Cleveland Cavaliers fans are convinced that their team has stumbled upon a gem in the 2023 NBA Draft. With Emoni Bates showing out in the 2023 NBA Summer League, Cavs fans just feel ever so vindicated about their belief that Bates is this year’s top draft steal.

Emoni Bates stuffed the stat sheets on Sunday during a 99-76 win over the Toronto Raptors, finishing the contest with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block. He shot just 5-for-12 from the field and drained just one of his five attempts from behind the arc, but it’s clear in the eyes of Cavs fans that Cleveland has a special one in him.

“Emoni Bates 2024 Rookie Of The Year 🐐,” said Twitter user @TyreseWinfrey2, who also took things perhaps a little too far when he tweeted that Bates is better than No. 1 overall pick and San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. In any case, Bates is indeed making Cavalier fans salivate over his prospect to become a significant contributor to the team eventually.

“Emoni Bates is gon be a problem Day 1,” another fan said.

From @FoxLifeVisuals: “Emoni Bates fix perfectly in the NBA style of play.”

There is plenty of work to be done for Emoni Bates if he is to become a star for the Cavs, and he could start with his scoring efficiency. In his NBA Summer League debut against the Brooklyn Nets, Bates unloaded 16 points with four 3-pointers, albeit on just 5-for-18 shooting from the floor.

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Bates, who’s been signed by Cleveland to a two-way deal, was the only pick of the Cavs in the 2023 NBA Draft, with Cleveland taking him in the second round.

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