Anthony Black: Theatre of Pain
Arkansas Razorbacks freshman Anthony Black has the tools to dish out punishment on both sides of the floor, making him a desired asset in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The term “connector” has been thrown when talking about Arkansas Razorbacks freshman guard Anthony Black. At first, some might take that tag with a grain of salt. The truth is, it’s one of the biggest compliments a prospect can get ahead of the NBA Draft—something that our own Corey Tulaba showcased earlier this year in his feature on Anthony Black.
Players with the skill set that Anthony Black projects are viewed as gold in NBA circles. The modern-day NBA has seen a new wave of play when it comes to floor generals. Playmaking guards have suddenly become these stretched-out machines that not only can run an offense, but can also give a team an advantage when it comes to impacting multiple areas on the floor.
As a classic rock fan, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the infamous 80s rock band Mötley Crüe. So while doing a deep dive into Anthony Black film, I decided that Black’s versatility on the court might simply be best described as a “Theatre of Pain.”
While each prospect is considered an unfinished product, Anthony Black has the tools that can make him a dangerous addition at the next level. Black has been listed at around 6’7” and measured in at the NBA draft combine at 6’5.75” without shoes. He’s the next installment of the new wave of plus-sized playmaking ball handlers who project to be a unique weapon on the NBA floor.
The new age of floor generals has taken over the NBA like an unstoppable force. It’s a trend that we’ve seen desired by NBA organizations going back to the 2017 NBA Draft. After diving down a rabbit hole, I found a fascinating development. I wanted to focus on looking at players who have projected to hang their hat on being a valued playmaker as a prospect.
At the same time, I wanted to focus on plus-sized players (above 6’5”) that were selected in the Lottery.
Here are some interesting names that have fallen into that specific category.
Plus-Sized Playmaking Guards Drafted in Lottery Since 2017
Lonzo Ball (2nd Pick, 2017 NBA Draft)
College: UCLA
14.6 PTS | 6.0 REB | 7.6 AST | 1.8 STL
55.1 FG% | 41.2 3P% | 67.3 FT%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th Pick, 2018 NBA Draft)
College: Kentucky
14.4 PTS | 4.1 REB | 5.1 AST | 1.6 STL
48.5 FG% | 40.4 3P% | 81.7 FT%
LaMelo Ball (3rd Pick, 2020 NBA Draft)
Team: Illawarra Hawks (NBL)
17.0 PTS | 7.6 REB | 6.8 AST | 1.6 STL
37.5 FG% | 25.0 3P% | 72.3 FT%
Tyrese Haliburton (12th Pick, 2020 NBA Draft)
Team: Iowa State
15.2 PTS | 5.9 REB | 6.5 AST | 2.5 STL
50.4 FG% | 41.9 3P% | 82.2 FT%
Cade Cunningham (1st Pick, 2021 NBA Draft)
Team: Oklahoma State
20.1 PTS | 6.2 REB | 3.5 AST | 1.6 STL
43.8 FG% | 40.0 3P% | 84.6 FT%
Josh Giddey (6th pick, 2021 NBA Draft)
Team: Adelaide 36ers (NBL)
10.7 PTS | 7.3 REB | 7.3 AST | 1.1 STL
42.5 FG% | 29.3 3P% | 69.1 FT%
Jalen Williams (12th pick, 2022 NBA Draft)
Team: Santa Clara
18.0 PTS | 4.4 REB | 4.2 AST| 1.2 STL
51.3 FG% | 39.6 3P% | 80.9 FT%
Dyson Daniels (8th pick, 2022 NBA Draft)
Team: G League Ignite
11.6 PTS | 6.7 REB | 4.7 AST | 2.0 STL
45.3 FG% | 30.0 3P% | 53.3 FT%
Anthony Black (Freshman, 2023 NBA Draft)
Team: Arkansas
12.8 PTS | 5.1 REB | 3.9 AST | 2.1 STL
45.3 FG% | 30.1 3P% | 70.5 FT%
Now that’s an impressive and intriguing recent resume of players, a list that Anthony Black is potentially about to join after the 2023 NBA Draft. All of those players have shown some similarities as prospects when measuring up to Black. Some players came in as prospects that were viewed as needing to develop consistency from beyond the arc in order to reach their full potential.
Others were viewed as players who had a promising frame but some questioned whether or not they could thrive as playmaking floor generals at the next level. The biggest statement from that list of players is how the NBA is viewing players that fall into this category. While no prospect is perfect, the idea of having an advantage in your backcourt when it comes to versatility on both sides of the floor is addicting for an NBA front office.
