Made official this evening, Tyler Bey is headed to the NBA.
With the 36th overall selection – the sixth of the second round – the Dallas Mavericks grabbed the 6-foot-7 Forever Buff. This marks the sixth NBA Draft selection from Tad Boyle during his tenure at Colorado, with more on the horizon.
Dallas acquired the pick in a trade that also sent Josh Richardson to the Mavs, as well as Seth Curry to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bey came to Colorado from Las Vegas as a four-star recruit and was relatively underrated out of high school, especially when compared to his next destination courtesy of the the Mass..
Let’s take a look at Bey’s fit with Dallas, as well as how this impacts Colorado’s basketball program.
Expectations and Areas to Improve
Tyler Bey was a budding star last season, as he took over games on both ends of the floor. He became notorious for racking up double-doubles, combining his athleticism on the glass with an improved jump shot.
His progress was noteworthy – not just from sophomore to junior year, but over the course of his final season with the Buffs.
Now with the Mavericks, Bey can contribute in year one, but will really do so in a limited and rotational fashion. While he does obtain a variety of tools that NBA teams want in a prospect, there are still more areas of Bey’s game he must polish before becoming a full-time starter.
He still needs work on the offensive end, particularly in shot-creating and finishing. Bey utilized his size and athleticism to bully opponents in the post during his time at CU, but the NBA brings much larger and more athletic opponents. Therefore, Bey will need to refine his game instead of simply relying on his size.
Additionally, his jump shot can still see improvements. This was a point of emphasis for Bey before his final season with the Buffs, and the results translated well. For him to become a starter at the next level, however, this area still needs work.
That skills that will likely earn Bey rotational minutes early on are his defense and rebounding abilities. His length and athleticism make him incredibly versatile – he can protect the rim and also cover on the wing. This will allow him to cover the backcourt and slides against some smaller forwards as well.
Forever Buffs put Boulder on the Basketball Map
Spencer Dinwiddie. Derrick White. Andre Roberson. Alec Burks. George King.
And now, Tyler Bey.
These are the six Tad Boyle products selected in the NBA Draft; the players who make Colorado a true basketball destination.
The Buffaloes may never be a program like Duke, Kentucky, or Arizona, which promise a lottery selection to prospects in return for one year of service.
While that approach may work for those schools, churning through one-and-done players is not Tad Boyle’s strategy. Colorado builds a deep program; one that develops young talent focuses on the players and breeds a core of leaders.
The biggest Forever Buff names lie with Dinwiddie and White. Playing for the Nets and Spurs, respectively, these two guards have been showing tremendous growth in every season and are important contributors on strong teams.
Tad Boyle & Co. are building something special with their basketball program, and that progress is reflected in their recruiting. Over the past three cycles, the Buffs have steadily climbed in national rankings. In 2019, Colorado’s class was a disappointing No. 128 but jumped up to No. 41 in 2020. Now, 2021’s class is ranked No. 18 in the nation.
With Tyler Bey making this jump to professional basketball, as well as a few current Buffs eyeing the next level, Colorado will be well-represented in the NBA for years to come.
