Why Flory Bidunga’s transfer portal and NBA Draft decision is more strategic than surprising originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
At first glance, it feels like a lot. Transfer portal. NBA Draft. Multiple options on the table. But when you break it down, Bidunga’s decision makes sense.
Advertisement
About leverage, not uncertainty
This isn’t a player unsure of what he wants. This is a player keeping every door open. By entering the NBA Draft process, Bidunga gets real feedback from teams. Where does he project? What does he need to improve? Is he ready now, or better off waiting?
At the same time, entering the portal ensures he’s not locked into one situation if he returns to college. It’s leverage. And in today’s game, that matters.
Where his NBA stock actually stands
Bidunga’s resume is strong. He’s a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He’s athletic, active, and disruptive defensively.
Advertisement
But the questions are real, too. He’s slightly undersized for a traditional center at 6-foot-9. His offensive game is still developing. He doesn’t yet have a polished skill set away from the rim.
That puts him in a gray area. Intriguing enough for NBA teams. Not guaranteed enough to lock in a first-round spot.
More: Deon Thomas’ Bruce Pearl comments show Illinois still hasn’t forgotten
What this means for Kansas moving forward
For the Kansas Jayhawks and Bill Self, the situation is tricky. There’s still a timeline where Bidunga could return. But the program can’t plan around that possibility alone. It has to be prepared as if he’s gone.
Advertisement
That means exploring the portal. Adjusting the roster. Reworking the defense. Because even if Bidunga comes back, the waiting game itself changes how you build your team.
The bottom line
Bidunga now has three paths:
But the biggest takeaway isn’t which path he chooses.
It’s how he’s navigating all of them at once.