Even if Jaxson Robinson doesn't get drafted, he likely won't be waiting long for an NBA contract

Jaxson Robinson‘s late-season wrist injury has him playing catch-up ahead of this week’s NBA Draft.

During his first and only season (and fifth as a college player) with Kentucky in 2024-25, Robinson steadily improved his game as the schedule went along. He was playing his best basketball against SEC competition before he was ruled out on March 1 with a torn sub-sheath to his ECU tendon. Head coach Mark Pope said it would be until late May or early June before Robinson would be healthy enough to play.

That timeline proved true earlier this month when the Oklahoma native was cleared for contact.

Ever since getting back on the floor, Robinson has been sneaking in as many pre-draft workouts as possible. Following a workout with the Golden State Warriors on June 18, he mentioned additional workouts on the docket with the likes of the Kings, Suns, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Robinson was in Cleveland (with former Kentucky teammate Amari Williams) for a workout on June 19.

“Just trying to take advantage of every opportunity,” Robinson said. “I started late. I’m kind of playing catch-up as far as just workouts. A lot of guys have already had a lot of workouts. Just trying to make the most of this opportunity and hopefully see some success.”

Will these last-minute workouts be enough to get Robinson drafted? All six of the franchises he’s worked out for/planned to work out with have picks in the second round. ESPN’s Jay Bilas told KSR last week he believes there is a “very good chance” that Robinson gets drafted. In his top 100 Big Board update from Saturday, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony slotted Robinson at 65th overall — a borderline draft hopeful. This year’s two-round draft is only 59 picks.

During a press conference call with the media on Monday, Givony said he wasn’t sure if Robinson would ultimately hear his name called on one of the two draft nights, but he doesn’t expect him to be a free agent for long if the sharpshooting guard does go undrafted.

“People know what he brings, starting last year at BYU and then this year at Kentucky,” Givony told KSR about Robinson. “6-(foot)-6 with that kind of length and frame and shot-making prowess, that’s interesting. I would imagine that he’s going to end up getting a Two-Way (contract), even if he doesn’t hear his name called.“

Of course, Robinson would prefer to get drafted. But there can be benefits to getting picked up as an undrafted free agent — just look at former Kentucky wing Justin Edwards from last year’s draft.

Edwards wound up signing an undrafted two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. But landing in Philly ended up being a terrific fit for the rookie, who averaged 10.1 points in 26.3 minutes per outing across 44 games played in 2024-25. Edwards parlayed that strong play into a standard NBA contract (2 years, $5.1 million) in February.

Could something similar happen with Robinson this year?

The 2025 NBA Draft is set for June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The first round on Wednesday, June 25, begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. The second round on Thursday, June 26, begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.