Alex Toohey: The Defensive Versatile and Playmaking Forward with Potential for Growth in the 2025 NBA Draft

As a versatile Australian forward, Alex Toohey is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. Standing at 6-8 and weighing 223 pounds, he is a 20-year-old player who excels on defense and loves to dish the ball around. However, his scoring comes and goes with his streaky jumper, as he’s not someone who generates many of his own shots.

Defensive Versatility

Toohey is a hard-working defender who stays locked in and makes positive plays all over the floor. He isn’t overly quick laterally but fights hard to stay in position of quicker players, and he has the strength to battle anyone. His defensive versatility is one of his greatest strengths, as he can cover multiple positions and make plays in the open floor.

Transition Offense

As a big wing who’s active on the boards, Toohey loves to push the pace on the break. He doesn’t have a lot of wiggle as a ball-handler, but he has control in the open floor and good passing instincts. He’s a selfless passer who always looks for his teammates and executes plays at a high level. If his jumper develops, he could have even more value as a connective piece on the perimeter.

Playmaking

Toohey is a selfless passer who has a great basketball IQ. He executes plays at a high level and already has skill as a slasher and cutter. If his jumper develops, defenders will need to respect him more and open more drives, making him an even more valuable player on the court.

Shooting Concerns

Toohey is a low-volume 3-point shooter who made only 28% of his 2.6 attempts per game in two overseas seasons. He has a smooth form, but shots don’t fall from the field or from the line, where he made only 70.7% of attempts. This is a concern for his development as a shooter, but it’s not the only aspect of his game that needs improvement.

Midrange Scoring

Toohey hasn’t shown an ability to drain pull-up jumpers, whether he’s driving in from the perimeter or operating with his back to the basket. Per Synergy, he made just two of his 16 post-ups. He lacks both a great first step and a tight handle in the half court, which could be areas of focus for him to improve upon.

In conclusion, Alex Toohey is a young and talented player with a lot of potential. His defensive versatility and playmaking abilities make him a valuable asset on the court, but he needs to improve his shooting and midrange scoring to reach his full potential. With continued development and hard work, he could become a key player for the Sydney Kings and a force to be reckoned with in the Australian basketball scene.