DraftExpress NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Brook Lopez, Stats, Comparisons, and Outlook

Strengths:

• Size
• Phenomenal Wingspan
• Frame
• Hands
• Coordination
• Timing
• Ability to run the floor
• Ability to establish position in post
• Ability to draw fouls
• Post-scoring
• Jump-hook
• Ability to face-up
• Medium-range jump-shot
• Perimeter shooting potential
• A presence in post defensively
• Lateral quickness
• Intelligence
• Extremely productive
• Plays under control
• Stanford pedigree

Weaknesses:

• Good, not great athlete
• Predictable offensively
• Settles for bad shots
• Low FG%
• Mechanical
• Left hand
• Average rebounder
• Passing out of double teams
• Doesn't always know limitations
• Has struggled against NBA caliber big men
• Ineligible to start season
• Unorthodox style of play
• Role player
• Atypical off the court

Orlando Summer League, Day Two
July 9, 2008
Brook Lopez had a much stronger outing today (18 points, 7 rebounds, 8/10 FG, 20 minutes) which was to be expected and exactly the reason we didn’t worry too much about his performance in game one. He was much more aggressive establishing position and receiving the ball inside, and looked very good finishing around the basket with a variety of hook shots on good, quick, strong moves. There aren’t many 7-footers out there who can score like he can inside, which is why he was so highly valued coming into this draft. He even knocked down a mid-range jumper for good measure. Defensively, he struggled again with foul trouble, as he could not move his feet quickly enough and suffered greatly by how tightly the referees are calling most of the games here. He picked up 7 fouls in 20 minutes…

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NCAA Weekly Performers, 1/25/08-- Part Two
January 25, 2008
Following a freshman season where Brook Lopez posted good numbers despite coming off back surgery, many were expecting more big things from him this year. So it was obviously disappointing when Lopez missed the first nine games of the season due to academic ineligibility. To Lopez’s credit, his response to the situation has been as mature as one can expect from a college sophomore. Lopez has publicly blamed himself for Stanford’s early-season loss to Siena, a game in which he was unable to participate. He also called the ineligibility “an embarrassment to me and my family.” Lopez claims the time off has helped him grow, giving him an improved work ethic, which definitely is showing, as his production is up noticeably across the board.

Lopez is listed at 260 pounds this season, up from 240 last season, and it definitely shows. He seems to be holding the added bulk very well, and is probably now at his ideal career playing weight, being very physically mature for his age. Stanford is relying on Lopez to score more this season, especially on the low block, where Lopez’s results have been mixed. Inside five feet, Lopez looks nearly automatic, showing good touch and the strength to finish over pretty much anyone at this level. He shows solid footwork and will use drop-steps, spin moves, and mini-hooks to score. When he wants to, Lopez does an excellent job establishing deep position and sealing his man off down low.

Sometimes, though, he seems content to stay in the five to seven foot range, where his success drops considerably. Lopez is very formulaic in this range when he has his back to the basket, never trying to further back his man down once he has the ball, never putting the ball on the floor for more than one dribble, and almost always going right up into a right-handed hook shot or a turnaround jumper, often rushing his shot. Watching him in this area of the court, you get the idea that he knows exactly what he’s going to do even before he gets the ball, regardless of how the defense is reacting to him. He shows no counter-moves or fakes in this range, and doesn’t adjust to what the defense gives him. Lopez has had very little success with his hook shot from this range so far this season, and while he’s done slightly better with his turnaround jumper, he still isn’t converting on that consistently either. It seems as if Lopez really lacks in comfort level and confidence with his back to the basket in this five to seven foot range, and that’s something he’ll need to work on moving forward.

While Lopez looks very uncomfortable with his back to the basket outside of five feet, the same cannot be said when he faces up. Lopez is at his best facing up from the five to ten foot range, where he seems very comfortable in the triple-threat position, and likes to take jump shots with a hand in his face. He will occasionally put the ball on the floor from here, but struggles when not in space, and it usually will only lead to an ill-advised pull-up jumper. Stanford uses Lopez on the low block the majority of possessions, though in the long-term, he definitely will be better suited switching from the low to high post, where he could make better use of his face-up game and mid-range jumper.

