The Dallas Mavericks recently agreed to a contract with center Jamarion Sharp. Sharp, who is 7'5″, went undrafted during the 2024 NBA Draft but landed an invite to the NBA Summer League with the Mavs. He was the tallest college basketball player during the 2023-24 season. So will Sharp play an impactful role for Dallas at some point down the road?
Sharp is 22 years old and has displayed signs of potential in the past. He is viewed as a player who can protect the basket at a respectable level. Sharp is regarded as a good rebounder, but he has room to improve on the boards.
Of course, being 7'5″ will lead to plenty of rim-protecting and rebound opportunities for Sharp. If he can become dominant in both areas one has to imagine he can carve out a career in the NBA.
Sharp also moves well for his size. There are a number of big men in the NBA who do not move especially well. On the other hand, bigs like Victor Wembanyama and Sharp are quite mobile for their size. This is something that will only help the 22-year-old moving forward.
He has room to improve on the offensive end of the floor. Sharp should be able to finish at the basket at a respectable rate given his immense height. He would benefit from developing consistency with a jump-shot, though. Many centers in today's NBA feature the ability to stretch the floor.
Dereck Lively II has worked to improve his jump-shot. It was something he was often seen doing throughout the Mavericks' 2023-24 season. Lively even connected on his first three-point shot in the NBA Finals.
Sharp can still find success in the NBA even if he does not become a knockdown three-point shooter, however.
What is Mavericks center Jamarion Sharp's NBA ceiling?
Sharp's potential as a lockdown defensive presence in the paint is especially intriguing. Being 7'5″ does not guarantee that you will become a star defender. Sharp, though, has displayed flashes of becoming a reliable defender, if not a great defensive presence.
Sharp also needs to become a player who controls the boards. As long as he continues to grow as a rebounder Sharp will be fine in this department.
Sharp's primary uncertainty is his offensive ceiling. He is going to score near the basket via put-backs and dunks. But can he be a player who learns how to consistenly back down defenders and bully his way to the basket? Sharp will also likely draw a number of shooting fouls in the paint, so the Mavs surely hope he can find success at the free throw line.
The final verdict here all comes down to Sharp's offensive potential. If he lives up to his expectations, Sharp will be a quality rim-protector and rebounder. If Sharp manages to average somewhere between 8-12 points per game, that should be enough for him to establish himself as a reliable NBA player. Of course, if he averages more points per outing perhaps Sharp will emerge as a star someday.
Opportunity will be of the utmost importance. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford are the Mavs current centers so Sharp will not receive much of an opportunity in 2023-24. His long-term NBA outlook is interesting, though.
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