New York Knicks incoming rookie Pacome Dadiet had the chance to answer questions on what molded his basketball fabric growing up shortly after the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Knicks’ No. 25 overall pick told New York Basketball that he watched several All-Star forwards intently, including one from the Los Angeles Clippers and another from the Chicago Bulls prior to entering the league:
“I watched Paul George a lot. I watch DeMar DeRozan, for his midrange game, of just, how he gets to his shot and stuff. I feel like he’s one of the best in this area, so, I try to watch him as much as possible,” Dadiet said.
Knicks: Pacome Dadiet has a skilled repertoire that resembles his All-Star role models
Conflicting reports have Dadidet standing as short as 6-7 and as tall as 6-9. He boasts many traits akin to the players he watched with a close eye earlier in his youth. The French forward does three things especially well. He has no hesitation on offense, which will serve a Knicks team looking to play faster and more fluidly in the half-court well.
Secondly, Dadiet has a reliable turnaround midrange jump shot, which greatly resembles DeRozan’s fall-away in the mid-post and that of Tracy McGrady, another player he cited as having an affinity for. Thirdly, the Knicks’ coveted draft pick has a talent for finding holes in the driving lanes and making beelines to the basket for authoritative finishes at the rim.
The long, athletic three-man has a frame that can quickly fill out into an NBA body. Tankathon lists the 18-year-old, who turns 19 on July 27, at 217 pounds, which is only three pounds off from the 220-pound George, who is able to play the two through four.
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Dadiet plays at a much faster pace than DeRozan in general. Nevertheless, much of his mechanics and confidence in catching and shooting and pulling up from deep are clearly taken from George as well as an admixture of the other players that have rubbed off on him. He shot 35.8 percent from three-point range for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) league.
The Knicks are seeking another star difference-maker at the forward spot and may have one already in Dadiet, though the rawness of his game may necessitate a couple of years of development to get to that point. New York has three small forwards in Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart that have the fort held down heading into next season. Yet, Dadiet should still see time and get to prove if his NBA ceiling can trend in the direction of the All-Stars that have helped mold his game.