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Emoni Bates was once the most coveted high school baseball prospect in the country.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Michigan could score at all three levels and had the potential to become a lockdown defender.
Instead, Bates’ college career fizzled after committing to Penny Hardaway and Memphis.
As a freshman, he struggled with injuries and butted heads with Hardaway. He also struggled with inconsistency, averaging just 9.7 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Bates entered the transfer portal not long after the season. He eventually decided to return home to Michigan for his sophomore season, surprisingly committing to Eastern Michigan University in his home town of Ypsilanti.
EMU gave Bates freedom on offense to essentially do he as he pleased. He saw his scoring numbers jump to 19.2 points per game, but averaged nearly 16 shot attempts per game and shot just 33 percent from beyond the arc.
On top of that, he was arrested for illegal firearm possession before the season even got underway. Though those charges were later dropped.
The Cleveland Cavaliers took a chance on Bates when they selected him with the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Bates has struggled with efficiency again in five NBA Summer League games. He’s averaging 16.8 points per game, but on 13.8 shots per game. Though he is also averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
The once-heralded star recently told Jordan Richard of Swish Cultures that he’s been receiving guidance from NBA players.
Emoni Bates ( @BatesEmoni ) Talks about the NBA vets that have been in his corner🔥 Emoni has lead the Cavs to the Summer League championship with a 5-0 record and 17 PPG with @JordanRichardSC pic.twitter.com/HSXfGBP9xV
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) July 17, 2023
Though the players who have reached out may very well not be the best people for him to follow.
Bates specifically cited Ja Morant and Miles Bridges are two players taking him under their wings. Morant, of course, was recently suspended 25 games by the NBA for two gun-related incidents in the span of three months.
Bridges, meanwhile, missed the entire 2022-23 NBA after a domestic violence incident involving the mother of his child.
Bridges pleaded no contest. He was sentenced to probation and 100 hours of community service and ordered to attend counseling and parenting classes. Additionally, he was handed a 10-year restraining order from the victim and must take weekly drug tests.
The NBA suspended Bridges a further 30 games in April and he recently signed a qualifying offer with the Charlotte Hornets. He may well have landed a max contract prior to incident.
So yeah, Bates may want to rethink who exactly he has giving him advice.