Lopez also has shown a strong knack for finishing on rolls to the basket off pick-and-roll situations, using his size, touch, and good hands to consistently catch and finish at the rim. He also has improved his rebounding this year, showing a good pursuit of the ball and a consistent tendency to box out his man strongly. At the rim, Lopez has the size and strength to often come down with rebounds in a crowd, but unlike someone like a Dwight Howard for example, Lopez doesn’t have the explosiveness to power up through a crowd of defenders for the emphatic dunk.

On the defensive end, Lopez has done a good job this season, showing versatility and a lot of potential as a defender. In man-to-man situations in the post, Lopez plays a strange style of defense, never using a hand or forearm on his opponent, rather keeping his hands outstretched in the air and just using his body to stay in front of his man by moving laterally. This throws many players off, forcing them into travels or offensive fouls, and also allows Lopez to contest anyone who tries to shoot over him, but it also leaves him prone to being backed down when someone with his strength shouldn’t be. Laterally, Lopez is definitely above average for a seven-footer, looking competent when forced out on the perimeter, and also doing a good job defending pick-and-rolls with his mobility. He does show some problems reacting to quick moves by agile forwards in the post, though. As a weakside shot blocker, Lopez is very aware and focused, and is solid contesting and blocking shots in the lane in a very controlled manner, not committing foolish fouls.

Lopez will have a very strong case for declaring for the draft this year, where he should be considered among the top big men available after the initial elite tier of prospects. He is mobile and coordinated for a big man, with good athleticism, though he isn’t overly explosive. He also brings a versatile and developing skill-set to the table, while playing both ends of the floor. Despite his academic ineligibility to start this season, his character can probably be viewed as a plus, as he appears to be a hard worker and shows good intensity on the floor. He projects as more of a center at the next level, though should be able to play power forward at times, depending on matchups.

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Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Pac-10 (Part One: #1-#5)
September 18, 2007
The more offensively gifted of the Lopez twins, Brook will be relied upon greatly this upcoming season in a Stanford offense that struggled at times putting points on the board in their 06-07 campaign. Playing alongside another seven footer (his twin Robin), he will have the opportunity to show off his skills from the perimeter yet again, while also earning more opportunities to go one on one with another big man for defenses to key upon.

Numbers are deceiving for Lopez, as he started the season off at nowhere near 100%, coming off of back surgery. Although he posted a respectable scoring average of 12.6 points per game, the Stanford post scored nearly 18 points per game in the final 8 games of his freshman campaign. His ability to score inside and out gave defenses fits late in the year, with his Cardinal teammates giving him increased touches in the pivot.

When on the blocks, Brook has two main moves that he likes to go to: A smooth right handed hook shot and a turnaround jumper. While it might be frustrating for some to see a player seven feet tall fading away from the basket in order to score his points, Lopez has shown the ability to knock down this shot with consistency. His soft touch allows him to get many “shooter’s bounces” and help him convert on the multitude of inside baskets he gets through cuts and offensive rebounds. Two areas of concern in terms of Brook’s skills down low are his non-existent left hand and inability to pass the ball out of double teams. He often counts on his size down low, using his right hand at times where he would clearly be more beneficial by using his left. Lopez struggles mightily when faced with a double team, often duped into turnovers or forced shots. Both of these areas must be improved upon if he hopes to reach his optimum draft stock after his sophomore season. He also can be a bit on the soft side at times on the offensive end, shying away from contact and loafing around near the three point arc a bit more then you’d like to see.

Stepping away from the basket is where Brook appears to prefer to play on the offensive end, however. Possessing range out to college three point line, he was able to open up the floor for his brother Robin with his ability to score from the perimeter. We had the chance to observe Lopez this summer during an open gym session at the LeBron James Skills Academy, where we were surprised to see that he can even shoot the ball with consistency out to the NBA three point line. His capability to stretch the defense and create one on one opportunities for teammates will only help him in the eyes of NBA scouts.

