2026 NBA Draft: Nate Bittle Scouting Report

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2026 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.

Nate Bittle

Position: Center

College: Oregon

Class: Senior

Height/Weight: 7'0", 220 lbs

Birthdate: June 3, 2003

High School: Prolific Prep (CA)

Player Overview

Nate Bittle is a big, physical center with legitimate size, strength, and touch around the basket. A senior at Oregon, Bittle plays a bruising, interior-oriented style and uses his +6 wingspan effectively on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he brings a soft shooting stroke for his size, decent ball skills for his size, and the ability to operate as a facilitator from the post. Defensively, he relies on length, positioning, and physicality to protect the rim. While not the most athletic big man, Bittle’s size, strength, and feel give him a clear identity as a traditional interior presence that can also provide some floor spacing.

Strengths

• Size & Strength: Big, strong center with legitimate size and a +6 wingspan who plays a physical and bruising style. Uses his frame effectively on both ends.

• Shooting Touch: Smooth shooting stroke with legitimate range for a big man. His mechanics and touch suggest he has the potential to become a reliable floor-spacing threat.

  Ball Skills for His Size: Handles the ball well enough to attack off the bounce on occasion and initiate offense from the post.

  Facilitation from the Post: Shows the IQ to find shooters and cutters when double-teamed, even if it does not always translate to high assist numbers.

  Interior Defense: Uses strength and length to body defenders, contest shots, and block attempts around the rim.

  
  

Concerns

• Athletic Limitations: Overall lack of athleticism stands out. He is slow to get up and down the floor and struggles laterally, with noticeably slow feet.

• Mobility: While his length helps defensively, the mobility issues are real and can be exposed in space.

• Finishing Through Contact: Despite his strength, he does not convert well when contested or absorbing contact at the rim.

  
  

Bottom Line

Bittle is a true center with above-average size, strength, and shooting touch for the position. He operates primarily as an interior presence on both ends, using length and physicality to impact the game around the rim. His athletic limitations and challenges finishing through contact against size are notable factors that could affect how his game translates to the next level. His professional outlook will likely be determined by how well his skill set fits into structured roles that emphasize size, spacing, and rim protection.