Malachi Flynn is quickly becoming a household name in the NBA. After being selected in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft, Flynn has been making an instant impact on the court for the Toronto Raptors.
His impressive shooting ability has been a major contributor to the team’s success, but what makes Flynn such a valuable asset is his defensive prowess.
Flynn won the Mountain West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019-20, despite being undersized for the NBA.
His defensive tenacity, combined with his shooting skill, makes him an invaluable part of the Raptors’ roster.
Overview of Malachi Flynn
Malachi Flynn is a 6-foot-1 point guard who was drafted 29th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. Flynn played college basketball at San Diego State, where he was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in 2019-20.
Background and Career Highlights
Flynn is originally from Tacoma, Washington, where he was a four-star recruit, ranked 16th nationally by ESPN and third in the state of Washington. At San Diego State, Flynn quickly established himself as one of the top guards in the nation and a leader on the team. He led the Aztecs to their first Mountain West Conference championship in 2019-20, earning regular season and tournament MVP honors. He averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, earning All-American honors and setting a school record for single-season wins with 30.
Position and Strengths
Flynn is considered a point guard, although he can also play off the ball. He is an excellent shooter, averaging 41.2% on three-pointers in college and shooting over 50% from the field in his final season. Flynn is also a crafty ball handler and has the ability to get to the rim, where he is a very good finisher. He is a solid passer and has a great feel for the game.
Flynn’s biggest strength, however, is his defense. He won the Mountain West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019-20, and he has the size and athleticism to guard multiple positions in the NBA. He is excellent at reading the game and knows when to use his length and quickness to get steals or create turnovers. Flynn is also very disciplined in terms of staying in front of his man and not getting caught out of position.
Flynn’s Shooting Ability
Rookie guard LaMelo Ball has been making an impact on the Charlotte Hornets this season, and guard Terry Rozier has been the team’s leading scorer. However, another rookie, guard LeMelo Flynn, has been quietly making an impact of his own.
As of February 2021, Flynn is averaging 9.7 points per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. He’s also shooting a very respectable 86.8% from the free throw line.
These shooting numbers are very impressive for a rookie, especially considering that Flynn’s playing time has been somewhat limited this season. He’s averaging just 21.3 minutes per game, which is significantly lower than the 34 minutes per game that Ball is averaging.
These shooting numbers demonstrate how efficient Flynn has been with his limited playing time. He’s shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range on just 6.5 attempts per game. When considering his free throw percentage as well, it’s clear that Flynn is making the most of his opportunities to score.
Range and Accuracy
In addition to his impressive shooting percentages, Flynn also has a very wide range and is capable of shooting from anywhere on the court. He’s attempted 26 shots from beyond the arc this season, making 10 of them. He’s also attempted 48 shots from inside the arc and made 29 of them.
Flynn’s accuracy from beyond the arc is especially impressive. He’s shooting 37.7% from three-point range on 6.5 attempts per game, which is well above the league average of 35.0%. In addition, he’s also shooting above the league average from inside the arc, making 60.4% of his two-point attempts.
Overall, Flynn’s shooting ability has been impressive so far this season. He’s shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range on just 6.5 attempts per game. His wide range and accuracy from both inside and outside the arc make him a very valuable asset for the Hornets.
Flynn’s Defensive Ability
Malachi Flynn is a dynamic young guard who has made a name for himself in the NBA thanks to his shooting ability and defensive prowess. The reigning Mountain West Conference (MWC) Defensive Player of the Year has already made his mark on the defensive end of the floor in the NBA, earning praise from coaches and his peers alike.
Flynn’s Defensive Accolades
Flynn earned MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019-20, becoming the first San Diego State Aztec to win the award. His accomplishments that season didn’t stop there, as he also earned All-MWC First Team honors, was named to the All-Defensive Team, and led the conference in steals with 2.0 per game.