On the defensive end, Brook will come into his sophomore season as one of the top candidates for the PAC-10 Defensive Player of The Year award. His ability to block shots was on display throughout the entire season, especially during his remarkable twelve block performance versus USC in late January. What is even more impressive about Lopez’s ability to block shots is that he is able to do it without getting in foul trouble, averaging only 2.7 fouls per game last season. His timing, length, and ability to intimidate with either hand puts him amongst the top defensive big men prospects in this draft. While his relatively meager average of only 6 rebounds per game might be a bit alarming, that number is a bit misleading due to the fact that Lopez played only 25.6 minutes per game.

Lopez is blessed with excellent physical attributes-- including a legit seven foot body, outstanding wingspan, and above average leaping ability for a center prospect. His frame is not carrying anything close to its maximum weight, as it could stand to gain another 20 pounds or so easily. The big man does a nice job running the floor, often filling the wings in transition and beating opposing centers down the floor for easy buckets.

This season could serve as a breakout year for Lopez, given that he is now at full health and is blessed with two outstanding frontcourt mates in his brother Robin and Lawrence Hill. Playing alongside those two will not allow opposing defenses to double team him, which should result in increased statistical output. Anyway you look at it, Lopez enters this season as one of the elite big men prospects in the NCAA, and a player who could easily land in the lottery if he is able to build upon his bright freshman season.

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adidas Nations Basketball Experience Notebook (Day One+Two)
August 5, 2007
Brook Lopez has been fairly disappointing so far, looking frustrated at times and not very focused. He isn’t fighting for position well enough in the post to take advantage of his excellent physical tools, and he still has a ways to go in terms of learning how to use his body to his advantage. His footwork down low leaves a lot to be desired as well, causing him to settle for some very weak turnaround jumpers in the post that barely drew iron. Offensively he’s clearly still a work in progress. He also fumbled a couple of pretty good passes. Lopez did get some production on the offensive glass and through running the floor and finishing around the basket. He also played solid defense on Brian Butch and Sasha Kaun.

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LeBron James Skills Academy Day Three
July 10, 2007
Brook was downright breathtaking with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter, knocking down numerous three point shots from beyond the NBA three-point arc. He and LeBron James ran the pick and pop to perfection, with Brook being the recipient of many of LeBron’s assists throughout the scrimmages. He wasn’t the strongest on the defensive end against bullish forwards such as Adrien and Rhode Island forward Will Harris, but he did block his fair share of shots on the day. If Lopez is able to play his sophomore year at Stanford the way he played in this open gym, there is no reason why he should not be a lottery candidate by the time the year is over.

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NCAA Tournament: Stock Watch (round of 64, Thursday)--Down/Neutral
March 15, 2007
On paper this may have looked like a good game for freshman stud Brook Lopez, but breaking down the tape, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. In the decisive first half, where Stanford was outscored by 26 points, Lopez had only 4 points and was pushed around at will by anyone he tried to defend. He looked out of sorts on both ends of the floor, making some very careless passes, missing short jumpers that he would normally convert, putting the ball on the floor and turning it over, and getting eaten alive in the paint by Derrick Caracter and David Padgett. Lopez bit on their pump-fakes time after time and was outmuscled in the paint by the two, only managing to recover once the game was in garbage time well into the 2nd half.

Once the pressure was off and there was really nothing left to play for, Lopez started showing the talent that has gotten many people (prematurely?) excited about his upside. He his a pretty right handed jump-hook from about 6 feet out, stroked a mid-range and turn-around jumper, dunked back an offensive rebound, and came up with a big one-handed tomahawk jam after putting the ball on the floor. He had 14 points in the 2nd half, but it was all for naught, as no one on Louisville was taking things seriously anymore and Rick Pitino even got to clear his bench with 5 minutes left in the game.

Lopez has repeatedly stated that he’s in no rush to leave for the NBA after his freshman season, and after this bitter defeat, that’s probably a good thing. He’s got outstanding upside but still has plenty of things he can work on, including his footwork, balance, strength and defensive ability. We’re looking forward to seeing how he bounces back in his sophomore year.

