Potential Nets 2020 pick RJ Hampton sees himself as ‘a franchise changer’

Right now, RJ Hampton is expected to slip outside the 2020 NBA lottery. For the longest time, though, he was viewed as a Top-5 pick for this year’s trade.

Hampton’s drop in stock comes after he spent a year overseas, rather than play at the college level in America.

While playing for the New Zealand Breakers, Hampton averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game while logging 21.3 minutes a night. He also shot 29.4% from deep and 41.7% overall.

But Hampton isn’t concerned about the numbers he posted. His goal was to prepare himself the best he could for the NBA, which he still feels he did.

“I went overseas, I learned a lot, I didn’t have superior numbers and I was kind of forgotten about,” Hampton told Ian Begley of SNY. “The message that I was trying to get across is, ‘I’m still that same player. I’m still that player that can get you 20-25 points, 6-7 assists, be that lead guard and a franchise changer.'”

If Hampton is right about what he can bring an NBA team, the Nets may be in line to get a steal at No. 19 as mock drafts continue to project the guard will make Brooklyn his home.