Dzanan Musa
Position: Forward
Height: 6-9
Weight: 190
Team: Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia)
You hear stories all the time about what prospects in different sports sacrificed to chase their dreams. Few of them can match Dzanan Musa.
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At 11 years old, the Bosnian Musa moved from his hometown of Bihac to capital city Sarajevo (a nearly five-and-a-half-hour drive) to attend a basketball academy. Musa lived in an apartment by himself and trained several times a day until he turned professional at age 16.
"I know how to manage myself," Musa said after a recent workout with the Denver Nuggets. "Especially when you're from a small town as I am and you go in the main city, you have people looking at you like you're nothing. You have to fight through that, so I fight. I fight all the time."
That hunger has placed the offensively-gifted wing among first-round talents in the 2018 draft class even if it takes a couple more years for Musa to suit up in the NBA.
Strengths
Musa has been getting buckets since he picked up a basketball. Look no further than his prolific scoring numbers with the Bosnian national team.
In the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, he put up 23.0 points a game and followed that up in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship with 23.3 points a contest. Musa took it up a notch in the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Cup when he racked up 34.0 points a night en route to being named tournament MVP.
Of course, that was against players his own age. But Musa has held his own against grown men in the professional ranks as well. In 71 total games for Cedevita Zagreb this past season across the Croatian Leagues and EuroCup, the 19-year-old averaged 12.3 points on 47.0 percent shooting from the field and 31.3 from three-point range in addition to 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 23.1 minutes (see highlights).
Overall, Musa is an offensive-minded player that can score in bunches at all three levels when on his game and handle play-making duties as a point-forward.
Weaknesses
Like plenty of European prospects before him, Musa has two huge areas to focus on if he wants to make it in the league: physique and defense.
"In Europe, we don't have people around here who are these kinds of athletes," Musa said after a recent workout with the Indiana Pacers. "I have to develop myself into that kind of player to finish through contact."
Notice he didn't mention bulking up to help play defense. That's because Musa apparently isn't all that concerned with that end of the floor, which will be a major problem when the talent level spikes in the NBA.
Also, Musa apparently has a competitive side that boils over on the court and gets the best of him at times. That works when you're someone like Draymond Green, an All-Star and multiple-time champion. Not so much when you're a young player from overseas trying to find his way.
NBA comparison
While Musa would love to be compared to idol Manu Ginobili, we're not about to make that link. Sorry, kid.
However, another recent European prospect that was versatile offensively and was confident in his ability to the point of being cocky is Magic forward Mario Hezonja. That seems like a much better pairing. Like Hezonja, it will take time for Musa to adapt his body and game to the league before he is ready to contribute.
How'd he fit with Sixers
Offensively, Musa would appear to fit in pretty well with the Sixers. He likes to get out on the break and can knock down shots. He also would be able to take over ball-handling duties at times if needed.
On the defensive end, the Sixers have studs in Robert Covington and Joel Embiid that can cover up some deficiencies from others, but even they can only do so much.
Draft projection
Musa is projected to go anywhere from the late teens to near the end of the first round. With the Sixers holding the No. 26 pick and already having 11 players under contract for next season, he could be a serious candidate for a draft-and-stash selection.
