What the Future Holds; The Career of Ivan Rabb

By Zach Cone-Douglas

In my last article I went over some of the reasons I believe Ignas Brazdikies should be called up to the New York Knicks NBA roster, expeditiously. Coming off a blazing hot month of February in which he averaged 23.5 PPG and 12.5 rebounds, I could just as easily write a similar article about Westchester Knicks big man Ivan Rabb and why the Knicks are wasting regular season games playing journey men like Reggie Bullock and Bobby Portis who are essentially rentals on one year deals in favor of getting their G-League players well needed experience at the highest level. But for the sake of avoiding redundancy I will instead focus on the journey and potential of former 1st round pick Ivan Rabb.

Coming out of high school Rabb was considered one of the top players in his class winning two CIF Northern California Open Division basketball championships and one CIF Open Division State Championship at Bishop O'Dowd High School, while also being rated the #1 recruit by many as well as being named an all American. He went onto play his college ball for the University of Cal Bears under coach Cuonzo Martin. In his freshman season Rabb would average 12.5 and 5.8 rebounds while also shooting over 50% from three, flashing the stretch 4 potential, a position that was just coming into the limelight around that same time, with the success of players like Draymond Green, during the same point in time when the warriors small ball line up was just starting to reach its dynastic state. His play in his first year was enough to earn Rabb 2nd team all-conference in the Pac-12. His inside out scoring ability had NBA scouts clamoring and by all accounts Rabb was set to be selected high in the lottery after his freshman year at Cal.

Many expected him to declare for the NBA and fulfill his expectations as the next sure fire one and done candidate. But many in and around the NBA were shocked when Ivan Rabb announced he would return to Cal for his sophomore season. After forgoing the draft Rabb in his sophomore season would go on to improve his rebounds per game from 5.8 to 7.4 and his points per game from 12.5 to 14.0 but his shooting percentage dropped from both inside and outside the 3-point arc. Although Rabb did make noticeable improvement in key areas, the choice to return to school an extra year would eventually come back to bite him when he declared for the draft after the conclusion of his sophomore season . After being projected in the lottery after his freshman campaign the California standout who previously sat atop his class in high-school dropped all the way to the 5th pick of the second round, finally being selected by the Magic with the 35th pick (who later traded him to the Grizzles). A fall that just one year ago would have seemed unimaginable was now a reality for Rabb. In his short tenure with the Grizzles Ivan Rabb flashed the potential to be a productive NBA player. In his 49 games played (13 starts) with the Grizzles he averaged 14.7 mpg, 5.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG 0.3 BPG, 54.7% shooting, numbers consistent with his career numbers at Cal per-minute, showing his game can translate to the NBA. But after 2 years and multiple stints with the Grizzles G-League team Rabb was released in the summer of 2019, after Memphis drafted Gonzaga Forward Brandon Clarke in the first round of this year's draft. On the 23rd of October the Knicks signed Ivan Rabb to a 2-way contract, most of which has been spent in the G-League this season.

Fast forward to month of February 2020 and it seems that Ivan Rabb is starting to hit his stride, his 23.5 PPG and 12.5 rebounds both are well over his averages from his first 2 years in the league and are reminiscent of the days when Rabb was considered an elite talent coming out of Bishop O’Dowd. With a player as naturally talented as Rabb sometimes success can just be a matter of finding the right situation. Playing at the center position with the Westchester Knicks has provided him the opportunity to exploit mismatches against slower big men and play to the strength of his game, which is his inside out scoring. Much of the criticism that came Rabb’s way after his sophomore season was the fact he did not have a defined position. But with his shooting above 50% over this stretch and his rebounding making major strides it’s clear that Rabb is best at the center, where he has been able to develop the needed confidence to take the step in his game many have been waiting to see. Now whether he can defend opposing big men at the NBA level well enough to stay on the court, it is clear that Rabb has the potential to be a very effective stretch big who can provide consistent shooting and rebounding, both areas where the New York Knicks have struggled this year. If Rabb can recapture the form that made him an elite prospect in high school, the sky is the limit for Ivan Rabb in New York.