Noah Penda
Frame: 6’8″, 225 pounds
Position: Forward
Team: Le Mans Sarthe Basket
2025 Draft Age: 20
Stats via: Basketball-Reference​

Offense

Penda thrives as a connective offensive piece, demonstrating a strong understanding of spacing and timing. His quick decision-making facilitates ball movement, creating opportunities for teammates. Penda’s passing at 2.7 assists per game reflects his ability to exploit defensive rotations.​

His shooting has shown improvement, currently at 30 percent on three-point attempts per game. While this marks progress, consistency remains an area for development. Penda’s free-throw shooting stands at 72 percent, indicating some potential for further growth as a shooter.​

Off the ball, Penda excels as a cutter and offensive rebounder. His 8.6 percent offensive rebounding rate underscores his activity on the glass, and his ability to find seams in the defense makes him a reliable target for interior passes. However, his shot creation is limited; he struggles to generate offense off the dribble and lacks a diverse scoring arsenal when driving to the basket.

Defense

Defensively, Penda stands out as a versatile and instinctive player. His size, strength, and lateral quickness allow him to guard multiple positions effectively. He maintains a strong defensive presence, often disrupting passing lanes and contesting shots without fouling.​

Penda’s defensive statistics are noteworthy, with a steal rate of 3.3 percent and a block rate of 5.6 percent. These numbers reflect his ability to anticipate plays and make timely interventions. His off-ball defense is particularly impressive; he consistently positions himself to provide help defense and communicates effectively with teammates to coordinate switches and rotations.​

While his defensive instincts are a strength, there are concerns regarding his athleticism. Penda is not an explosive leaper, which may limit his rim protection capabilities against more athletic opponents. Additionally, his lateral movement, while adequate, could be challenged by quicker guards at the NBA level.​

Looking Ahead

Penda projects as a valuable role player in the NBA, particularly for teams seeking a high-IQ forward who can contribute on both ends of the floor. His defensive versatility and unselfish offensive play make him a candidate for late first-round selection, with potential to rise into the mid-first round and late lottery depending on team needs and his performance in pre-draft evaluations.​

For Penda to maximize his impact at the professional level, continued development in his shooting consistency and offensive versatility will be crucial. Enhancing his ability to create shots and finish through contact will add dimensions to his game, making him a more complete player. Given his current trajectory and work ethic, Penda has the tools to carve out a meaningful role in the NBA, drawing comparisons to fellow countrymen Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw.​