Player Profile: Hannes Steinbach

This is the updated version of an unreleased 2026 NBA Draft excerpt based on feedback from NBA personnel. Changes focus on brevity, clarity, and timely data visualizations.

Hannes Steinbach is one of the best rebounders in youth history. His total rebound rate ranked first in the 2024 U18 Euro Championship, first in the 2025 U19 World Cup, and second in the 2024-25 German League. He finished third among high-major Division I players this season, and was on pace for first during his minutes at center. His defensive rebound rate at center specifically would rank eighth in high-major underclass history.

Steinbach also disrupts defensively. He posted a good steal rate (67th percentile¹) and increased opponent turnover rate while on the court. Although his poor rim protection and inability to guard on the perimeter improve opponent shooting efficiency, strong defensive rebound and steal volume should carry him to average defensive impact in the NBA.

These defensive rebounds and steals become even more impactful because of Steinbach's ballhandling. With outlier agility and coordination for a big, he regularly takes rebounds and picks from coast to coast for finishes. Hannes was the ballhandler on 21% of his transition plays in college, and Washington scored five more transition points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. That transition influence ranks in the 91st percentile among NBA bigs as high-major underclassmen.

Steinbach applies his ballhandling in the halfcourt too, finishing 67% of his two-point attempts on halfcourt drives² (93rd percentile). His 10.90 lane agility time (94th percentile) evidences elite driving, as it's better than the 11.12 average time of guards across the past five combines. This is relevant because the machine learning in my driving model identifies lane agility as the only combine test predictive of NBA drive volume.

Weak ball control and handle complexity (26 turnover rate on perimeter creation plays³, 19th percentile) combined with low pullup jumpshot volume (1 percent pullup frequency, 24th percentile) will limit on-ball drives, but Steinbach's catch-and-shoot ability will enable strong closeout drives. He paired a 34 three-point percentage with high volume, free-throw touch, and midrange touch, which combine for an excellent catch-and-shoot projection.

A consistent catch-and-shoot three would also make Hannes a versatile screener. His 248-lb frame enables hard screens, and he produces above-average efficiency in every action after a screen. He attempted 1.4 pick-and-pop threes per 100 possessions (95th percentile), made 32% of his pops (64th percentile), converted 59% of his rolls (51st percentile), and displayed excellent short-roll passing.

Steinbach has drawn criticism for mediocre passing frequency (59th percentile assist-to-usage ratio) and passing efficiency (80th percentile assist-to-turnover ratio) in box-score data, but these values understate his true passing ability. Post-ups are both more scoring-oriented and more turnover-prone than picks, since passing windows are stagnant and defenses can plan help more precisely. Refer to the average passing frequency and passing efficiency out of each play according to Synergy's tracking data.

As a result, creation-heavy bigs like Steinbach see their assist volume deflated, turnover volume inflated, and box-score passing stats skewed. In tracked post-up and isolation plays specifically, Hannes' passing frequency ranks in the 98th percentile and his passing efficiency in the 99th percentile. Through high-volume and accurate passing out of post-ups, isolations, and short rolls, he improved his team's shot quality, raised their assist rate, and reduced their turnover rate while on the court.

The cherry on top is Steinbach's 90th percentile offensive rebound rate. By combining excellent scoring out of fastbreaks, picks, and spot-ups with good passing and tremendous offensive rebounding, Hannes impacts every dimension of offense without needing the ball in his hands. Halfcourt creation and defensive limitations lower his ceiling, but he's the perfect complementary offensive big and a top-10 player on my board.