With the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets are running out of time to figure out what they are doing with their first-round picks. For the purpose of this piece, it will be assumed that the Nets will use their picks to draft a player to make an impact next season.
According to Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire, Brooklyn is projected to take Baylor guard Keyonte George with the 21st overall pick. George, 19, is another one-and-done draftee who will be joining the NBA after accomplishing a lot at the collegiate level.
George, listed at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, finished the season earning the Big 12 Rookie of the Year award as well as being named to the All-Big 12 team after averaging 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 37.6% from the field and 33.8% from three-point range. George started in every game he played in (33) and he helped lead the Bears to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing in the second round to Creighton.
What George can bring to a team like the Nets, if they indeed select him, is his ability to contribute on the offensive end of the floor. George had a 30.8% usage rate and while his 16.4% turnover rate is high, both figures show that Baylor was comfortable with the ball in his hands because of his ability to make plays for himself and others. Where George will need to improve is his decision-making with the ball and being more consistent as an overall defender.
Here’s a video breakdown of George’s tape by Adam Spinella:
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