Mavericks coach compares rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper to NBA star

Noah Weber

2023 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot / Jamie Squire/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks' trade to move back into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft was one of their best moves all summer.

They had already drafted Dereck Lively II earlier that night and used the traded player exception acquired from that trade to acquire the No. 24 overall pick.

While taking on Richaun Holmes' contract, the Mavs landed the No. 24 overall pick, Olivier-Maxence Prosper. This wasn't a move that many people necessarily expected, but this move excited Mavs fans as he is precisely what they need.

He is a great defender, hustles, and seems ecstatic to be playing in Dallas. Prosper seems like he will fit into the Mavericks culture perfectly, and has already become a fan favorite in just a few short months.

On September 2, NBA Insider Marc Stein recorded his weekly radio show "The Saturday Stein Line with Marc Stein" and had an interview with Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley. Here's what Dudley had to say about Prosper.

"(He) goes extremely hard," Dudley said. "He has a little (Pascal) Siakam in him."

Dudley later went on to talk about Prosper's love for hard work and how his frame is perfect for the NBA. O-Max seems like he is going to be great in Dallas from day one, and if he can be anywhere close to the type of player that Pascal Siakam is, the Mavs will be set for a long time.

Siakam has career averages of 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He also won the NBA Finals in 2019 and has made an All-NBA Team twice.

Siakam has established himself as one of the best forwards in the Eastern Conference and has improved every year.

It sounds like Prosper will be in the Mavs' rotation right away, and his ability to defend and hustle should make him a key role player next season.

We'll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors surrounding Olivier-Maxence Prosper and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, so stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.