2026 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Nate Bittle

Nate Bittle's draft stock rose throughout the season as teams became more comfortable projecting his combination of size, skill and rim protection. Evaluators viewed him as one of the more intriguing second-round big men because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Ultimately, Bittle's appeal comes from his blend of rim protection, passing and offensive skill.

If he can stay healthy and continue adding strength, he has a chance to prove a bunch of NBA general managers wrong.

Nate Bittle Highlights

01:12

Essential Facts and Stats

College: Oregon | Position: C | Age: 23 | Height: 7'0" | Weight: 220 lbs | PPG: 16.8 | RPG: 6.9 | APG: 2.6 | BPG: 46.5 | SPG: 0.9 | FG%: 46.5 | 3PT%: 31.9 | FT%: 73.2

Realistic Pro Comparison: Kelly Olynyk

Adam Pantozzi/Getty Images

Like Kelly Olynyk, Bittle projects as a skilled offensive big whose value extends beyond traditional center responsibilities.

Both players entered the NBA with the ability to pass, stretch defenses and make smart decisions with the ball.

Bittle's pathway to NBA minutes similarly depends on skill, feel and versatility rather than overwhelming athleticism.

Strengths

Nic Antaya/Getty Images

Strength 1: Rim Protection

Bittle developed into one of the Big Ten's best defensive anchors. He blocks shots with timing rather than explosiveness, and he consistently alters attempts around the basket.

Strength 2: Offensive Skill Level

Few 7-footers in this draft range possess Bittle's combination of touch, passing and overall feel. He can operate from the high post, facilitate offense and make reads that many college bigs simply cannot.

Strength 3: Floor-Spacers Potential

Although his three-point percentage wasn't elite, Bittle demonstrated enough shooting touch to keep defenses honest. His mechanics are clean, and his free-throw percentage suggests room for growth.

Weaknesses

Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Weakness 1: Strength and Physicality

At 220 pounds, Bittle remains relatively thin for an NBA center. Stronger post players can move him off his spot and create problems on the glass. Adding strength will be critical to handling professional frontcourt matchups—especially since he's already a natural rim defender.

Weakness 2: Rebounding Production

For a player with his size, Bittle's rebounding numbers are a bit underwhelming. He relies heavily on positioning and technique instead of overwhelming physical tools.

Weakness 3: Offensive Consistency

Bittle's skill set often flashes at a very high level, but there are stretches where he becomes less aggressive offensively. He'll need to better leverage his size at the pro level. Finding a balance between size and skill could help unlock another level in the NBA.