Caleb Swanigan NBA Summer League: Progressing to NBA big man

Caleb Swanigan is a rookie out of Purdue University. Swanigan is a 6-foot-10, 250-pound traditional big man. He is the 26th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and yet still seems to be undervalued.

Swanigan has been dominating the less desired competition in the NBA Summer League. He is proving that he can adapt his game to the current NBA style.

As a traditional big, Swanigan has been working to extend his consistent range past the three-point line. As Swanigan continues to improve his game, the NBA will find out just how good the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year is.

NBA Summer League

Caleb Swanigan working in the post. Photo Courtesy of Lohud.com.

Obviously summer league statistics don’t tell too much of a story, but Caleb Swanigan has been dominating regardless. In his five games this summer, Swanigan is averaging 14.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. He has three double-doubles and is shooting 42.6 percent from the field.

Swanigan has grabbed the second-most rebounds of any player this summer and has complemented Zach Collins very well when Collins has been on the floor. Swanigan has proven that he can beat you in many different ways both this summer and in his two years at Purdue.

Since his freshman year of college, Swanigan has been trying to get himself more NBA ready. Swanigan shot just 29.2 percent from three on 72 attempts his freshman season at Purdue. In his sophomore season, he followed that by shooting 44.7 percent on 85 attempts from the 3-point line.

Showing how quickly and well he adapted to the talent in the Big Ten, Swanigan turned in some big time numbers in his sophomore season.

In a league where big men are shifting to being more versatile and perimeter oriented, Swanigan is showing just how much of an all-around threat he can be.

Portland Trail Blazers Tandem

Caleb Swanigan, Photo Courtesy of NBA.com.

The Trail Blazers drafted two big men in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Both big men have different games that work well together.

Swanigan is a primarily low post threat, with an ability to pick and pop and make a mid-range jumper. Collins is a good passer, also with the ability to step out and hit a mid-range jumper. Both can rebound the ball well and have high energy. Collins protects the rim very well with his size and long arms.

With the Trail Blazers’ guards as good as they are, having two big men develop could make them perennial playoff contenders. Swanigan has been improving and adapting nearly every year he has played basketball and with the NBA waiting for him, there is a lot of time to prove how good he really is.

Featured Image Courtesy of NBA.com.

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