and attempts to stretch the floor, many scouts are dubious of him. Big players who are successful in today’s game must be able to shoot from any spot on the floor. He is typically projected as a late second-round choice in mock drafts or as a two-way player who is not selected.
“(Chasing the NBA dream) is something I’ve been looking forward to for a really long time,” Dante stated. “I’m glad I get a chance to do this.”
