News of Ghana’s first indigene to be drafted into the NBA, Ben Bentil’s, shock move from NBA Development League side Fort Wayne Mad Ants to China continues extends what has been a roller coaster ride. For a guy who was so close to being the real deal in the world’s best league to hardly get a look in at certain points and end up in the not so respected league as the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association), it has definitely been a puzzling period in recent months.
The reasons for that happening are way too many to be catalogued in this piece beginning with getting drafted by the worst team in that position-Boston Celtics-due to its avalanche of draft picks yet limited team spots and falling back on a tremendous start to his pre-draft workouts.
My thoughts on his decision to move to the NBA just a year after seeing his scoring averages jump from 6.4 points to 21, has already been stated through my piece-VERDCIT: BENTIL SHOULD STAY IN SCHOOL. And no, not all players who declare early for the NBA and struggle in their early years end up being a Johnathan Simmons.
Now all that is water under the bridge as the Sekondi-raised Forward has signed with a yet to be known Chinese club per newssentinel.com to extend his professional career after featuring in a 120-99 win over Greensboro Swarm in the D-League opener. There is one guarantee that players in China enjoy; money; and I am not referring to just basketball. Ghana’s male national football team captain Asamoah Gyan made tons of money following his short stint there.
In recent years, players cut from NBA rosters have flocked to the eastern powerhouse knowing very well their work on the hardwood will translate to bigger paychecks much higher than those issued in the lower tier league of America. Point to note, the CBA is far off the fat bank accounts NBA players have but for players playing in the lower leagues, salaries are much worse than those of China’s premier basketball league. What Bentil stands to earn will almost certainly be more than what Fort Wayne would have offered for his performances. However, not all is rosy about the deal since playing in Asia would further enhance Bentil’s strength (scoring) yet further weaken his already underwhelming weakness (being a factor on the defensive end). One of Bentil’s flaws is in defense where he has been found wanting.
Which is what led Fort Wayne Coach Steve Garnsey to remark “Obviously he can score, but I really like what he did on the defensive end” after Bentil scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win. On the more glamorous side of the court, the 6 foot 9 inch versatile former Providence College standout has no problem putting the ball through the hoop as his deft touch from distance enables him to earn points with just a mere flick of his wrist. It enables him gloss over his post moves that need work too. Superior athleticism also enables him blow by opponents who stick close to him to prevent the three-ball from being launched and get to the rim.
In a league like China’s, that houses many players heading to the exit door of their careers with little zap speed and reduced power to contain opponents, such superior attributes Bentil possesses (strength, speed and height) are likely to be blossom further. Seeing him average 23 points per game would have been no surprise had he stayed in the Development League but in China those numbers will definitely surge. Milwaukee Bucks and former Houston Rockets Forward Michael Beasley numbers in the CBA makes perfect sense of the aforementioned point.
In his Foreign MVP winning campaign earlier this year, he averaged 31.9 points and 13 rebounds and registered 63 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists in the All-Star Game. In last season’s edition of China’s best collection of basketball talent, he dropped 59 points. Bentil’s weaknesses aren’t going to get better playing in the CBA and that is where a comeback to the NBA might prove difficult especially when the Ghanaian seems not to have the best of insiders in the business. Houston Rockets newly signed backup Guard Bobby Brown got signed to the roster partly because team leader James Harden put in a word for him.
A return to the world’s best league cannot be ruled out as many including Beasely and Brown have proved over the years and Ghana would finally get the chance to see its shining light face up LeBron James in the season officially when that happens.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
