Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Goga Bitadze has developed into a skilled and dependable NBA center by combining size, strong fundamentals, and impressive defensive instincts. His ability to protect the rim, finish efficiently inside, and make smart decisions as a big man has allowed him to carve out a valuable role as a reliable frontcourt contributor.

Here are the details about Goga Bitadze:

  • Full Name: Goga Bitadze
  • Nickname: Goga
  • Nationality: Georgian
  • Date of Birth: July 20, 1999
  • Hometown: Sagarejo, Georgia
  • Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
  • Weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
  • Shoe Size: 16 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike Kobe 5 Protro, Nike Zoom Kobe 8, Nike Cosmic Unity, Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2, Adidas Marquee Boost, Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017
  • Jersey Number (College and NBA):
    • #88 — Indiana Pacers
    • #35 — Orlando Magic
  • Position: Center
  • High School: VITA Academy (Tbilisi, Georgia)
  • College: None (professional pathway in Europe)
  • NBA Draft:
    • 2019 / Round 1 / Pick 18 — Indiana Pacers
  • Player Archetype: Traditional rim-protecting center / drop-coverage anchor
  • Primary Offensive Role: Screen-and-roll finisher with occasional low-post touches
  • Defensive Role: Paint protector, shot-blocker, and positional interior anchor
  • Play Style: Physical interior big who operates primarily around the rim, sets solid screens, and plays within a structured half-court system
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Below-average vertical explosiveness; strong frame; good timing and coordination
  • Recruiting Status: International prospect developed through Georgian and Serbian systems (Mega Basket pipeline)
  • Draft Status Detail: Late first-round selection after strong Adriatic League production and MVP honors in 2019
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — has dealt with intermittent minor injuries and conditioning interruptions, but no major long-term setbacks
  • Career Stage: Prime development / rotational big
  • Comparison Style: Interior defensive specialist with limited offensive creation
  • Comparable Players:
    • Andrew Bogut — positional rim protector with passing instincts
    • Jonas Valančiūnas — physical interior scorer and rebounder
    • Ivica Zubac — drop-coverage big with efficient finishing
    • Enes Freedom — offense-first interior presence
  • Teams Played For:
    • Indiana Pacers (2019–2023)
    • Orlando Magic (2023–Present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Parents: Not widely publicized
  • Children: None publicly known
  • Siblings: Not widely publicized

Goga Bitadze’s player archetype is that of a traditional rim-protecting center, built around anchoring the paint defensively while contributing as a low-usage interior scorer. He functions primarily as a drop-coverage defender who relies on size, timing, and positioning to deter shots at the rim, while offensively operating as a screen-setter, pick-and-roll finisher, and occasional post option. Physically, Bitadze brings a strong 6’11” frame with a long wingspan, though his limited vertical burst and mobility cap his versatility in switch-heavy systems. His overall play style leans toward efficiency and structure—he doesn’t create much offense on his own, but within a defined role, he provides reliable rim protection, rebounding, and interior presence.

Scouting Report

The first thing you notice with Goga Bitadze is that he doesn’t chase blocks nearly as often as people expect from a rim protector. He’d rather stay planted, hold his verticality and make a driver finish through length than leave his feet hunting a highlight. That discipline carries over into almost everything he does defensively. In drop coverage, he does a good job of staying between the ball and the rim, buying time for guards to recover while subtly taking away the pocket pass with his positioning instead of gambling for steals. Offensively, his game is much more functional than flashy. He sets solid screens, rolls with purpose, seals deep when smaller defenders get switched onto him and has enough touch to finish with either hand around the basket. The interesting thing is that he’s a better passer than he’s often given credit for, particularly from the elbows or after catching on the short roll. He won’t thread impossible passes, but he recognizes backdoor cuts and weak-side shooters quickly when defenses collapse, keeping the offense flowing instead of forcing a contested finish. The trade-off is that his foot speed limits the types of defensive schemes he can anchor. Asking him to switch repeatedly onto quick guards or defend large amounts of space exposes his change of direction, and he can struggle recovering once pulled away from the paint. That’s why his ideal environment is one built around structured pick-and-roll defense, strong point-of-attack defenders and an offense that values physical screening over constant five-out spacing. To me, there are shades of Ivica Zubac in the way he creates value through positioning, rim protection and efficient interior finishing, while parts of his offensive approach resemble Jonas Valančiūnas, particularly his willingness to establish deep post position, create second-chance opportunities and make the simple pass when extra defenders arrive.

Profile Notes & Context

  • Goga Bitadze’s height with shoes is 7 feet 1 inch tall.
  • Goga Bitadze’s playing weight is 250 pounds.
  • Stylistically, Goga Bitadze aligns with Marc Gasol, Walker Kessler, and Jonas Valančiūnas, each reflecting aspects of his interior-focused role. The comparison leans on rim protection, screening value, and low-post utility within structured offenses. Valančiūnas emerges as the closest stylistic parallel, while Gasol’s passing IQ and Kessler’s vertical athleticism highlight how Bitadze fits a more grounded, defense-first variation of the archetype.

Sources:
NBA.com — Goga Bitadze Player Profile
Eurohoops — Goga Bitadze named Adriatic League MVP
Basketball Reference — Goga Bitadze Stats