NBA Free Agency 2017 Player Profile: Thabo Sefolosha

Mar 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) defends Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) defends Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Strengths

Thabo is a pretty standard three-and-D wing player. He’s not a huge scorer or a complete sniper, but he finds ways to get open on the offensive end while preventing his man from doing so while he’s playing defense.

Sefolosha is a career 34.5 percent three-point shooter who raised that percentage to 36.7 percent in his last six seasons. Thabo may not be a shooter on the level of his former teammate Kyle Korver, but he knocks down threes at a healthy rate.

His defense is really Sefolosha’s biggest strength, though. He’s never had a negative season in defensive win shares, and although numbers are nice, actually watching Thabo play some defense might help paint this particular picture better.

Like any great defender, Sefolosha’s greatest asset on that end is his mind. His long, wiry frame certainly helps as well, although it’s his ability to go from being out of position to being in the perfect position incredibly quickly that makes him tough on defense.

Whatever team signs Thabo gets an extremely coachable veteran player who’s going to be smart and play within himself on both ends. It’s hard to imagine that going wrong, unless said team expects too much.