Indiana Pacers’ first-round pick, Goga Bitadze, is slated to make his NBA debut tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sidelined due to a right ankle sprain, Bitadze will look to give fans excitement for the future.
It’s been quite the offseason for fans of the Indiana Pacers. A summer that included the addition and subtraction of pieces within the roster, a reshaped team enters the 2019-2020 season. A key component of that change is the addition of a 20-year-old center, Goga Bitadze.
Bitadze will be making his NBA debut in the final preseason contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bitadze who has been absent in previous contests due to a right ankle sprain will be looking to prove that he was worthy of being drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Selected with the #18 overall pick, Bitadze presents excitement and curiosity for fans. A native of Sagarejo, Georgia, Bitadze was a prospect many fans were not familiar with prior to him being drafted to the Pacers.
However, Bitadze, like many of the top European prospects, has been a professional for quite some time. Bitadze has had previous stints within the ABA League (Adriatic League) and the second-best league in the world, EuroLeague. Bitadze is familiar with the responsibility and commitment of being a pro.
During his time in the Adriatic League, Bitadze earned a spot on the All-Adriatic League Team as well as taking home Adriatic League MVP honors, high praise for a rising star who has yet to reach his ceiling and is just hitting his stride.
Bitadze’s game adheres to the current NBA landscape to a tee. At 6-11, the center provides a post presence but also has the ability to stretch the floor.
Like many of the European stars in today’s NBA, Bitadze will pull the trigger from distance with confidence but also put the ball on the floor as well. For a coaching staff that prides itself on development, Bitadze is placed in a position to be successful.
In the final preseason contest against the Timberwolves this evening, Bitadze will have his minutes monitored by Coach McMillan and his staff. But despite the possibility of playing limited minutes, seeing Bitadze on the floor in game action is a step in the right direction.
The Pacers have turned a new leaf and will be looking to end the preseason on a positive note. Tonight’s contest against the Timberwolves presents the last dress rehearsal before the Pacers host the Detroit Pistons, on October 23rd for opening night. Look for Bitadze to give the coaching staff reasons to include him in the rotation.