After a workout in front of scouts and coaches on Friday morning, basketball experts are saying that panda cub Xiao Liwu’s prospects of being signed by an NBA team have taken a step back.
“Xiao Liwu was definitely one of the most intriguing prospects in the game,” said ESPN analyst Mike Franco. “But Friday’s workout did not go well. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.“
Insiders say that while coaches gushed over the 3-point shooting ability that first put Liwu on the world radar, they were unimpressed with his hand-eye coordination and inability to make strong moves inside. “He still has a great outside game, but you have to be able to man up in the paint to play in the NBA,” said Franco. “He just didn’t show that ability in front of the scouts.“
The panda is an unrestricted free agent after playing professionally in China last year.
Via The San Diego Zoo.