Mading Kuany Scouting Notes
Evaluating the Australian wing following the 2025 U-19 World Cup and NBA Academy Games.
Birthday: July 10, 2007
Class of: 2026
Height: 6-foot-8
Team: NBA Global Academy
From: Australia 🇦🇺
Stats: 8.2 PTS, 4.7 REB, 0.5 AST to 2.3 TOV, 0.2 STL, 1.2 BLK, 1.8 PF on 39.1 FG% (18/46) / 40.7 3P% (11/27) / 50 FT% (2/4) in 6 GP (137 mins)
Role: Off-ball wing
Swing skill: Two-point scoring
I’ve been intrigued by Mading Kuany since the first time I saw him at the 2023 U-16 Asia Cup and 2023 NBA Academy Games. Since then, I’ve watched the 2007-born wing at the 2024 Games, the U-17 World Cup, and the U-19 World Cup. He’s long, slim, and bouncy with the ability to shoot threes and throw down thunderous dunks. In the former area, Kuany is now demonstrating more consistency on tougher looks.
The problem is that Kuany has never produced (in volume or at all, really) that much on either end. Kuany’s averages, in any setting, are always very modest. To give you an idea, the Aussie wing averaged 1.2 points in 5.7 minutes during this month’s U-19 World Cup.
It’s very simple, but Kuany needs to do more on both sides of the ball because his two-way tools definitely exist and his process is generally acceptable. Kuany needs to streamline his shooting, create more plays on defense, develop his handle even if it’s just in a straight line, and become more adept at operating in traffic.
Kuany has NBA athleticism, but he doesn’t have the game yet. I’d like to see the 18-year-old develop at a mid-major school, or he could be brought along slowly in the NBL (kind of like Wani Swaka Lo Buluk or Akoldah Gak). It's worth pointing out that Mading’s older brother Kuany Kuany played for Cal and VCU, and he’s previously mentioned wanting to play in Europe, but college is his priority right now.
Play finishing wing.
Catch-and-shoot threes. Was mostly a spot-up shooter before imo, but starting to really drill threes off movement now.
Biggest point of improvement I noticed year-to-year.
Transition opportunities.
Some offensive rebounding.
Length is a factor on defense.
Makes a difference on tight contests.
Can cover ground quickly with his wingspan and long strides.
Good first jump. Not sure if great, but gets up when he has a runway.
Wish he got even more blocks, but keep in mind that he’s more of a 3 than a 4.
Very skinny. Impediment on both ends.
Thin frame. Narrow shoulders.
Lower body needs to fill out. Very skinny legs. Quads and calves need more power still. Ideally more flexibility, as well.
On offense, can’t stay rooted to spots or beat defenders.
Gets knocked off balance if he bumps. Finds it challenging to score in the paint.
On defense, length can only offset his lack of strength up to a point. Tough to deal with stronger 3s and 4s, which will happen plenty of the time at the next level.
Gets moved on- and off-ball (like being ineffective on tags or vertical challenges, for instance).
No self-creation.
Shot diet is basically spot-ups and clean-up opportunities.
Will leak out in transition.
Can get an offensive rebound once in a while. Want to see him pursue boards more aggressively.
No playmaking for others.
0.5 AST to 2.3 TOV.
Not a one-event thing. Has historically been the case.
Again, see the first bullet point. Primarily a play finisher.
Does he have enough ancillary skills?
36.8 2P% (7/19) is poor.
