2021 NBA Draft overview
Below are my top three prospects and some names to watch for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cade Cunningham
I’m sure you have heard all about this kid. Seemingly every move he has made on and off the court has been put under the national spotlight. Starring at Oklahoma State, Cunningham is a strong, physical point guard who can score anywhere on the court. He contributes on the defensive end as well and can guard multiple positions. Yes, he has had poor shooting performances, and yes, his assists (3.5/game) and turnovers (4/game) are not quite where you would like to see them but the team around him has a lot to do with that. Though you won’t see him in the tournament due to a post-season ban for the Cowboys, Cunningham will be the first pick and a mainstay in NBA All-Star voting for years to come.
Evan Mobley
Mobley stands out on the court for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, he is a seven-footer averaging nearly twenty points and ten rebounds a game while racking up 3.3 blocks with his massive 7-foot-5 wingspan. Secondly, his shorts are really, really short. But the USC big man has star potential. He is the quintessential modern NBA big with an Einstein-like basketball IQ and a great touch. He stands out the most because of his ball-handling skills and the ability to attack the rim with either hand. On top of that, he is an incredibly gifted passer and can run the offense. While he needs some fine-tuning and should add some bulk, Mobley has the chance to be a generational talent.
Jalen Suggs
Above all else, Jalen Suggs is an elite athlete. Couple that with his defensive prowess and shooting abilities, and you have a star in the making. Suggs is leading the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who will almost certainly be in the Final Four this year. His limitless range provides him with opportunities to drive the ball and find open teammates. He does turn the ball over a bit more than you would like to see (2.7/game), especially with the team he has around him, but his IQ and calming presence on the court will make an immediate impact on whatever team is lucky enough to snag him. As with Cunningham and Mobley, Suggs has All-Star potential.
NBA Draft players to watch
Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green are both tearing up the G-League right now. Adept at finishing at the rim, Kuminga and Green both have All-Star potential but need to hone their skills. So far, Kuminga is proving to be the better of the two. Jalen Johnson has all the potential but reminds me of Cam Reddish. Not in his game where Johnson stuffs the stat-sheet but in his motor. Reddish, too was highly touted coming out of high school and failed to meet expectations at Duke. Johnson has the tools, but the drive might not be there. Kai Jones and Greg Brown are both incredibly talented Freshmen leading a solid Texas squad. Both suffer from consistency issues, but the potential is there. Jones is a reliable scorer, and Brown is a sensational athlete.
NBA Draft potential second-round prospects
Iowa’s Luka Garza might win the Wooden Award this year. However, he isn’t a great NBA prospect because we don’t live in the 1960s. There is still something to be said though about a guy who dominates against the best competition every night. Yves Pons has the tools to be a solid NBA defender but needs to develop his offensive game. A senior at Tennessee, Pons is just starting to put it together. Aaron Henry is a great defender and athlete but cannot shoot. Should he develop a shot, Henry has a role-player spot waiting for him in the NBA.