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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Ike Anigbogu

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Ike Anigbogu #13 of the Indiana Pacers poses for a portrait during the Pacers Media Day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on September 25, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Ike Anigbogu #13 of the Indiana Pacers poses for a portrait during the Pacers Media Day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on September 25, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Ike Anigbogu Indiana Pacers
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 25: Ike Anigbogu #13 of the Indiana Pacers plays defense during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 25, 2017, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Thunder defeated the Pacers 114-96. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Ike Anigbogu didn’t get a ton of opportunities with the Pacers this season. But we saw enough to know what he can be someday.

In DraftExpress’ final 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Ike Anigbogu was a projected first-round pick. The quick, bouncy, defensive-minded center captivated scouts and his stock was high. He was also the youngest player in the draft, he’s still just 19 after finishing his first season, so it is understandable why some mock drafts had Anigbogu going in the top-30.

A knee injury scared teams away from drafting the big man out of UCLA. The Pacers didn’t snag him in the first round, but when Indiana was on the clock with the 47th pick, the upside of Anigbogu was too hard to pass up.

But not long after the draft, the Pacers trade for Domantas Sabonis. The trio of Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Al Jefferson meant that Ike probably wouldn’t see much playing time in his rookie season, and that is exactly what happened.

A combination of a crowded rotation and raw skills made playing time hard to come by for Anugbogu, but we still saw some of what he can be in both Fort Wayne and very limited minutes with the Pacers. Let’s review the rookie year we saw from one of the Pacers second-round picks.

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