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DX Indvividual Awards: Pac-10
March 7, 2007
Freshman of the Year: Brook Lopez, 7’0, C, Stanford

Freshman hype was everywhere in the Pac-10 early in the season, with Chase Buddinger and Spencer Hawes so highly touted and players like Ryan Anderson, Quincy Pondexter and Taj Gibson playing well beyond their years. But it was the newcomer everybody forgot about that emerged as a fairly cut and dry choice for Pac-10 FOY. Brook Lopez’s overall numbers weren’t quite as gaudy as several of the other candidates’, but in conference he stacked up to just about anybody. Lopez scored 20 or more in 7 of Stanford’s last 10 games and put the entire country on notice with an 18 point, 11 rebound, 12 block triple double in a blowout win over USC. Of course, stats don’t tell the entire story when it comes to Lopez’s impact on the game. He is an excellent positional defender, and it is his emergence as a Pac-10 star that has Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.

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NCAA Weekly Performers, 1/31/07-- Part Two
February 1, 2007
If you are still trying to nail down which Lopez twin is which, don't feel too bad. It took the DX staff a while also. But Stanford's highly-touted 7-footers aren't just those two freshmen putting up decent numbers out on the west coast anymore. The Cardinal's national profile has increased substantially over the course of the season, capped off by a pair of impressive victories over USC and of course UCLA. While it is probably unfair to single out either twin over the other, since they are both excellent NBA prospects, it is the increased role and productivity of Brook Lopez that has really made the difference for Trent Johnson. His breakout performance came in the victory over USC, where he gave fellow freshman standout Taj Gibson fits and came away with an 18 point, 11 rebound, 12 block triple double.

While Lopez may not have the unmistakable power of Greg Oden, the freakish skill of Kevin Durant, or the explosive athleticism of Brandan Wright, he does pass the initial look test with flying colors. Checking in at a chiseled 7'0, 240 pounds, Lopez is filling out his frame quite nicely. He already has the strength to control the paint against virtually any big man in the Pac-10, and it looks like he could gain quite a bit more weight without slowing down much. Lopez doesn't fly up and down the court, but he does move very well for his size, exhibiting excellent body control and balance - especially as an individual post defender and weakside shot blocker. His first leap isn't explosive, but Lopez is a phenomenal anticipator and understands how to contest shots without picking up silly fouls.

There is also a lot to like about Brook Lopez on the offensive end. He isn't exactly a natural back to the basket scorer, but has a passable repertoire of scoring moves on the low block. He sometimes has a tendency to get pushed away from the basket and then go to low-percentage post moves instead of kicking the ball back out to a guard, but the basics are there. Lopez is very comfortable facing the basket in the high post or on the perimeter and is already showing range out past the college 3-point line. He forces opposing big men to come out and guard him on the perimeter, as his 15-18 foot jumper is very smooth and extremely accurate. Lopez finishes very well around the basket, showing off plenty of power and explosiveness when he has a clear path to the rim. Over time, expect to see more fireworks on this side of the ball.

While it isn't clear when Brook Lopez would be comfortable with exploring his draft options, it is becoming more and more clear that the shorter-haired twin is a lottery-caliber talent whenever he wants to be. His emergence was slowed because of a preseason injury, but it isn't going to be long before that 10-5-2 line reads 15-12-4. Under normal circumstances, 7-footers this good don't last very long at the college level. The scary thing for Stanford opponents is that we haven't even started talking about Robin yet...

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2006 McDonald's All-American Game, individual player breakdown
March 30, 2006
Brook, the higher regarded of the twins, did not live up to his billing today. The seven footer looked a bit lost out on the floor, and did not play with his usual aggressiveness. Although he knocked down a 16 foot jumper, Lopez never seemed to command the ball, playing very passively. He is more athletic and has more offensive skills then his brother Robin, but was unfortunately outplayed by his younger brother (by one minute) on this day. Expect both to really help out Stanford’s depleted front line next season.

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