On Tuesday, 19-year-old Emoni Bates made his NBA preseason debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2023 NBA Draft’s 49th overall pick, unleashed his potential.
Emoni Bates belongs
(🎥 @IQfor3) pic.twitter.com/9o6oriT3aI
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 17, 2023
The two-way rookie Bates has not backed down from last-minute pressure. On Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead three-pointer with only 10.5 seconds remaining.
Bates caught a pass from Dean Wade, sized up Miles Norris from the triple-threat position, took three dribbles, stepped back to his left, and netted a 25-foot three.
Bates after the game posted on X embracing his debut performance, he wrote,
“I just played my first NBA game and I still got chills, man. I’m so blessed and thankful to be here.”
Unfortunately, the Hawks ultimately won the game late, however Bates was able to show his capability to shoot the ball and gave what he could offer in the future.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said in postgame,
“He’s a really good basketball player. He has the ability to make open shots, but he also has the ability to create shots for himself.”
Eventually, Bates at the end of the game came out with 10 points, 2 rebounds, a block, and a steal in just 14 minutes of playing time.
In the 108-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the 6-foot-9 wing hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining that would have the game-winning shot.
On Friday against the Orlando Magic, he came into the game in the fourth period, his three-pointer put Cleveland within three points with 37 seconds remaining.
