Motiejus Krivas Scouting Report: Arizona’s 7’2″ Rim Protector and 2027 NBA Draft Center
Motiejus Krivas is a 7’2″, 260-pound center from Lithuania who anchored Arizona’s run to the 2026 Final Four and came back for his senior season. He was First Team All-Big 12 and on the conference’s All-Defensive Team, and early 2027 mock drafts have him anywhere from 5th to the second round. This report explains what he does, what he does not do, and why evaluators disagree about him.
Motiejus Krivas at a glance
| Born | 2004, Siauliai, Lithuania |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Height and weight | 7’2″, 260 lb |
| Wingspan | 7’5″, measured at Basketball Without Borders in 2023 |
| Team | Arizona (Big 12), senior, No. 13 |
| Coach | Tommy Lloyd |
| 2025-26 stats | 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 56.9% FG in 39 games |
| Honors | First Team All-Big 12; Big 12 All-Defensive Team |
| NBA draft | Returned to school in 2026; in the 2027 class |
| Database status | Listed at 7’2″ |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Who Is Motiejus Krivas?
Krivas is from Siauliai and came through the youth system of Zalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania’s biggest club. He played four seasons for Zalgiris’ second team, won the second-division title in 2023 and was named the league’s top defender, according to Arizona’s roster page.
He was a regular for Lithuania’s youth teams. At the 2023 FIBA U20 EuroBasket he averaged 12.9 points and 9.7 rebounds, and a year later he led the same tournament in blocks during the group phase, according to FIBA. He joined Arizona in 2023.
Three Seasons at Arizona
| Season | Games | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | FG% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 36 | 12.1 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 55.4 | Backup to Oumar Ballo |
| 2024-25 | 8 | About 16 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 55.3 | Season ended by a foot injury in December |
| 2025-26 | 39 | 25.4 | 10.4 | 8.2 | 56.9 | Starter; 1.9 blocks a game; All-Big 12 |
The middle line matters. Krivas played only eight games as a sophomore before a foot injury that needed surgery in January 2025. He did not miss a game the following season.
The 2025-26 Breakout
Arizona went 36-3, won the Big 12 regular season and tournament, earned a No. 1 seed and reached its first Final Four since 2001, where it lost to Michigan. Krivas started throughout.
- 73 blocks, the seventh-most in a season in Arizona history.
- Career highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds against Kansas State, and 15 rebounds with 6 blocks at Kansas.
- Opponents shot 36.7% from the field when he was on the floor, the best mark in the country, according to Arizona.
- In the NCAA Tournament he averaged 10.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.
Scouting Report: Strengths and Weaknesses
What he does well
- Rim protection. This is the skill that gets him drafted. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has called him the best rim protector in college basketball.
- Mobility. Sports Illustrated rates his coordination above most 7-footers.
- Rebounding. More than three offensive rebounds a game.
- Touch. 78% at the free-throw line, which is high for a center his size.
What holds him back
- No outside shot. He made 4 of 13 three-pointers as a junior.
- Limited creation. He scores as a roller, on cuts and on putbacks, not from the post or the dribble.
- Availability. He lost most of the 2024-25 season to a foot injury.
- Workload. He has never averaged 30 minutes a game.
Why Do Mock Drafts Disagree So Much About Krivas?
The range is unusually wide. CBS Sports has him 5th, Bleacher Report and The Athletic 9th, ESPN 14th, Sports Illustrated 18th, Tankathon 24th and NBADraft.net 46th.
The split is about what a team wants from a center. If the job is to protect the rim, rebound and finish, Krivas already does it at an elite college level and is a lottery pick. If the job includes shooting or switching onto guards, he is a specialist, and specialists go later. He was projected in the late first round before he chose to return in April 2026; another season like the last one settles the argument in his favor.
He is third on our 2027 NBA draft center rankings.
What to Watch in 2026-27
Arizona lost Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Jaden Bradley and Tobe Awaka, so Krivas becomes the centerpiece of a rebuilt roster. Most early national rankings still have Arizona in the top five. The season opens against UCLA in Las Vegas on 2 November.
- Minutes. Whether he can carry 30 a night.
- Offense. Any sign of a jump shot would move him up boards quickly.
- Health. A second full season would close the durability question.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Motiejus Krivas?
Arizona lists him at 7’2″ and 260 pounds. His wingspan was measured at 7’5″ at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in 2023.
Where is Motiejus Krivas from?
Siauliai, Lithuania. He came through the Zalgiris Kaunas youth system before joining Arizona in 2023.
Is Motiejus Krivas a first-round pick?
Five of the six early 2027 mock drafts and big boards we tracked place him in the first round, as high as 5th at CBS Sports. NBADraft.net has him in the second round.
Why did Motiejus Krivas return to Arizona?
He announced his return on 27 April 2026. He was projected in the late first round at the time, and another strong season could make him a lottery pick in 2027.
Motiejus Krivas in our database
Krivas is one of 35 Division I players listed at 7’2″ or taller this season. The database has all of them, with country, school and source.
Sources: Arizona Athletics, FIBA, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic (via Arizona Sports), the Associated Press and Wikipedia. The video above is an independent scouting report from the channel Ordinary Scout. Last checked 9 October 2026.