Getting to know Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried

Today I’m going to be taking a look at Kenneth Faried

Here is what I’ve found (most info from draftexpress.com, nbadraft.net, youtube.)

Physicals

Height: 6’8” (7’ wingspan)

Weight: 225 lbs

Birthday: 11-19-1989 (21 year old; Senior at Morehead State)

*Power Forward

*Top 10 big man, top 20 overall

Kenneth Faried is one of my favorite types of players.  He isn’t your lights-out shooter, not your high-flying wingman, and he definitely isn’t your fancy playmaker. He’s simply a relentless big man who gives his all every minute he is on the floor.

Faried’s strengths are not the most popular ones, and are typically the most overlooked ones. Faried led the nation in rebounding this year with 14.5 (5.7 offensive) a game (he averaged 15 in the tournament),  and he passed Tim Duncan for the most total rebounds since the “post-1973 era” started. Faried isn’t your 7 footer with great length who simply gets more rebounds due to his size; he gets the high majority of rebounds because he works his tail off for each and every one of them. This brings us to another one of his strengths, his motor/hustle/work ethic. This could possibly be his greatest strength. Faried plays with more energy than probably anyone that is on the court with him, he never stops working, it’s crazy. If there is a loose/50-50 ball, expect Faried to get it, that’s what he does. At the combine, GM’s were astounded by how hard Faried played, probably harder than anyone else there. His last main strength would be his defense. Defense is viewed by both stats and effort. Faried does great in both of these areas. Faried averages 2.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per 40 minutes and without a doubt puts forth great effort on defense.

Where Faried significantly struggles is the offensive end. He did average a little over 17 points a game his senior year, but the majorities of those points were off hustle, put backs, things like that. Faried has no true offensive game, and that will hurt him in a major way as he tries to make it as a big man in the NBA. Now Faried can definitely work on his offensive game and hopefully improve there, but I just don’t think that is where he will be contributing in the NBA.

Right now, I think that Faried is going to be a player that comes off the bench. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he won’t be starter capable; however I think his qualities are best used this way. There is of course Ben Wallace, a starting center for a championship team that rebounded/defended with limited offense, it would be awesome if Faried could be the next Ben Wallace. Ultimately I think Faried is just one of the guys that every team is going to want, a high energy man off the bench who does the intangibles and gets the dirty work done.

*Being slightly undersized for the power forward, Faried might get the opportunity to get some time at the small forward. I don’t think that he would be best at this position, but it is definitely something that the team who drafts him should consider.

Faried’s stock has risen a little, but I’m not sure if he is in the Jazz’s range yet (13-16 maybe?). Likely scenario is that he is a role player off the bench (Like most guys in this draft), but I still want the Jazz to take a look at him, he could turn out to be a very good NBA player.