Sidy Cissoko: The Most Underrated Player in the 2023 NBA Draft
The Physical French Wing Has Flashed Big Time Upside, so Why is He Not Being Valued?
A player you hate to play against.
That sentence is the perfect way to describe Sidy Cissoko. The 6’6”, 224lbs physical French wing is an offensive player’s worst nightmare. On film, Cissoko consistently displays an elite level of competitiveness on the defensive end while adding some jaw-dropping passes. Offensively, Cissoko constantly looks to put someone on a poster demonstrating his explosive leaping ability. That is why Cissoko has me falling in love with him as a prospect. But why isn’t he valued to the same degree by NBA decision-makers?
Cissoko’s journey to Las Vegas with the G-League Ignite was lengthy and has seen him take strides in every step of that journey. Hailing from the suburbs of Paris, Cissoko grew up there until he was 13 before moving to Basque country in Spain to join Saski Baskonia. Cissoko’s experience growing up in a pro-environment helped him make the trek out to Vegas, where he flourished while developing parts of his game that had not yet been developed.
Here is Cissoko’s game in depth:
Strengths
Currently, Cissoko can immediately affect an NBA rotation due to his physical, versatile defense. At 6’6” with a 6’10” wingspan, Cissoko is effective both on-ball using his physicality and off-ball using his length to jump in passing lanes. Not to mention, Cissoko also brings infectious energy allowing his team to follow his lead defensively. In a way, he slightly reminds me of Lu Dort due to his physicality and competitiveness.
Cissoko’s Defense
Another evident strength of Cissoko’s is his fantastic feel for the game, which allows him to make some seriously incredible passes. Going back to his time with Saski Baskonia, Cissoko was used in more of an on-ball role, allowing him to develop his passing ability. Fast forward to this year with the Ignite. Cissoko’s passing ability translated into an off-ball role, which shows he is a suitable secondary playmaker but has upside as a jumbo initiator. It’s also worth mentioning that Cissoko had nearly a 2:1 Ast/To ratio. Anyways, here are some clips from his time in Spain to his time with the Ignite:
Cissoko Passing Compilation
From Day 1, Sidy Cissoko can get on an NBA floor due to his two strengths. But the real question is, “How can he improve upon his weaknesses and tap into his upside?”. Well, here it is:
Weaknesses
The most glaring hole in Cissoko’s game lies in his ability to shoot the three-ball. But how much of that is a weakness? Well, in reality, Cissoko has been steadily improving on his three-ball. Despite shooting 30.9% from beyond the arc last season, he hit an extremely encouraging 37.8% of his C&S threes. All that said, Cissoko is still relatively unproven as a shooter, but I’m more than pleased with the development of his shot. It’s also worth noting that he has solid mechanics, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as a reliable 3-point shooter for whatever team selects him.
Cissoko Three Pointer Compilation
Besides his three-pointer, Cissoko has no other glaring holes in his game. The three-ball will make or break his career in the NBA. If he continues to show the development we saw this past year, I’m confident he’ll become an All-NBA level defender, becoming an excellent 3&D player with secondary playmaking abilities. A slight concern is Cissoko getting beat off the dribble occasionally when flat-footed. It doesn’t seem like a significant problem, as he improved on it throughout the year. Anyways, here’s 2 clips of it:
Cissoko - Beat off the Dribble
These weaknesses listed above are more like areas that have been significantly improved over the last 6-12 months, which is really encouraging for NBA teams. Cissoko’s defense and unique passing ability, combined with a budding jump shot, easily makes him a Top 20 pick. But could we see him taken in the lottery?
Fit
Another part of what makes Cissoko significantly attractive to NBA execs is his ability to fit into a multitude of situations. Cissoko would fit nicely with a team with multiple draft picks like Indiana or Utah. Conversely, Cissoko could go to a contender that would give him runway to develop, like the Nuggets or Clippers. This makes Cissoko such a fascinating prospect to those all over the league. Another thing worth mentioning about Cissoko is his range. Journalists have him mocked anywhere from 15 - 40, so look out for Cissoko on draft night.
Wrap-Up
Sidy Cissoko is an incredibly intriguing prospect with a unique skill set that sets him apart from others. His physicality and versatility on defense make him a nightmare for opposing players, while his exceptional passing ability adds another dimension to his game. Although his three-point shooting has been a weakness, he has shown significant improvement and has the potential to become a reliable shooter in the NBA.
Cissoko’s ability to fit into various team situations makes him an attractive prospect for NBA decision-makers. Whether he ends up with a team in a rebuild with chances to play lots of minutes or a contender that can provide him with development opportunities, Cissoko’s potential impact is undeniable. With his combination of defense, playmaking, and improving shooting, he has the potential to become a valuable 3-and-D player with secondary playmaking abilities. As draft night approaches, it will be intriguing to see where Cissoko lands and how his game continues to evolve at the professional level. That is why Sidy Cissoko is the Most Underrated Player in the 2023 NBA Draft.