So, let’s talk about Brandon McCoy.
If you watched college basketball back in 2017 and 2018, you remember him.
He was that guy with the long arms and the massive hands who absolutely dominated the paint at Arizona.
But here is the thing about professional sports; college success doesn’t always translate to the NBA, and for Brandon, it’s been a bit of a wild ride.
I’ve been following his career pretty closely, mostly because it’s rare to see a big man with that kind of offensive touch disappear from the spotlight.
He’s the type of player who, if he can fix his defense, could be a valuable rotation guy.
But right now? He’s fighting for his spot.
Brandon McCoy: The College Phenom
It all started in Tucson.
Most people don’t realize just how good he was in his sophomore year.
From what I’ve seen, he was putting up numbers that were almost unheard of for a center back then.
He wasn’t just rebounding; he was scoring with a soft touch around the rim and hitting mid-range jumpers.
It felt like he was going to be a lock for the lottery. And this is where things get interesting.
Everyone talked about his wingspan and his ability to protect the rim. And this is where things get interesting.
But there were warning signs, even then. Now think about that for a second.
His defensive rotations were a little slow, and he had some fouling issues.
The coaches knew he needed to get stronger and faster to survive in the Association.
NBA Struggles: Why It Didn’t Click Immediately
He got drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, and honestly, it was a tough landing spot.
You throw a big guy like that into a system with LeBron and AD, and he’s going to have to play small minutes.
He got some run, sure, but the NBA is fast.
- The Shooting Woes: He’s not a great 3-point shooter.
In today’s NBA, if you can’t stretch the floor, you have to be elite at everything else.
- Defensive Consistency: It’s hard to guard guards when you’re struggling to contain other bigs.
- Mentality: Sometimes, coming off the bench isn’t fun.
I bet it’s frustrating to work hard in practice and sit on the sideline.
He ended up bouncing around, didn’t he? The Spurs waived him, and then he went to the Pelicans.
Nothing really stuck. Oddly enough,
He looked a little lost at times, trying to find his identity in a league that moves a million miles an hour.
The Injury Setback
And then, just as he was starting to find some rhythm, boom.
ACL injury.
It’s the worst thing that can happen to an athlete.
It basically resets the clock.
When he came back, he wasn’t the same explosive player he was before.
Teams are naturally hesitant to give minutes to guys coming off a major knee surgery.
Here’s the interesting part.
Brandon McCoy and the Washington Wizards
Fast forward to 2024, and you’ll find him in D.C.
with the Washington Wizards.
It’s a rebuild, so it makes sense.
The Wizards are looking for cheap talent and maybe a future asset.
McCoy is providing that.
He’s been playing in the G League lately to get his legs back under him, which is a smart move for his development.
He’s still got that offensive IQ.
If you watch him play, he knows how to position himself to get easy buckets.
But he still has to prove he can stay on the floor without fouling out every single quarter.
That’s the hurdle he needs to clear.
What to Expect Next for McCoy
Look, he’s not going to be an All-Star, not right now anyway.
But I think he can be a solid backup center.
The market for big men is weird right now; a lot of teams want stretch-fours, but when they need to bang inside, they need a guy like McCoy.
If I were him, I’d focus on pure energy.
Rebounding, setting screens, protecting the paint.
Do the dirty work.
If he can do that consistently, he’ll stay employed.
Final Thoughts
Brandon McCoy’s story isn’t over.
It’s just in a different chapter. Now think about that for a second.
He went from a projected lottery pick to a journeyman, and now he’s trying to climb back up.
It takes a lot of mental toughness to handle that kind of fall.
But the talent is definitely there.
We just have to see if he can put it all together.
If you want to see him play, keep an eye on the Wizards’ G League affiliate schedule.
It’s the best way to watch him work on his game without the pressure of the NBA spotlight.
Quick Facts About Brandon McCoy
- Height: 7’0″
- Position: Center
- College: Arizona Wildcats
- Current Team: Washington Wizards
Image source: pexels.com
Image source credit: pexels.com