As he enters his third season in the NBA, Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (or O-Max, as he’s lovingly referred) is beginning to fill a place of respect and esteem in my heart which has been a void since the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith over two years ago. The more I’ve thought about it, the quicker the comparisons between the two begin to offer themselves for consideration.
While Finney-Smith’s minutes played average hit the 20 minute mark right off the bat in his rookie season, O-Max has so far averaged only 10 during his first two seasons in the league. This is obviously a factor that could be detrimental to his development, but it’s certainly not something that can be blamed on his abilities or level of effort. It just happens to be the case that O-Max joined a Mavericks team that was lengths and bounds more talented – and much deeper – than the squad Doe-Doe joined in 2016.
Be that as it may, I still believe that O-Max has a very comparable ceiling to the one Finney-Smith created for himself. While comparing them side by side, it should obviously be pointed out that Doe is 10 years older than O-Max, so we’re looking at where DFS was when he first entered the league, and comparing that with where O-Max currently is to see what factual basis there might be that could stoke the expectation for similar player development and success.
They’re very similar from a size standpoint. O-max may be a little sturdier, but the athleticism, strength and high-motor are unique to both. As such, Dorian has proved to be a work-horse in the minutes played category for over a decade now, offering elite defense as a means to securing starting roles on all the teams he’s suited up for. While O-Max may have a ways to go, this is where the strongest similarities are visible.
O-Max has shown clear flashes of what he could eventually become, from a defensive standpoint, and if he’s ever provided with the on-court time to develop, he could well reach that next level that Doe eventually did. Unfortunately, he faces the challenge of being on a very deep Mav’s unit, one boasting an undeniably strong front court that has him buried behind AD and PJ Washington for third spot on the PF rotation (unless situations call for AD to slide to the 5). This solid depth, at any rate, will continue to make it hard for him to break into the rotation as a key piece, if only because there aren’t enough minutes to go around. But it became clear last season the Coach Kidd likes this kid. His minutes came a little more frequently, and he was able to start cashing in on them, making the most of his on-court time and beginning to carve a reputation for himself as an extremely hard worker with a growing skillset and ceiling.
While his percentage from behind the arch suffered a bit last year, there’s no reason to believe he can’t work his butt off to eventually make it a strong-suit, just like every other 3&D wing is expected to do these days. Doe improved on his at a pretty steady clip for the first several years of his career, making himself a strong enough shooter to avoid being a liability on the offensive end.
Not only does O-Max have this potential, he also showcases the ability to get to the basket. This is where developmental time will be crucial to his success, though, because while he has the raw ingredients: length, speed, athleticism and the beginnings of confidence, those are often undermined by his balance issues and clumsiness. It’s almost as if he moves too quickly for his own good at times. But those things can definitely be ironed out. (Remember when Josh Green first entered the league? My friend used to call him a giraffe on roller skates). It can be frustrating to see him flailing around at times, but you have to focus on the fact that he’s a very young guy, and he’s still learning to live inside his own frame. And if he does achieve a greater rhythm and fluidity to his game, I think he can become something similar to the high-level role-player Finney-Smith became.
The important thing is that O-Max shows the right instincts. His timing improved greatly during his second season campaign. He was almost always in the mix for rebound attempts, and he put himself into position to fight for the ball wherever he could. His defensive acumen began to display itself more prominently, which added a great deal of value to his potential as a trade asset (I don’t want him to leave Dallas; just stating the obvious).
Time will tell if he’s able to build on the momentum he began to establish last season. I think he has the pieces in place to put it all together and turn himself into something special. All it takes is an injury (knock on wood) and the depth chart can change drastically. Here’s hoping he can improve without anyone getting hurt.