The NBA is the pinnacle of basketball, but the work to even stay competitive at that level is often underappreciated by fans. Many NBA players come and go after a year or two in the NBA, as seen through former Warriors forward Eric Paschall.
He was last seen in the NBA with the Utah Jazz in 2021-22, signing with the Timberwolves for 2022-23 but being waived before the season started. He was recently spotted playing in an open gym with former NBA All-Star Paul Millsap.
Fans are concerned as Paschall looks overweight just a couple of seasons after being in the NBA.
couldn’t believe my eyes that this is former Warriors and Villanova player Eric Paschall. what happened man pic.twitter.com/K5N0uXDATv
— ً (@3randyn) February 18, 2024
Paschall did look like he still has his basketball touch in the run, having a great showing in the clips. Fans haven’t focused on that but are discussing the concerning weight gain by Paschall.
He last played professional basketball in 2023 for the Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in seven games there before being released in April 2023. He hasn’t played professionally since.
Eric Paschall entered the league in the 2019 NBA Draft as the 41st pick, being selected by the Golden State Warriors. A versatile 6’6″ forward, Paschall had a strong rookie season on the injury-ridden Warriors and was named to the All-Rookie First Team for 2020 with averages of 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds.
He played fewer games in his second season, making 40 appearances as his numbers worsened to 9.5 points and 3.2 rebounds. He would then be traded to the Utah Jazz for a 2026 second-round pick in the 2021 offseason, playing a year for Utah and averaging 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds. That was his last full season in the NBA, as he was signed and waived before the season by the Timberwolves in 2022.
There Were High Hopes For Eric Paschall
Today, we see the New York Knicks succeed with their Villanova Wildcats-led core of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. Some more talented teammates from that 2018 NCAA-winning squad include Mikal Bridges. Another name on that roster was Eric Paschall, who hasn’t had the same success as his college teammate or even the likes of Ryan Arcidiacono from that squad.
Paschall went from a rotational NBA player to out of the league in the blink of an eye. A lot of it was attributed to his playing style, which wasn’t the best fit for the modern NBA. He was a 6’6″ big man who couldn’t stretch the floor, which would make it impossible for him to hold down a rotational role in the NBA without an outside jumper. Paschall was a gritty defender and rebounder while having a strong mid-range game, but his lack of size and shooting made his NBA longevity an uphill battle.
He made $4.1 million in the NBA.
After not finding a place amongst big men like Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, and James Wiseman, Paschall would see the Warriors draft Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 which rendered his services useless. He got traded to a contending Jazz team with good friend Donovan Mitchell, but it yielded no result.
Hopefully, Paschall can continue his NBA career. Fans are concerned about his apparent weight gain, but the 27-year-old could easily trim down and compete for a two-way contract or a G League spot still.
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