The Dallas Mavericks signed rookie Olivier-Maxense Prosper, who was drafted 24th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2023 NBA draft. Prosper’s draft rights were subsequently traded to the Mavericks, along with Richaun Holmes.
Jared Dudley, the coach of the Mavericks Summer League team, has been impressed by Prosper’s performance, describing him as a phenomenal player who is ahead of the curve. Dudley compared Prosper to a bigger Marcus Smart, highlighting his defensive capabilities and the potential to become an elite defender in the league.
“A bigger Marcus Smart,” Dudley said of Prosper, via Eddie Sefko of mavs.com. “His size, his build, Marcus Smart made himself into a pretty good shooter. I think he has that defensive capability to guard one through four. I think he has the build to be an all-team defensively player in this league one day.”
During the Summer League, the 21-year-old Canadian forward showcased his skills, averaging 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game. Prosper began his college career at Clemson before transferring to Marquette, where he continued to excel on the court.
