STUMP STORY OF THE DAY
Goga Bitazde: Questions, please…
From a pretty unsubstantial draft process to signing a contract to being a key contributor to a playoff team, this is the story of Goga Bitazde.
If you aren’t familiar with that picture above, let me explain it to you. On the left is Zion Williamson, the assumed number one pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, surrounded by media fighting over the chance to get the best camera angle and ask their preferred question.
On the right is our guy, Goga Bitadze, a 6’11” center from Montenegro who played professionally overseas prior to entering his name in the 2019 NBA Draft at 19 years old. Obviously, there isn’t much media attention. I’d argue there was none. Goga, a highly touted prospect in his own right, turned into just another person in the room when it came to Zion.
This photo caught the attention of some NBA stars with Draymond Green tweeting, “He should frame this pic… look at it every day and grind!”, and NBA HOFer Dwyane Wade saying, “Use it as fuel”.
The Pacers took Goga with the 18th pick in the draft, 17 behind Zion. Goga never really found his footing with the Pacers after getting stuck at the bottom of a deep center rotation. He spent three and a half years there. His most noticeable playing time happened in the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket, where he punched fellow NBA big man Furkan Korkmaz in the tunnel. Shortly after the incident, he was released by the Pacers. In February of 2023, he signed a deal with the Magic.
He finally was able to find some time in the rotation in Orlando and showed some real potential. He has a good stroke and can really stretch the defense with the three-ball, and is arguably an elite rebounder. He provides incredible rim protection and has a knack for creating blocks and effecting shots.
In his first full season in Orlando this past year, Goga started 33 games and played the role of the first big man off of the bench. In games he started, he averaged 7.5 points and shot nearly 59% from the field, along with 1.7 blocks.
Two days ago, Goga signed a three-year deal worth $25 million. It's a pretty remarkable feat for a guy who couldn’t crack the rotation for three years in Indiana. Even more remarkable, he got cut about a year ago. He was even one of the top Centers on the market and many teams were courting his services. He decided to stay with the team that had taken a chance on him the year prior.
This is just another story of a guy who has grinded out a career in the NBA, through ups and downs. A guy who the media doesn’t spend a lot of attention talking about, and a guy who has never got the attention he deserves. Even during the draft process, he wasn’t the center of any discussion. Goga has earned the attention now, and it’s hard not to talk about him.
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