Emoni Bates is a 19-year-old small forward who is signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a two-way contract. He has the potential to become a regular fixture on the Cavs roster, but for now, will have to prove himself by playing with the team’s G-League affiliate the Cleveland Charge.
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bates started playing basketball at a young age. With his father Elgin Bates being a former NCAA Division II player for the Kentucky Wesleyan College who also played professionally in Europe, Bates received necessary help early on that pushed him to become an NBA-caliber athlete.
He began playing competitive basketball for
Lincoln Senior High School, where he displayed his scoring prowess. As a sophomore, Bates averaged 32.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and was named Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year.
For his junior season, Bates transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy and continued to play as a top-level prospect. After his junior season, Bates made the decision to reclassify to the 2021 class and graduated as a consensus five-star prospect.
Emoni Bates Height
Bates stands 6 feet 10 inches tall. Bates' overall skill set, further elevated by his tall frame makes him an explosive forward who can go on a scoring spree when given the opportunity. Bates length makes him a capable rebounder, shot blocker, and scorer, often using his stature to shoot over defenders. Coupled with agility and quickness, Bates can also finish at the rim with authority.
Emoni Bates Weight
Weighing around 170 pounds (77 kg), one of Bates’ essential advantages as an athlete is his lightweight frame. He moves seamlessly across the court and is skilled at creating space to get through the defense and into the paint. When driving to the basket, Bates can crossover and do the spin move in one-on-one situations to get through opponents and make the right play for the finish. Though having a slender frame has worked against Bates previously, he has managed to maintain his consistency as a scoring big man.
Emoni Bates Wingspan
With a wingspan measuring around 6 feet 9 inches, Bates can play a solid defensive role for his team. He demonstrated the impact of his reach by averaging 1.8 steals in 10 games during the 2023-24 G-League Showcase Cup. His on-court awareness, lateral quickness and reach allows him to alter opponent shots, disrupt passing lanes, and guard the perimeter effectively to gain possession.
As Emoni Bates continues to mature as a player, he has the potential to grow into one of the better forwards in the league. With each game played and points scored, Cavaliers fans may get to see more of Bates’ remarkable scoring frenzies in the ongoing and coming seasons.
Emoni Bates FAQ's
A. Emoni James-Wayne Bates.
A. Born on January 28, 2004, Bates is 19 years old.
A. Bates was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A. Bates initially attended the University of Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan University for his sophomore season.
