Goga Bitadze Flashing Skill In FIBA Play, Hoping To Grow For Indiana Pacers This Season

Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze is currently in Europe playing for his birth country, Georgia, in international play. His team has EuroBasket action tipping off later this week and just wrapped up two games that were a part of qualifying play for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Bitadze, a three-year NBA veteran, was impressive in the pair of qualifying contests, averaging 13.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. It was his first time suiting up for his country since 2019, according to FIBA.

The Pacers center is hoping to continue the strong play from World Cup qualifiers into EuroBasket in September. Georgia is one of the four host countries for the event this year, so Bitadze will get to play in front of a home crowd in Tbilisi Sports Palace.

“It’s a huge thing for our country,” Bitadze said earlier this month. “I really can’t wait.”

The 2019 draft pick showed off a wide variety of skills in the two World Cup qualifying games, dropping in 40% of his outside shots and tearing up defenses in the pick-and-roll. He also produced a slick highlight with a no-look assist to Milwaukee Bucks center Sandro Mamukelashvili:

These are all skills that Bitadze will hope to bring to the Pacers this coming season, which will be his fourth in the pros. He’s received 54 minutes of playing time for Georgia in his overseas stint so far, and playing time is key for the young center to improve.

“It takes reps, it just takes playing in live games,” Bitadze said of growing as a player. The former 18th overall pick has yet to play in more than 54 games in a season thanks to a crowded Indiana frontcourt.

It will be interesting to see if that trend continues this season. The Pacers have Myles Turner and Jalen Smith under contract, and that pairing is currently projected to be the starting frontcourt. Isaiah Jackson, drafted by the team in the first round in 2021, as well as Oshae Brissett, Terry Taylor, and the recently acquired Daniel Theis could be in the mix for minutes as well. It’s not clear exactly where Bitadze, or anyone, fits into the equation.

Playing time opened up at the center position in Indiana last season after the team traded Domantas Sabonis. Bitadze took advantage, averaging 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game after the All-Star break. He shot 61.7% from the field and 45.5% from deep in that span — his longest stretch of impressive play since being drafted.

Bitadze has often shared that he feels his best when he has a consistent role that he can prepare for and slot into every game. It’s not clear what his role will be for the Pacers in 2022-23, but it’s hard to envision the Georgian big man playing in every game, barring a trade or an injury. He did show off rotation-level play to close his third campaign, so head coach Rick Carlisle could search for creative ways to get the 23-year old on the floor.

A big part of the young center potentially playing more often this coming season comes down to improvement. If Bitadze is better, or more consistent, in 2022-23, then he could be in the mix for night-to-night playing time. But if some of his key issues remain from this past season — foul trouble and long-range inaccuracy, to name two — it will be difficult for Carlisle to put Bitadze on the floor in lieu of alternative options.

The Georgian big man is hoping he can step up and have an impactful year. “Just overall, like physically,” Bitadze said when discussing what he is working on improving this coming campaign. “Just want to be in the best shape of my life.”

A physical transformation that allows Bitadze to be quicker and more nimble would go a long way. His general mobility is underrated, but he does look sluggish at times on an Indiana team that sped up as the season went along — they finished top-ten in pace over the final three months of the season.

Another skill jump that would benefit the young big is an increase in outside shooting precision. Prior to the draft in 2019, Bitadze’s three-point shot was viewed as a weapon, but it hasn’t translated to the NBA. Despite canning 63.6% of his triples in the G League and 31.3% in EuroLeague play, Bitadze has only knocked down 25.4% with Indiana. That number improved last season, especially after the trade deadline, but it still needs to be a more consistent tool.

Jumps in agility and outside shooting would set Bitadze up for a strong fourth year on a retooling Pacers team. But those jumps must come. In a crowded frontcourt, he can’t let other young bigs pass him by if he wants to play and have an impact.

A normal offseason will help with skill growth. Since being drafted, every offseason of Bitadze’s career has been atypical — they have all been shortened due to COVID’s impact on the NBA schedule, and the 2020 offseason featured training protocols that made typical workouts difficult. Simultaneously, overseas competitions and summer league were put off. This 2022 summer has been customary for the NBA, and the timing and structure of it give Bitadze more opportunities for growth.

A revamped Bitadze would slot in nicely on what appears to be a quick, assertive Pacers team. The younger group will forge a new identity this season, and Bitadze thinks they will be forceful.

“I think we’re going to play really aggressive,” he said. The team began to show that style, especially offensively, down the stretch of the 2021-22 campaign.

The upcoming season is an important one for Bitadze. Despite various stretches of strong play throughout his career, he is unproven after three seasons and hasn’t left his mark on the blue and gold yet. His fourth year is his best opportunity to do that on a younger team with fewer expectations.

Perhaps quality World Cup qualifying play is just the start of a strong offseason, and season, for Goga Bitadze. He has an opportunity to accelerate that momentum during EuroBasket in September. Overseas experiences in a standard offseason will give Bitadze a chance to grow — he hopes to take it and then show off that growth in the NBA.