NBA Draft hopeful Carter Bryant has identified Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara as a key influence on his defensive approach. Bryant, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Arizona, explained in a recent interview that he studies Camara’s ability to guard multiple positions as a central part of his own game development.

Speaking to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Bryant highlighted Camara as a primary example of a versatile defender. He expressed a desire to eventually guard all five positions on the floor and emphasized watching film of Camara along with several other players to refine his skills.

“I see myself describing it as almost like a progression. Early in the league, I feel like I’m a guy that can guard multiple positions. Obviously, I want to be able to guard one through five. I feel like I’m capable of guarding one through four now. I need to get a little bit stronger, but eventually I see myself being a guy that can guard all five positions on the floor. I watch a lot of Toumani Camara right now, Trey Murphy. I watch Herb Jones, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White. But I see myself becoming one of the stars in this league, so I watch a lot of film on Kyrie (Irving), Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, as well.” —Carter Bryant, NBA Draft Prospect

Camara’s Defensive Recognition Reflects Growing Respect in the NBA

Bryant’s admiration for Camara underscores the rising acknowledgement of Camara’s defensive capabilities during his second NBA season. Despite the Portland Trail Blazers finishing with a losing record, Camara earned a place on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, a testament to his impact on that end of the floor.

Throughout the season, Camara earned praise from opposing coaches and players alike during press conferences, validating his defensive reputation. Bryant’s decision to model his style after Camara highlights not only Camara’s effectiveness but also his increasing influence within the league.

Potential Shared Future: Bryant May Join Camara on the Trail Blazers

Another intriguing aspect of Bryant’s comments is the possibility of teaming up with Camara soon. Many NBA mock drafts project Bryant to be selected in the late lottery of the upcoming draft, around the No. 11 pick—which belongs to Portland.

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports recently placed Bryant with the Blazers in his mock draft, emphasizing how Bryant fits Portland’s defensive strategy while also offering additional shooting ability, a trait the team values greatly.

The Blazers trended way up on defense in the second half of the season, so taking Bryant would serve as a double-down on the team’s newfound identity. Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. He’s raw on offense, but he shot the hell out of the ball for Arizona in the conference and NCAA tournaments. And his success continued at the draft combine, where he was a standout and is widely considered as a lock to stay in the draft. At this point, it’d be surprising if he returned to Arizona for his sophomore year. If his shooting sustains throughout pre-draft workouts before the early entry deadline May 28, he’ll cement his status as a lottery prospect.” —Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports

Bryant’s Skills and Performance Showcase Defensive and Offensive Promise

During his single season at Arizona, Bryant showed well-rounded contributions with averages of 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. He maintained an efficient shooting profile, hitting 46% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc.

Especially impressive was Bryant’s elevated shooting in postseason tournaments. In six combined games throughout the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments, he connected on 10 of 22 three-point attempts, verifying his ability to perform under pressure on a bigger stage.

Implications of Bryant Emulating Toumani Camara for the Trail Blazers’ Future

Bryant’s focus on developing a defensive style inspired by Camara complements the Blazers’ recent shift toward a stronger defensive identity. Integrating Bryant’s versatile defense and promising shooting could provide the Blazers with a valuable two-way player who fits their evolving game plan.

If selected by Portland, Bryant would join a team already benefiting from Camara’s defensive prowess. This alignment suggests a potential pairing that might accelerate Bryant’s growth while also reinforcing the Blazers’ defensive strengths, helping the team compete more effectively in upcoming seasons.