Earlier in 2025, Steinbach helped his professional basketball team reach the German League playoffs and now he’s dominating college basketball for the Huskies months later. He might not immediately profile like a “modern” NBA big man, but he’s dominating college competition regardless. How will his unique physical, athletic and talent profile translate to the league?
Click here to read our latest mock draft and big board for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hannes Steinbach — Big, Washington (20.2 years old)
Hannes Steinbach Scouting Report & NBA Comparison
- Offensive role: Face-up Scorer/Glass Cleaner/Playmaking Hub
- Defensive role: Help Paint Protector/Big Man Defender
Steinbach’s unique special traits, non-traditional size and positional questions at the NBA level make it tough to generate satisfying comparisons, but his all-time hands, strength and rebounding could lead him to a Steven Adams-type impact in the NBA. Even if Steinbach can’t reach a volume scoring ceiling, his glass eating and finishing should easily find him a home in a rebounding-centric NBA.
NBA Comparison: Steven Adams
Strengths
- Gigantic, magnetic hands allow for dominant catching of the basketball and rebounding regardless of traffic or out of area, could play tight end in college today
- Elite rebounder with incredible full-body strength, motor and instincts, constantly moving people and tipping the ball to create extra possessions
- Special touch around the basket allows him to finish through contact, excellent handling coordination for a big opens pick-and-pop and short roll creation.
- Long wingspan and active hands disrupt passing lanes and generate turnovers on defense, deflection machine
- Dominant positional strength at the point-of-attack with solid movement, nearly impossible to shove backwards
- Solid passer who sees executes and executes basic reads as an advantage extender or isolation creator
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t possess true center size defending the interior, sometimes allows players to shoot over him at the hoop
- Height and solid but not great hip movement and feet limit viability as a drop/disadvantage defender
- Unproven outside shooter with only small samples of 3-point shooting data
- Lacks high-level passing vision with the ball, especially to the interior, in tight windows
2026 NBA Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 6-10
Any team lacking rebounding, play finishing or defensive playmaking in the frontcourt should target Steinbach as a player who will consistently help his team win possession battles. His ceiling sits much loftier than a rebounding specialist, though, as his scoring touch and ball handling could potentially unlock a star offensive player at his peak.
