NBA Draft Combine: Dalton Knecht, Bub Carrington among Day 1 winners
Chicago, Illinois – This is NBA Draft Combine week. Seventy-eight players were invited to participate in the event. The combine takes place from May 12-19. Throughout the week attendees will take part in various drills, testing, medical exams, scrimmages, measurements, and team interviews. It is a big week for all players involved as it can boost stock as much as cause concern.
2024 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0 (pre-NBA Draft Combine)
Day 1 of the NBA Draft Combine was on Monday. That day was spent finding physical and athletic measurements as well as doing shooting drills and some small-sided play.
Here are some takeaways from conversations around the combine and the information on hand from players’ Day 1 performances.
The 2024 NBA Draft Combine homepage on NBA.com
NBA Draft Combine Day 1 Winners
G Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh
One of the youngest players at the NBA Draft Combine, Bub Carrington will still be 18 years old on draft night. What we saw during the season with Carrington was a player who had size and length that showed flashes both on and off the ball.
The measurements were good for Carrington. He was 6-foot-3.75 without shots, 194.8 pounds, and had a 6-foot-8 wing span. He showcased a 36.5-inch max vertical jump. Where he really opened eyes was with his shooting. He knocked down 20-25 spot shots and reportedly did well in the pull-up shooting drill as well.
He was projected coming into the NBA Draft Combine as a top 20 pick (No. 19 on my current Big Board), he did everything to solidify that.
C Zach Edey, Purdue
No player was more dominant in college basketball than Zach Edey. The two-time defending National Player of the Year, put up video game numbers this season, leading his Purdue team to the NCAA Tournament national title game. Coming into the NBA Draft Combine, we knew the physical measurements would be gaudy, and they were. Without shoes, Edey measured 7-foot-3.75 with a 7-foot-10.75 wing span and a 9-foot-7 standing reach, at 299 pounds.
On the day, Edey looked more mobile and athletic than expected and he also shot the ball well. Edey did most of his damage in college close to the basket, he was 14-25 overall in the star drill. He showed balance and a consistent release on the shot.
Edey came into the NBA Draft Combine projected as a top 25 pick (No. 22 on my current Big Board), could you move higher?
G Devin Carter, Providence
Devin Carter worked himself into first-round consideration for Providence this year earning Big East Player of the Year honors. What endeared Carter to the NBA, in my eyes, was the toughness. When he was put into a featured role, he displayed a grittiness as well as bursty athleticism that led to consistent production.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Carter tied for top billing with a 42-inch max vertical jump as well as a 35-inch standing leap. He measured 6-foot-2.25 without shoes and a 6-foot-8.75 wing span. While the height is on the shorter side, the athletic markers and the wing span match the eye test. Carter also set an NBA Draft Combine record with his 3/4-court sprint time.
Carter came into the NBA Draft Combine projected as a top 20 pick (No. 18 on my current Big Board), his athletic testing on Day 1 solidified that spot.
G Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
On a day when a lot of the shooting guards measured small, Dalton Knecht came in at 6-foot-5.25 without shoes and 212 pounds. More than adequate size for an off-guard in the NBA. He also measured with a 6-foot-9 wing span (plus 3.75) and showcased a 39.0-inch max vertical jump.
When you turn on the tape for Knecht, you see shot-making. His ability to knock down jump shots off the catch, off movement, and in pull-up fashion popped throughout the year. That type of shooting showed during the NBA Draft Combine as reports of his spot shooting drills and pull-up shooting drills were overwhelmingly positive.
Knecht came into the NBA Draft Combine projected as a top 10 pick (No. 7 on my current Big Board), his physical measurements, when put beside his peers, lived up to that billing.
Neutral Showings
C Alexandre Sarr, Perth (NBL)
It was an interesting showing from projected No. 1 overall pick Alexandre Sarr. He measured at 6-foot-11.75 without shoes at 224.2 pounds with a 7-foot-4.25 wing span. That came out to a 9-foot-2 standing reach, all of which checks out and was expected.
The piece of the Day 1 testing that was not encouraging was the athletic portion. Sarr’s upside is predicated on how he moves and being able to project his size, length, and mobility into a versatile defensive presence. Sarr tested slower in lane agility and similar in 3/4 court sprint to Zach Edey.
While the agility testing was a concern for Sarr, the spot shooting was solid and he did measure a 36-inch max vertical jump.
G Bronny James, USC
The general consensus had pretty low expectations coming into the NBA Draft Combine for Bronny James. On the measurement side, he came in at 6-foot-1.5, after being listed as 6-foot-4 by USC. However, he measured with a 6-foot-7.25 wing span and 210.4 pounds. Of the 28 players listed under 6-foot-2 in the NBA for the 2023-24 season, only four of them (Donovan Mitchell, Denis Schroeder, Aaron Holiday, and Terry Rozier) had wing spans over 6-foot-7. Donovan Mitchell is the only one to weigh over 200 pounds.
James also shot very well on the day. Showing balance and a consistent release of movement and stepping into his shots during the drill sessions. With the 40.5-inch max vertical jump on record, the swing skill for James long term surrounds his ball handling and creation.
James was not listed among my top 30 players coming into the NBA Draft Combine.
G Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
The headline of the day for Reed Sheppard is that he showcased a 42-inch max vert, which tied for the top mark in camp. He also shot the ball very well, in each drill. Showcasing excellent timing, release, and balance both off movement and the catch.
Sheppard was listed at 6-foot-3 at Kentucky. He measured 6-foot-1.75 at the combine with a 6-foot-3.25 wing span and 181.6 pounds. That makes for an interesting archetype. There were 28 players who played NBA minutes in 2023-24 who are listed under 6-foot-2 and only eight of them have wing spans less than 6-foot-4. Can you safely project Sheppard’s game to translate in the mold of Fred van Vleet, Malachi Flynn, TJ McConnell, or Tre Jones?
Sheppard is an expected lottery pick (No. 12 on my current Big Board) coming into the NBA Draft Combine.
F Cody Williams, Colorado
Cody Williams shot over 40 percent from three this season. However, the low volume of his takes and history of shooting questions made the drills portion of the NBA Draft Combine an important piece for Williams.
By most accounts, Williams shot the ball well during the shooting portions of Day 1. However, watching video, his form/release looked inconsistent and the ball lacked rotation. He was listed at 6-foot-8 by Colorado and measured at 6-foot-6.6 without shoes. The 7-foot-1 wing span is very impressive, and the 178.4 weight was expected. Athletic burst and being able to self-create will be interesting to watch for as the combine continues this week.
Williams is an expected lottery pick (No. 10 on my current Big Board) coming into the NBA Draft Combine.