Ibou Badji is Finally Getting His Opportunity With Trail Blazers

LAS VEGAS — If Scoot Henderson's debut is the headline of the Trail Blazers' 2023 Summer League showing, second billing could be Ibou Badji finally getting an opportunity to play.

Badji signed a two-way contract with the Blazers last fall and didn't play a minute of his rookie season, which was by design. The organization viewed the 7-foot-1 Senegalese center as a long-term developmental project, and they still do, re-signing him to another two-way last week. But he's started both of Portland's first two Summer League games and blocked three shots in their opening game against Houston.

"He didn't really get a lot of opportunity last year and dealt with some injuries," said Blazers assistant coach Jonah Herscu, who is serving as head coach during Summer League. "But being able to get out there and get those game minutes is really important for him, and he's taking advantage of it."

After sitting on the sidelines all year and working with the player-development staff, Badji is relishing the opportunity to finally get in a real game.

"I'm happy," Badji told me after one of the Blazers' Summer League practices. "It's been fun, being able to play in my first game."

Since getting to Portland, Badji has been working on his English with a tutor the Blazers hired. This was important not just for getting him comfortable living in a new country, but also for helping him learn the NBA game.

"I've improved my English a lot," Badji says. "So when I'm playing, I can talk more and help my teammates. When I see a screen I can call it out. Things like that."

Long-term, Badji profiles as a mobile shot-blocker and lob finisher. He's still figuring out the NBA, and it's a steeper than usual learning curve because he's only been playing basketball since he was a teenager. Badji picked the sport up after growing too tall to play soccer and participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp. When he signed his first two-way deal, he became the first player in the history of the NBA Academy Africa program to sign a contract with an NBA team. When he makes his season debut this season, he will be the first from the program to play.

In the meantime, he's already impressing his new teammates.

"Badji's a dog," Henderson said after a practice over the weekend. "He's always got my back. If somebody gets past me, I already know I'll have an anchor, someone who will protect the paint."

Depending on how the rest of the Blazers' offseason goes, Badji could have a real role next season. With the Rip City Remix about to launch this fall, he'll almost certainly get a lot of G League reps. But if Damian Lillard is traded and the organization pivots into a rebuild with an emphasis on player development, he could be in position to earn minutes with the Blazers.

"I just want to play," Badji says. "I'm on a two-way, so I can do both. Play in the G League and in the NBA."