Flynn’s Defensive Strengths
Flynn is an excellent defender thanks to his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He stands at 6’1” and is a very strong guard who can body up bigger opponents. He also has very good lateral quickness and has shown an ability to stay in front of his man and cut off opposing guards’ drives to the basket. Flynn also has a knack for anticipating his opponents’ moves and has excellent instincts which help him make plays on the defensive end.
Flynn’s defensive ability is one of the main reasons why he has been able to find success in the NBA despite being undersized at 6’1”. His quick hands and good instincts have helped him become a solid defender and a reliable option on that end of the floor. He is not only a good defender, but he also brings a high level of energy to the court that can help ignite his team’s defense.
Flynn is an excellent defender and has already made his mark on the defensive end of the floor in the NBA. His combination of size, strength, athleticism, and instincts makes him a very reliable defender and an excellent asset on that end of the floor. His defensive ability will be a key factor in determining how far Flynn can take his NBA career.
Impact of Flynn’s Size
At 6’2” with a 6’7” wingspan, RJ Flynn is undersized for the point guard position in the NBA. While his athleticism and quickness help him to make up for his lack of size, he is still at a disadvantage when it comes to defending bigger and taller players. This is especially evident when he has to battle for position against bigger guards and wings. His size also makes it difficult for him to finish through contact in the lane, as well as grab rebounds. Additionally, Flynn’s smaller stature means that he is often outmatched in the post and must rely on his quickness to stay in front of bigger opponents.
How Flynn is Able to Make Up for His Size
Despite his size disadvantage, Flynn is still able to make a positive impact on the court. His quickness allows him to stay in front of opposing players, and his agility and ball-handling skills make him a threat on the offensive end. He is also an effective playmaker, being able to set up his teammates for easy baskets and create shots for himself. His shooting ability is another weapon that helps him make up for his lack of size. Additionally, Flynn’s tenacity on the defensive end has earned him the respect of his teammates, who often rely on him to be the team’s defensive anchor. This has been evident in the way he’s been able to lead the Timberwolves’ young core defensively. Ultimately, Flynn’s determination and hard work have enabled him to make up for his lack of size.
Future Outlook for Flynn
Flynn has the potential to be a star in the NBA. He is a versatile player who has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. On offense, he can be a reliable shooter and help create scoring opportunities for his teammates. His defensive skills are also impressive, as he has won the Mountain West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20. In order to reach his full potential, Flynn must continue to work on his physicality and improve his athleticism.
Physicality and Athleticism
Flynn’s lack of size and physicality is one of the main drawbacks of his game. At 6’2”, he is significantly undersized for a guard in the NBA and can be easily outmuscled by bigger opponents. He must continue to get stronger and focus on developing his body to better compete against the high caliber of talent he will face in the league. In addition, Flynn must work on his athleticism to be able to keep up with the fast pace of the NBA. Improving his lateral quickness, agility, and explosiveness would give him an advantage over many of his peers.
Offensive Skills
Flynn is already a reliable shooter and playmaker, but he must continue to hone his skills on the offensive end. He must improve his ball handling, passing, and decision-making, to become an even more efficient offensive player. This would allow him to become a more versatile scorer and help him create opportunities for his teammates.
Defensive Skills
Flynn’s defensive prowess is one of his biggest assets, but he must continue to refine his technique. He must improve his defensive awareness, positioning, and communication in order to be a more effective defender. This would help him become more of a leader on the defensive end and help his team compete for championships.
Overall, Flynn has the potential to be a star in the NBA. He already has the necessary skills and intangibles to be successful, but he must continue to work on his physicality, athleticism, and skills in order to reach his full potential. If he can do this, he will be a major asset to any team he plays on.
To Recap
In conclusion, Malachi Flynn is proving to be an invaluable addition to the Toronto Raptors. His shooting ability and defensive prowess have been a major factor in their success this season. Flynn’s dedication to defense, even though he’s undersized for the NBA, is a testament to his hard work and determination.
The Raptors are lucky to have him on their team, and there’s no telling how far they can go with him on their side.
