Tag: Christian Braun

25 NBA draft player comparisons, based entirely on 2022 combine performance

What can this tell us about the success a player will have in the NBA?

Now that the 2022 NBA Draft Combine is in the rearview mirror, teams around the league can make some final conclusions about each prospect.

Every year, two of the most interesting takeaways from this scouting event are the official measurements and the athletic testing scores. Based on what we saw last week, we can make some comparisons to previous participants who went on to play in the pros.

The goal of this exercise was not to predict how a player performs on the court or even offer context about their playing style. Instead, this should at least help provide some useful information about the size and athleticism of these prospects.

Before we get into that, however, let’s review some important details.

For starters, these are just physical comparisons! If you want to read about how some of these prospects view themselves, for example, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov compiled a very helpful list of their answers.

While I do believe these physical comparisons are useful information to understand a prospect in terms of their build and athleticism, I’m not sure if there is very much correlation to on-court success. There are plenty of more athletically gifted players than Nikola Jokic, for example, who have not won back-to-back MVP honors.

Even with the practical utility of these data points, they can always change. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant were much skinnier when they came into the league. But their measurements can give teams areas that the player will need to work on once drafted into their organization.

Also, especially over the last few years, most of the projected lottery picks were not full participants in the NBA Draft Combine. While plenty went through the camp (and used it to improve their draft stock), many top players in the league do not have official measurements to reference.

So if you think that Jaden Ivey is giving Ja Morant vibes, you might be proven right! But we are not able to make that comparison using this particular database because neither was tested in their pre-draft evaluation.

Regardless, although these comparisons aren’t an exact match, they are at least rooted in actual numbers. You can check this app, which was built by Mark Cheung, for any prospects who participated in the NBA combine or G League Elite Camp that did not make the list included below.

League sources have confirmed to The …

League sources have confirmed to The Kings Beat that not only did Sacramento interview Shaedon Sharpe at the Combine, but they either sat down with or attended pro-days for a bevy of projected lottery/first round picks, including Keegan Murray, AJ Griffin, Bennedict Mathurin, Dyson Daniels, Tari Eason, Kendall Brown, Ochai Agbaji, Malaki Branham, Jeremy Sochan, Patrick Baldwin, Nikola Jovic, Mark Williams, Christian Braun, Wendell Moore, Teruavion Smith and Trevion Williams.

4 NBA draft sleepers who have dominated the combine and shouldn’t have to return to school

The NBA draft combine is one of the most exciting events of the basketball season, and it teaches us a lot about the next generation of players.

The NBA draft combine is one of the most exciting events of the basketball season, and it teaches us a lot about the next generation of players.

One of the lessons we can learn from the event is whether or not someone will stay in this class and become professional, or if they want to return for another year of college basketball.

Last season, for example, Kansas wing Ochai Agbaji tested the NBA draft waters before he opted to return to college. He went on to win the national championship.

When players like Agbaji are testing the waters of the NBA draft while maintaining the eligibility to return to school, they receive feedback from scouts and executives as they make their decision about turning pro. Some have used that feedback to improve their draft stock, while others were satisfied with what they gleaned and opted to take the proverbial leap to the next level.

Based on what we have seen from the NBA draft combine so far, here are some of the no-brainer decisions. Others (e.g. Dalen Terry, Josh Minott, Harrison Ingram, Jaylin Williams, John Butler, Moussa Diabate, etc.) will have a tougher choice.

Aggregate NBA mock draft 4.0: Duke’s AJ Griffin is soaring back into the top tier

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Draft Express (ESPN), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Sam Vecenie (The Athletic), Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report), Chad Ford (NBA Big Board), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), Matt Babcock (Basketball News) as well as USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score in order to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion. Predictions for a first overall pick earned a player 58 points while the second overall pick earned 57 points, the third overall earned 56 points, and so on.

AJ Griffin (Duke), Alondes Williams (Wake Forrest), Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State), Orlando Robinson (Fresno State), Walker Kessler (Fresno State), Justin Lewis (Marquette), Christian Braun (Kansas), and Tari Eason (LSU) have improved their draft stock the most since our most recent update last month.\

The most notable prospects who made their debut on our rankings were Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky), David Roddy (Colorado State), and Jaylin Williams (Arkansas).

Meanwhile, the top prospects who were not included in any of these recent mock drafts are Daimion Collins (Kentucky), Alex Fudge (LSU), Justin Moore (Villanova), Darius Days (LSU), Jared Rhoden (Seton Hall), Tre Mitchell (Texas), Dawson Garcia (North Carolina), and more.

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Aggregate NBA mock draft 4.0: Duke’s AJ Griffin is soaring back into the top tier

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Draft Express (ESPN), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Sam Vecenie (The Athletic), Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report), Chad Ford (NBA Big Board), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), Matt Babcock (Basketball News) as well as USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score in order to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion. Predictions for a first overall pick earned a player 58 points while the second overall pick earned 57 points, the third overall earned 56 points, and so on.

