New Orleans Pelicans select Yves Missi in 2024 NBA Draft

Baylor Bears center Yves Missi was wondering when he’d hear his name come off the board. Now, he knows, with the New Orleans Pelicans selecting him with the No. 21 overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Yves Missi came to Baylor from Cameroon as a four-star recruit in the 2023 cycle. There, he was a four-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

In his one season with Baylor, Yves Missi played in 34 games and started 32 of those games while averaging 22.9 minutes per game. For the season, he averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game. He also shot 61.4 percent from the field, though he did not shoot at all from beyond three-point range, making him an inside threat almost entirely.

Known for his defensive presence, Yves Missi averaged 1.5 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. That helped him earn honors on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and it will certainly be his calling card when he first enters the league. He was also on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

The six-foot-11-inch center was born in Belgium but raised in Cameroon. He eventually went to Prolific Prep in California before continuing his career at Baylor. Now, the next step of his journey is in the NBA.

In a lot of ways, Yves Missi is a modern center thanks to his length and athleticism. However, he still has plenty of room to grow as a player, particularly on the outside. If a team can find a way to unlock his ability and let him grow as a player, he’s got the raw tools to succeed in the NBA.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Yves Missi

Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, RotoWire shared analysis of several of the top prospects for the draft. That included Yves Missi.

“A dangerous rim-runner, Missi ranked eighth in the nation with 76 dunk attempts this season. Deriving 32.2% of his offensive possessions from rolling in pick-and-roll plays marked the 17th-highest frequency in the nation, displaying a clear niche to translate to the pros. Another 34.4% of Missi’s possessions came via offensive rebounding and cuts around the basket, so he profiles strictly as a play-finisher at this time. His 14.4% offensive rebounding rate was the 32nd-highest mark in the nation,” RotoWire wrote.

“In addition to his rim presence on offense, Missi’s 7.1% block rate ranked 66th in the nation. The big man was also able to protect the rim at a high level without fouling out of a single game in 34 appearances.”