Players such as Lonzo Ball and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started to put a serious amount of excitement around the idea. That hype train picked up speed with players such as LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton entering the league. Fast forward to just last year and we saw a pair of plus-sized creators showcase their upside in their rookie years. Dyson Daniels looks to be a potential breakout candidate for the New Orleans Pelicans and Jalen Williams showcased that his versatility in college at Santa Clara translated beautifully at the next level for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While Anthony Black is going to have some questions, especially when it comes to his outside shooting, history has shown us that he has the potential to still turn into a sensational asset early on in his career. The reason why is the amount of serious weaponry that Black has in his arsenal. To quote another Mötley Crüe banger, some NBA team is about to get a “Live Wire” that they are simply going to need to “turn loose and set him free” so that Black can do what he does best and wreak havoc on the court.
THE FILM
SET THE TONE
Right off the bat, we get an example of the two-way versatility that Anthony Black is going to offer on the basketball court. While many are going to first think of the playmaking ability when it comes to the Arkansas freshman guard, I continue to be fascinated with the defensive ability. Black has the ideal measurements you’re looking for in a potential floor general. But he also has a versatile skill set that projects to make an early impact.
Here we get Anthony with a great read for the steal. Immediately he gains possession and gives up the ball to set up a two-on-one advantage. Black stays engaged, welcoming the following pass before taking off for an emphatic slam.
FEEL FOR THE GAME
There are simply too many times on tape in which Anthony Black stands out with his feel and ability to shift into another gear off a live dribble. Black is methodical with his approach when he’s trying to attack. He understands how to be patient and allow the defense to tip their hat before he analyzes and attacks when any window is presented.
The first clip just shows the patience and demonstration by Anthony to allow a potential driving lane to develop. Once he gathers himself and analyzes the defense, Anthony has the tools to attack downhill with aggression and isn’t afraid of any challenger trying to stop him. I love the second clip because it’s the recognition by Black to not “settle” for the first opportunity. After receiving a pass on the wing, Anthony looks to have a potential three-point shot if he wants it.
Instead, he understands that the defense will be collapsing to push him off the line. That’s when he puts the ball on the floor and looks to have a potential pull-up jumper from the corner. Instead, Anthony quickly analyzes that the defense is out of position and works to get himself a high-percentage opportunity.
OUTSIDE SHOOTING (3 CLIPS)
The outside shot for Anthony Black is going to be the area of focus moving forward. It’s the one area of his game that can completely swing the trajectory of his potential. If Black can become a respectable outside threat, he’s going to be a nightmare of an assignment for opposing defenders.
Black shot 30.1% from three this year on 2.6 attempts per game. While the percentage isn’t where you’d want it to be, there were also some encouraging stretches. In the first half of the season, Black had a nine-game span where he shot 44.0% from three on 2.8 attempts per game. But at the same time, Black had another nine-game stretch in the second half of the season that saw him shoot 30.0% from three on 2.2 attempts per game.
When the confidence is rolling for Anthony Black, he’s a nightmare on the offensive side of the ball. All of the pieces start to come together and shine on the court. Playmaking guards mentioned earlier such as Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball had similar questions coming into the league.
Ball has shot over 35.0% from three in every season. Giddey finished the 2022-23 NBA season while shooting 32.5% from three on 3.1 attempts. If Black can get to that mid-30% range from downtown, it’s going to cement himself as a dangerous weapon moving forward.
GETTING DOWNHILL
One of my favorite things when it comes to Anthony Black is his desire to welcome challengers at the basket. There’s something refreshing to the mind when a player understands the gifts that he has at his disposal. Anthony Black is relentless when it comes to attacking off the bounce. He doesn’t care who is in his way, he will go right at you and finish through traffic.
According to Synergy, Black finished with a 58.3 FG% at the rim on 156 attempts. To compare that with other prospects in this class, Cason Wallace (Kentucky) finished at 64.2% on 81 attempts. Scoot Henderson finished at 58.5% on 130 attempts, but he had his season shut down early. You could make an argument that Black’s percentages would even skyrocket with NBA spacing. Arkansas had plenty of talent, but they lacked floor spacers to make things easier on Black.
While some might get caught up in the numbers, I’m more intrigued by the mentality I have seen on tape from Black. He understands that he can use his body to shield off from shot blockers and he has the ability to adjust in mid-air to finish with finesse.
PLAYMAKING PART I (3 CLIPS)
Yes, the part of Anthony Black’s game that gets us all in our feelings. If you find yourself needing to “buy” into Anthony Black, let me give you a piece of friendly advice. Go and watch his two-game stretch at the Maui Invitational against Louisville and Creighton. Everything for Anthony was firing on all cylinders in those two games. You saw what type of player he could look like when everything is cooking. In those two performances, Black averaged 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He also shot 65.5% from the field and 50.0% from three.