AJ Griffin (Duke), Alondes Williams (Wake Forrest), Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State), Orlando Robinson (Fresno State), Walker Kessler (Fresno State), Justin Lewis (Marquette), Christian Braun (Kansas), and Tari Eason (LSU) have improved their draft stock the most since our most recent update last month.\

The most notable prospects who made their debut on our rankings were Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky), David Roddy (Colorado State), and Jaylin Williams (Arkansas).

Meanwhile, the top prospects who were not included in any of these recent mock drafts are Daimion Collins (Kentucky), Alex Fudge (LSU), Justin Moore (Villanova), Darius Days (LSU), Jared Rhoden (Seton Hall), Tre Mitchell (Texas), Dawson Garcia (North Carolina), and more.

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

2022 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Jabari Smith rising in latest projections of every pick

Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. highlighted the prospects on the rise in the latest Rookie Wire Mock Draft.

With the 2021-22 basketball season in full swing, scouts and front-office executives have had an extended look at the next wave of prospects set to enter the NBA.

Prior to the beginning of the season, Duke forward Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren dominated the conversation atop most draft boards. However, the top of the draft looks to be changing with Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. emerging in a big way this season.

Rookie Wire took a look at the next rookie class and projected every pick based on the latest information at hand. Of course, with much of the season left to play, these rankings will change but here is how we see things at the moment.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of Jan. 19. The 2022 draft may only have 58 picks after the Bucks and Heat were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA.

Oklahoma Sooners unable to hold on, fall to No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks 67-64

Despite overcoming a 12-point second-half deficit, the Oklahoma Sooners were unable to pull out the win vs. the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks battled to a closely contested contest at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on Saturday night.

Coming off of a tough loss in Fort Worth against the TCU Horned Frogs, the Sooners were hoping to bounce back with a win against one of the best teams in the Big 12. The Sooners solved some of the turnover issues that cost them a shot at a win against the Horned Frogs when they had 20 on Saturday.

Against Kansas, the Sooners had just 11 turnovers to the Jayhawks 12. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be enough as the Sooners could not get the final stop to hold onto the victory.

The Sooners and Jayhawks played to a 34-32 lead before the Jayhawks pulled away early in the second half. The Sooners would not be thwarted, battling hard in the second half to get themselves back into the game.

With about 17 minutes left in the second half, the Sooners trailed by 12 points. At 44-32, the Oklahoma Sooners went on a 20-2 run to take a six-point lead with nine minutes left to play in the game.

During the run, Umoja Gibson lost his defender with a beautiful crossover step-back three-pointer to give the Sooners a 47-46 lead.

 

The Sooners lead or were tied with Jayhawks from the 12:42 mark of the second half until the Jayhawks took the lead 60-58 with 1:18 left on the clock.

With 11 seconds left in the game, the Kansas Jayhawks were able to get the game-winning three-pointer from Christian Braun, who had 15 points, four rebounds, and an assist for Kansas.

Oklahoma answered each Jayhawks score in the final minute with one of their own until Braun hit the three to take the lead for good. Jordan Goldwire made two free throws with under 10 seconds to play, but two more free throws from Braun with four seconds left, and a missed three-quarter court attempt from Elijah Harkless was long, and the Sooners lost for the third straight game.

Goldwire led the way for the Oklahoma Sooners with 15 points on 4 of 9 shooting. While not a great shooting night, he was 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Goldwire added four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Umoja Gibson added 11 points on 4 of 10 shooting, including 2 of 5 from three-point range.

Though the Oklahoma Sooners shot 42% from the field, they were just 23% from the three-point line. The offense was helped by their ability to get to the free throw line. They had 19 attempts from the free throw line but only shot 67%.

The Oklahoma Sooners fall to 12-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12 conference with the loss. On Saturday, the Sooners have another tough matchup against the No. 6 Baylor Bears. Kansas improves to 15-2 and 4-1 in Big 12 play. Kansas takes their three-game win streak on the road to Manhattan, Kan., to face their in-state rival Kansas State Wildcats.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

Aggregate NBA mock draft 3.0: Jabari Smith leaps ahead of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren for No. 1

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Draft Express (ESPN), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Sam Vecenie (The Athletic), Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report), Jeremy Woo (Sports Illustrated), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), Matt Babcock (Basketball News) as well as USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score in order to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion. Predictions for a first overall pick earned a player 58 points while the second overall pick earned 57 points, the third overall earned 56 points, and so on.

Johnny Davis (Wisconsin), Jeremy Sochan (Baylor), Harrison Ingram (Stanford), EJ Liddell (Ohio State), Wendell Moore (Duke), Blake Wesley (Notre Dame), and Walker Kessler (Auburn) have improved their draft stock the most since our most recent update last month.

The most notable prospects making their debut on our rankings are Tari Eason (LSU), Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown), Dereon Seabron (NC State), Christian Braun (Kansas), Trevion Williams (Purdue) and Orlando Robinson (Fresno State).

Some of the top prospects who were not included in any of these most recent mock drafts include Matthew Cleveland (Florida State), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona), Max Abmas (Oral Roberts), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Alex Fudge (LSU), Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse), Josh Minott (Memphis) and Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall).

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report