Marvin Bagley III, finally time to launch his career?

Selected in 2nd position in the 2018 Draft, Marvin Bagley III has not yet had a full season up to the expectations placed on him. Since his arrival in Detroit last February, the situation has gotten worse… not at all! Big bombonera in Michigan, the 23-year-old strong winger is finally showing great things on the floor and must confirm – if not step-up – on the upcoming exercise. Does he have the capacity?

Put your loving hand out, baby
Cause I’m Bagley

I’m Bagley, Bagley youuuu
So, put your loving hand out, baby
I’m Bagley, Bagley youuuu
So, put your loving hand out, darling…

What do you say to a player drafted ahead of Luka Doncic and Trae Young to reassure him? Surely not the truth, in which case he is made to lose all self-confidence for ten years. It is necessary to brush it in the direction of the hair, remind him that a GM did not select him in 2nd position because he had lost a bet (even if it is the case). Since his arrival in Detroit last February, it seems that Marvin Bagley III has had fifteen hectoliters of confidence injected into an IV. He only played 18 games in his new colors, for averages of 14.6 points at 56% shooting and 6.8 rebounds. “That” 18 games therefore, but already a three-year, $37 million extension. Troy Weaver – le General Manager of the Pistons – is a firm believer in the possibility of reviving what just didn’t work on the other side of the country. Drawn from Duke in 2018 by the Kings, Marvin Bagley III was – before his draft – the embodiment of dominance on the NCAA floors. He turned tranquilou-bilou to 21 points and 11 rebounds on average, without forcing talent, and appeared as one of the “sure values” of this 2022 vintage. We would have given him the good god without confession, even after his rookie exercise, which remained correct at 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds on average. Then fate got involved: knee injury, right foot injury, broken hand… and only 166 games played in four seasons.

If he had played in Phoenix, it would have been said that the phoenix rose from the ashes, but since he plays in Detroit, we just put Unleaded 95 back into the Multipla. His highlights against the Wizards above make clear what – just a year ago – seemed impossible: Marvin Bagley III has regained the grin. We feel he is liberated in his offensive choices, eager to go and explode the circle with all the… slowness that characterizes him. He even makes efforts on the other side of the floor, which is to say the liberation that his departure from Sacramento was for him. And now ? With this three-year contract, Marvin Bagley III is an integral part of the Pistons project and logically has no reason to fear a scissor kick from its leaders. He managed to extricate himself from a galley and now finds himself surrounded by the best young people in the country in the people of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey or even Isaiah Stewart. No pressure on his shoulders – although a little all the same – and the firm intention of slamming, after all his physical glitches, a first real big season at 20 points on average. We balance the figure at random, but there is frankly the place.

His potential is one of the best that has ever inhabited the body of a basketball player: will Marvin Bagley III finally get his feet out of the meat and caramelize a real season in 20/10? We top off over a drink in April 2023, towards Place de la Bastille, just to debrief all this with the family.