Full break down of him from NBA.com
Prospect Analysis
Strengths:
- Incredible hustle, lots of energy and effort
- Measurables – height and length
- Attacks the boards regularly
- Solid athlete, explodes well off the dribble
- Gets after it in transition defense
Weaknesses:
- Shooting needs work
- Likes to gamble on defense
- Frame still needs to fill out
NBA Projection:
Projected as a late second-round pick. Shows major upside because of his heart and size but will be hard for him to become a successful NBA player without a reliable jump shot. He will probably return to Efes for at least one more year or possibly two before coming over to the NBA.
2014-2015 Season:
Osman had another successful year with Efes as they played in the final eight of the Euroleague, nearly edging out Real Madrid for a spot in the Final Four. Although his percentages decreased, his production and minutes went up this year compared to the last and showed a lot of growth as a basketball player.
Key Statistics:
27 GP, 18.7 mpg, 6.7 ppg, .471 2P, .303 3P, .667 FT, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, .7 spg, .3 bpg (EuroLeague)
28 GP, 20.9 mpg, 8.2 ppg, .479 2P, .3183P, .705 FT, 4.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, .9 spg, .4 bpg (Turkey)
Cool Statistic:
Osman played for the Turkish national team in the 2014 FIBA U-20 Euro championship. Not only did Turkey win the tournament, but Osman was named MVP after scoring 20 points in the final against Spain.
Reminds Me Of:
Iman Shumpert
What Insiders say:
Carl Berman, NetScouts Basketball
"Osman is athletic, a high energy player, a good defender with quick feet and hands and a decent rebounder for his size. Rebounding should improve as he gains strength. He sees the floor very well on both ends, tending the make the right play at most times, looking for the open man on offense and getting into passing lanes on defense. Osman seems to have a willingness to work on improving the skills he needs to ultimately succeed at the NBA level. Playing in the NBA is a goal Osman has had for quite awhile and it looks like that will happen sooner rather than later. Expect Osman to be a second-round 2015 NBA Draft pick and to make his NBA debut in the 2016 or 2017 season."
Davide Bortoluzzi, NBADraft.net
“Osman was the MVP of U20 European championship, where he averaged 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Standing 6-foot-6, he has good size for the role, with a great wingspan and a solid body structure which could be easily bulked up. He has a remarkable combination of speed and athleticism, which makes him really effective in the transition game. He loves to create with the ball on his hands, especially attacking the basket in one-on-one iso situations or exploiting screens during pick-and-roll. He’s also a solid passer and rebounder for the role, thanks to his size and wingspan. Defensively he’s able to guard basically four different roles at the youth level, giving his team great flexibility. He’s also effective in catch and shoot situations and from 3-point, but needs to improve his mechanics and the pull-up jumper. As his game is based on instinct and creativity, he should improve his decision making and the off-the ball game.”
Sam Meyerkopf, Euroleague Adventures
"He’s a hustling warrior. The man we call Jedi plays with such energy you can’t help but appreciate him. Osman is the track down block king of Turkey or as Turkish basketball commentator Ismail Senol said on my podcast “People Got Jedi-d!”! He’s everywhere on the floor, doesn’t take any plays off, and absolutely loves to play in transition, whether he’s on defense or offense. At 19 years old this season he was a key figure in Efes’ Euroleague playoff run. The issue with Osman is finding him a role in the NBA. He’s a hustling wing who plays hard on defense but really needs to develop more as a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooting option. He was 20-66 (30.3 percent) shooting from 3 in the Euroleague this season. But there’s no question a few GM’s and scouts will have seen him live and just fallen in love with the way he plays."
David Aldridge's Big Board 2015: Small Forwards: | Rank: 7
TNT Analyst David Aldridge breaks down the top prospects at each position
At 6-foot-7, Osman certainly would be an intriguing point-forward prospect, but it will take time. But he does play for one of the best teams in Europe, he has been well-coached and he has gotten minutes.
"I think people over in Europe have a different idea on positioning than we do over here," a veteran scout said. "They think if a guy's big enough and he can bring the ball over and initiate the offense, than he can play the point. And that's not how we think over here. Osman is a pretty good passer, but he plays upright. They don't play a lot of screen and roll over there, and the guard doesn't have to make more point guard decisions. I see him more as a two who is a pretty good passer."