1 Current NBA comparison for every Dallas Mavericks rookie this season
By Austin McGee
![Dallas Mavericks, Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper Dallas Mavericks, Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5337,h_3002,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/83/01h808zj0q0b5bzmftn8.jpg)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper pro comparison: Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Oliver-Maxence Prosper comparison was difficult to make due to the commonality of his positional build.
O-Max is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. And unlike many lanky wings in the NBA, Prosper is built. He weighed in at a sturdy 212 pounds at the combine, despite Marquette listing Prosper at an even sturdier 230 lbs.
During the comparison thought process, I pondered a couple of players as potential comps. Former Dallas Maverick Dorian Finney-Smith first came to mind before deciding ultimately deciding on Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.
McDaniels and Prosper share a similar build, although Prosper is bulkier and McDaniels is taller. Both players have seven-foot wingspans which they use to cause havoc on the defensive end.
Heading into college, McDaniels was a top-10 recruit, whereas Prosper was less of a sure thing. Prosper was on the NBA radar in High School, but his pathway was far different. O-Max attended the NBA Latin American Academy in Mexico City where he shined as a prospect.
While both players came into the league in very different manners, they encapsulate what it means to be a 3-and-D forward. The "three" part of 3-and-D was not entirely there while both players competed in the college.
McDaniels and Prosper both shot below 34% from behind the arc in college. Additionally, both players made less than 1.5 three per game in their final collegiate seasons.
However, coming into the NBA, McDaniels was projected to be a plus shooter, even if it would take a few seasons. And that proved to be right, as this past season McDaniels shot 39.8% from downtown.
Neither Prosper nor McDaniels are the most-adept playmakers. Both players prefer to score opportunistically rather than by creating for themselves.
The lack of playmaking can be attributed to O-Max and McDaniel's lack of ball-handling ability. Neither player has a tight handle. The two forwards dribble tall and lack the requisite shiftiness to evade defenders off the dribble.
On offense, Prosper and McDaniels both play bigger than they are. The wings have demonstrated the ability to throw down dunks whenever they're near the restricted area. And, both youngsters have a penchant for putback dunks in traffic.
Where O-Max makes his mark is on the defensive end. The same goes for McDaniels. The T-Wolves forward may post better counting stats, but Prosper is equally as energetic on defense. The only difference between the two players in McDaniels propensity to block shots.
Both players can defend in space and excel off-ball. It wouldn't be too tall of a task to ask either forward to defend positions 2-to-4. The quickness and hustle is apparent when defending guards and the length and strength is noticeable when defender bigger players.