With the Draft being the topic of interest, many people are excited about Sidy Cissoko and the potential success he brings to the NBA.
Sidy Cissoko NBA Draft Profile
Sidy’s Background
Cissoko was born in France and was the first ever European-Born player to join the G-League Ignite squad. Cissoko showed great promise towards the end of the year with the Ignite Squad. Averaging 12.8 points per contest this past season, Cissoko is an exciting prospect.
Before playing with Ignite, he played in the U18 European Championships with France, where he averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Cissoko is still a young player at 20 but has a lot of experience playing in professional basketball environments.
Strengths
Elite Athleticism and Strength
Arguably his best strength is his athleticism, Sidy’s gifts allow for successful plays on the defensive and offensive end. On defense, he can stay in front of his man effectively. According to scouts, he can “handle” bigger offensive players and has the length and instincts to guard quicker guards. Therefore, teams can use Cissoko in small-ball situations and make their defense more versatile.
Cissoko uses his elite athleticism on the offensive end as well. He is a good downhill driver of the basketball despite not having lightning speed. Sidy excels in transition because of his length, size, and athletic skillset. Cissoko’s tools allow for a good fit as a wing defender and slashing offensive talent.
His physical strength is another important component of his game. Cissoko drives through his brute force and his strength allows a high level of effectiveness for the guard as a driver to the basket.
Passing Skills
While people may believe Cissoko’s athletic tools make him a scorer, he is a pass-first player. He possesses good instincts as a passer and averaged 3.5 assists with G-League ignite. He is a willing and excellent passer in the open court and the half court. Therefore, Cissoko establishes excitement for him as a prospect. Cissoko can start the offense and make the right decisions which allow for developed confidence in this prospect.
Defense Instincts
Despite being big and athletic, Cissoko is also an elite defender due to his instincts. He produced 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks this season with G-League Ignite. He has the wits and the timing to make defensive plays. Cissoko makes great reads, which makes opposing offenses struggle to get good looks when he is on the court.
Weaknesses
Shooting
Sidy is not much of a perimeter jump shooter, shooting 30.6% from three. Additionally, he only took 3.6 attempts a game and shot 64.5% from the free throw line. Cissoko likes to drive to the basket, but his ability to do will be difficult if he cannot consistently hit open perimeter shots. Moreover, his value to staying on the floor diminishes if he does improve his foul shot, as he will be a liability late in games.
Age
Cissoko is only 20 years old, which may be a strength because of his potential. However, it can speak to inexperience and a less-polished skillset that may take a few years to develop. Teams will need to be patient with Cissoko. Unfortunately, some contending teams are not in the market to be patient as they have aging stars on their roster.
Handle
He does not have an elite handle. This deficiency is only concerning because he does not have the quickest first step, and struggles to hit perimeter shots. The development of a handle is imperative for Cissoko to unlock his driving ability, and use his athletic gifts. Especially on the perimeter, good ball-handling skills allow great guards and wings to be excellent attackers of the rim.
Final Thoughts
Cissoko is green but has a lot of physical and basketball tools that help a contending team. While his lack of a jump shot may be concerning, he has elite defensive instincts, driving ability, and vision that are attractive to a winning franchise.