The vision and anticipation from Anthony Black are going to make him a multi-dimensional demon on the basketball court. Just let him run wild and create a beautiful painting. In the first clip, we get a look at Anthony in transition. He gets the defensive rebound before getting up the floor and surveying the defense. One he analyzes, Anthony throws a beautiful dime to his teammate Ricky Council IV for an emphatic slam.
The second clip is a classic “yeah, I’m going to need to rewind that.” Black comes off a bit of a ghost screen and turns the corner, looking to attack the defense. That’s until he quickly gets his head around and throws a gorgeous live-dribble bullet to the opposite corner, finding Ricky Council IV for a wide-open three.
The final clip is all about patience and allowing the play to develop. Black is going to get a pick-and-roll opportunity at the top of the key. He waits for the play to develop and analyzes there’s an opening for an easy bucket. Once he reaches the perfect opportunity, Anthony throws a gorgeous assist.
PLAYMAKING PART II (3 CLIPS)
I love this set of three clips because it showcases the ability of Anthony Black to attack and react. While flashy passes can get fans in their feelings, the ability to make the extra pass and create an efficient opportunity for your teammates is mouth-watering for film junkies. At first, we get Anthony on the attack in transition. Notice just how much he’s looking around to see where the lapse is in the defense. Once he has a plan, Anthony throws it into high gear before dumping off a beautiful dime for a layup.
Next, we get Anthony creating an opportunity off the attack. The moment he gets downhill and reads the defense collapsing, Black throws another beautiful live-dribble dime to his man in the corner. The Missouri defense doesn’t even know what hit him, as they are all over the place by the time this pass reaches the corner. Finally, we get another great read from Anthony Black at the end of the half. He’s coming off a pick & roll and waits till the final second before reacting to the collapsing Missouri defender before throwing a wide-open assist.
DEFENSE PART I
As I hinted before, the defense with Anthony Black continues to get me buying as much stock as I can get my hands on. Point guard is the most difficult position to adapt to when it comes to prospects taking the leap to the NBA. The speed of the game just suddenly got turned up into overdrive. Because of that, young floor generals need to have the ability to make an impact in a number of different areas until the game slows down offensively. One area in which Black could make an impact early on is his ability as a defender.
Black shows patience when it comes to defending driving attempts from opponents. He ranked in the 84th percentile defensively when it came to defending plays that finish at the rim. Anthony is relentless in his pursuit. He can find himself out of position at first, but Black will quickly turn on the afterburners to get himself ahead of the play and in ideal positioning for a stop. Despite running into a screen to start this, Anthony remains consistent in his pursuit on this sequence. He doesn’t panic, instead getting right along the ball handler and waiting for the opportunity to attack.
DEFENSE PART II (2 CLIPS)
As I mentioned above, Anthony Black stays alert on the defensive side of the ball. He doesn’t let one mishap ruin a play, as he’s got a quick mentality to stay engaged and determined. His hands are always active, as he’s always trying to do anything to cause interference for the opposition. While trying to defend the start of this play, Anthony gets himself a little out of position before his man executes a beautiful backdoor cut. But because of his motor, Anthony gets right back in the play for a gorgeous rejection at the rim.
The next clip is another demonstration of Anthony’s ability to stay hot with his motor on the defensive side of the ball. After a DHO near the top of the key, Anthony shows to present his man from attacking the middle of the floor. Once his man puts the ball on the ground, Anthony works to meet him at the baseline before a beautiful rejection.
DEFENSE PART III
I love this play because it showcases everything you’d want to see when it comes to some defensive fundamentals. It’s the attention to detail that can really help you early on in your career as a young guard. Texas A&M runs a little interference here that sees Anthony Black get on the back of the ball handler.
He keeps his hands vertical, in case of a potential pass. Once the ball handler attacks, Anthony has to get back in ideal position rapidly in order to have a chance to stop the shot. That’s just where his size and length come into place, as Anthony stays right attached to his hip before another great rejection at the rim.
The modern age of basketball has seen a flurry of plus-sized floor generals take over the league. The NBA continues to be hot in pursuit when it comes to finding a way to add one of these pieces to their rosters. It’s a unique weapon that gives a dangerous boost to your entire flow on both sides of the ball. Anthony Black has the size and versatility as a two-way player that should make him a hot commodity in front offices.
Black has the tools to be the next stud playmaking guard to come through the NBA. If the outside shot comes along, Anthony Black will be a “Theatre of Pain” on the basketball court.
Great review of A.Black & awesome album cover. Lol. I too have Starry Eyes for Anthony Black. I feel like Im on a Merry-go-round going back & forth if I like C.Wallace more than A.Black. Black needs to start at PG. I dont buy that he can be a Wing his rookie & sophomore seasons. The franchise who drafts him & puts him at Wing will be Dancing on Glass hoping the 3-ball comes around..(Yes as you can tell by my not so subtle references Im also a 80's Metal/Motley Crue fan.)