Mike Bibby, Arizona

Stats (Provided by JazzyJ)
G MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA REB PF AST TO BLK STL PTS 96-97 Arizona 34 1110 151 339 67 170 89 127 109 77 178 100 7 76 458 97-98 Arizona 35 1124 209 450 77 199 108 143 106 57 199 78 7 84 603 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTALS 69 2234 360 789 144 369 197 270 215 134 377 178 14 160 1061
MIN FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG TPG BPG SPG PPG 96-97 Arizona 32.6 44.5 39.4 70.1 3.2 5.2 2.9 0.2 2.2 13.5 97-98 Arizona 32.1 46.4 38.7 75.5 3.0 5.7 2.2 0.2 2.4 17.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTALS 32.4 45.6 39.0 73.0 3.1 5.5 2.6 0.2 2.3 15.4

Scouting Report: Ken Bowers [kenb@uclink4.berkeley.edu]
I didn't see Bibby enough to give a full scouting report, but I do have a couple of observations. I heard the comment several times last year that Bibby's game had matured with regard to running a team. That fits with what I saw. His assist total didn't jump much, but Arizona's style didn't lend itself to one player piling up assists. Bibby improved a bit in almost every important category from an excellent freshman season, and adding 4 ppg while increasing your shooting percentage is a nice step forward. What astonished me when I watched Bibby play California is how bad he was at defending the dribble. Over the past two years, Cal has had four guys playing point--Prentice McGruder and Anwar McQueen shared the spot in 96-97 while Raymond King and Thomas Kilgore split time there in 97-98. Three of those guys could drive past Bibby at will. Only McQueen didn't, and he rarly tried to drive at all. I realize that I didn't watch nearly enough games to come to solid conclusion, but if what I saw was any indication, every NBA point guard better than John Crotty will light up Bibby in the early part of Bibby's career. Even if NBA GMs thought that was the case I doubt it would change his draft status. He's a wonderful offensive performer and a good enough athlete to become a reasonable defender.

Scouting Report: Ken Bowers [kenb@uclink4.berkeley.edu]

I didn't see Bibby enough to give a full scouting report, but I do have a couple of observations. I heard the comment several times last year that Bibby's game had matured with regard to running a team. That fits with what I saw. His assist total didn't jump much, but Arizona's style didn't lend itself to one player piling up assists. Bibby improved a bit in almost every important category from an excellent freshman season, and adding 4 ppg while increasing your shooting percentage is a nice step forward.
What astonished me when I watched Bibby play California is how bad he was at defending the dribble. Over the past two years, Cal has had four guys playing point--Prentice McGruder and Anwar McQueen shared the spot in 96-97 while Raymond King and Thomas Kilgore split time there in 97-98. Three of those guys could drive past Bibby at will. Only McQueen didn't, and he rarly tried to drive at all. I realize that I didn't watch nearly enough games to come to solid conclusion, but if what I saw was any indication, every NBA point guard better than John Crotty will light up Bibby in the early part of Bibby's career.

Even if NBA GMs thought that was the case I doubt it would change his draft status. He's a wonderful offensive performer and a good enough athlete to become a reasonable defender.

Scouting Report: Gregory Romero [px_greg@hotmail.com]
Mike Bibby is the best point guard to come out since Gary Payton. He flat out knows the game. He is very smart and rarely commits turnovers. He is much better as a sophmore than Damon Stoudamire was as a senior and you know how good Damon is. Can be a 20 point and 10 assist contributor immediately in the NBA, but most likely will score 15 ppg. After he polishes his game in a few years he will be the best point guard in the NBA.

Scouting Report: Gregory Romero [px_greg@hotmail.com]

Mike Bibby is the best point guard to come out since Gary Payton. He flat out knows the game. He is very smart and rarely commits turnovers. He is much better as a sophmore than Damon Stoudamire was as a senior and you know how good Damon is. Can be a 20 point and 10 assist contributor immediately in the NBA, but most likely will score 15 ppg. After he polishes his game in a few years he will be the best point guard in the NBA.

Scouting Report: orca [orca03@hkstar.com]
He's a true point guard who can score. He makes his team better. He's a smart player and he handles the ball very well. Athletically, he's just average. He may have problem defending athletic point guard in the NBA.

Scouting Report: hunbun@clarks.net
I don't think he is the best natural point-guard in the draft. He is not a very good dribbler to become a great point-guard. In my opinion Tyronn Lue is most natural point-guard to come out of college since Damon Stoudamire. Bibby didn't lead Arizona to a second championship like the great players do. I see him as a role player off the bench.

Scouting Report: Rick Mathes[mathes@westdata.com]
I've watched Bibby play approximately 40 games for the Wildcats, many in person. I agree with the prior report that criticized his defense. That is an area where he was exceptionally weak. He has worked hard on this aspect of his game and is now, I believe, a serviceable defender who will only get better as he physically matures. Offensively, he's the real deal. The think I like most about him is he has excellent court vision, something too few point guards possess. He has a gift for seeing a play develop and getting the ball to the right guy at the right time. He's also very good at getting players the ball where they like to receive it (some like to catch it high, others lower, etc...). He doesn't try to make the spectacular play, just the effective one. He's a great passer to the low post (an underrated skill) and is superb in transition. He has a dependable outside shot and I believe can hit the NBA 3 with consistency. He will be an all-star within 5 years of entering the league.

Scouting Report: Rick Mathes[mathes@westdata.com]

I've watched Bibby play approximately 40 games for the Wildcats, many in person. I agree with the prior report that criticized his defense. That is an area where he was exceptionally weak. He has worked hard on this aspect of his game and is now, I believe, a serviceable defender who will only get better as he physically matures. Offensively, he's the real deal. The think I like most about him is he has excellent court vision, something too few point guards possess. He has a gift for seeing a play develop and getting the ball to the right guy at the right time. He's also very good at getting players the ball where they like to receive it (some like to catch it high, others lower, etc...). He doesn't try to make the spectacular play, just the effective one. He's a great passer to the low post (an underrated skill) and is superb in transition. He has a dependable outside shot and I believe can hit the NBA 3 with consistency. He will be an all-star within 5 years of entering the league.