Texas C Bamba impresses Suns in workout

Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough likened center Mohamed Bamba to Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert after the Texas product worked out for the team Saturday in Phoenix.

"Honestly, I think at 20 years old [Bamba is] ahead of where Rudy was," McDonough, whose team holds the No. 1 pick in this month's draft, told reporters. "Now Rudy's made tremendous strides over the last three or four years.

"The question for Mo is can he fill out his body the way Rudy has? But in terms of measurements, they're similar. In terms of the willingness and desire to anchor a defense and protect the rim, they're similar. I think Mo probably is a little more mobile at the same age and Rudy is probably stronger, more physically developed at the same age."

Bamba dazzled at the combine last month, recording the largest wingspan ever recorded at the event (7-foot-10) and touching 12 1/2 feet in the vertical jump, a figure McDonough called, "crazy." The Suns GM was also impressed with what he saw at Saturday's workout, the team's third this week after Arizona's DeAndre Ayton on Wednesday and Duke's Marvin Bagley on Friday.

"Mo had a really good workout," McDonough said. "His wingspan, his standing reach, is off the charts. His ability to protect the rim I think will be elite at the NBA level, in addition to his ability to rebound the ball.

"Another thing that stood out to us in his workout today is we can tell he's been working on his shooting."

Bamba, who turned 20 last month, previously shot with the ball well behind his head, form McDonough described as like a "slingshot." The big man has made significant changes with shooting coach Drew Hanlen, saying it has "made like a night-and-day difference in just my mechanics, getting the ball off smoother and having softer landing on the rim."

"My makes are all net and my misses are landing very soft and long instead of short," he added.

McDonough also praised Bamba's mental approach, calling him, "one of the smarter guys I've seen in the last 10 or 15 years come through the pre-draft process."

Ayton, considered the favorite to be the Suns' choice, told reporters Wednesday that he "knows" he's going first overall. Bagley said Friday he believes he should go No. 1, adding that the assumption Ayton will go first is "disrespectful."

While Bamba hopes to be the first overall pick, he declined to make any bold statements on the subject.

"Everyone feels entitled to it, but I have no entitlement to it," he said. "It's something that obviously I worked my butt off for and my whole thing is to put it in very short sentences -- I do more and I require less. The Suns are more than a perfect fit for me."

--Field Level Media