Mavericks' Tobi Lawal selection has shades of beloved former Maverick

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Tobi Lawal out of Virginia Tech with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he's drawing comparisons to Derrick Jones Jr. before he plays a second in the NBA. DJJ was a key piece in Dallas' run to the NBA Finals in 2024 on the wing. He provided the Mavs with defense, occasional 3-point shooting, and elite athleticism to their starting unit during his one season on the team, and Mavs fans will love it if Lawal can turn into this type of player.

Jones Jr.'s dedication to his role, nonstop motor, and insane dunks made him someone who Mavs fans admired deeply, and they were torn after seeing him depart after just one season. Lawal can have this same type of impact if his game grows in Dallas.

Tobi Lawal looks like a young Derrick Jones Jr.

Standing at 6-foot-7.25 with a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan, Lawal posted similar measurements to those of Jones Jr. The former Maverick is a bit shorter than Lawal and has a touch more length, but the similarities are there when diving into their physical tools.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman made the comparison between Jones Jr. and Lawal in a recent article titled "2026 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Dallas Mavericks' No. 48 Pick Tobi Lawal," and it's easy to see why.

"Lawal and Derrick Jones are high-level vertical athletes who impact the game above the rim, especially in transition and as lob finishers," Wasserman wrote.

When watching Lawal's game, his athleticism is the first thing that you notice about him. He posted the second-highest maximum vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine last month, and most of his game is centered around his leaping ability.

Lawal is a walking highlight reel when he's in transition, as he isn't afraid to dunk over defenders who are in his way.

Just like Jones Jr., his teammates are always looking to throw him alley-oops. He is a real threat on the fast break, and Mike Young even used the former Hokie as a screener in the pick and roll. This led to some ferocious slams, and he has a strong ability to catch lobs in the half-court and in the fast break.

This comes down to more than their leaping abilities

Despite the obvious similarities that come with comparing Lawal to the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion, there's much more to each of their games than just dunking. Jones Jr. has turned into an elite perimeter defender, and while Lawal isn't completely there yet, he has the tools to be a high-level defender.

He brings excellent effort, just like Jones Jr., and his length and athleticism allow him to make plays in the passing lanes that create opportunities for his teammates on the other end. Lawal also has a knack for making hustle plays and guarding multiple positions, and he should be able to guard most wings if he becomes more consistent and leans into his abilities.

Lawal looks further along as a shooter than Jones Jr. did

Lawal's offensive game is still a work in progress, but the same could be said about Jones Jr.'s when he stepped into the NBA. Jones Jr. shot 20.5 percent from three on 1.3 attempts per game in his lone season at UNLV, while Lawal shot 32.5 percent from three on 1.0 attempts per game over his four years in college.

He didn't really begin shooting threes until his junior and senior seasons, though, and he shot 2.1 threes per game during these seasons compared to 0.1 3-pointers as a freshman and sophomore. The willingness to shoot open shots is there, giving him the foundation to develop into a 3-and-D wing.

Dallas' defense took a huge step in the right direction by drafting Tobi Lawal just one day after selecting Morez Johnson Jr., and him developing as a two-way player seems like the best path forward. Growing into a Derrick Jones Jr.-type player would be game-changing for the young forward, and Mavs fans can only hope that his game continues to expand.

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