Tag: Prospect Park

Meet Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek, Marquette’s underdog ‘winning guy’ who was constantly overlooked

Tyler Kolek is arguably the best playmaker in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 24, 2024.

Marquette Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek is a plug-and-play prospect who will bring a sense of grittiness and competitiveness to the next level.

Kolek, a consensus second-team All-American, was one of the best players in NCAA men’s college basketball last season. He was the NCAA season assists leader after averaging 15.3 points and 7.7 assists per game as a senior. Kolek had previously won Big East Player of the Year in 2023.

But before that, he was a mid-major standout at George Mason University. Yet proving people wrong continues to fuel his outstanding play, as he told For The Win during a recent interview.

“That chip on my shoulder, I’ve got to play that way each and every game to survive. That’s where it comes from. I was that overlooked guy,” Kolek said. “I wasn’t a five-star. I wasn’t a top-100 recruit. I wasn’t a highly recruited guy. I’ve been able to get where I am through that toughness and that chip on my shoulder and playing with that feistiness every time I step on the floor.”

He uses his exceptional court vision and playmaking to elevate the play of those around him.

Per Stats Perform, 24.6 percent of his passes led directly to a shot, which is the most of any player included on the latest consensus big board.

“I just really want to find a role on a team and really help winning,” Kolek added. “I feel like I’m a winning guy. I feel like the intangibles I bring kind of carry over to that. What I bring to a team will definitely be toughness, competitiveness, I’m just looking to build a culture wherever I go.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Watch Episode 5 of Prospect Park, a video series featuring future NBA players brought to you by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win:

What should NBA teams know about you?

I’m just trying to convey how much of a competitor I am and how much of a leader I am, what I can really bring to an organization. A team is picking me to be an addition, not a subtraction to their organization. I want to show them all the qualities that I have that can uplift their culture and all of the other things that they value. I bring toughness on the floor. Leadership on the floor. Leadership in the locker room. I’m going to be a rookie this year but I feel like I’m pretty mature. I can bring that older vibe to a younger team or try to learn from veterans if I do join a locker room with a lot of veterans. I’m just open to being a sponge and really learning and eating up as much as I can.

How do you use your playmaking to impact winning?

I like to say I create shots with a pass. My pace in the ball screen, the way I can find guys with different angles, it’s something I love to do: Seeing a guy make a shot off my pass. A lot of guys like to score but that’s what brings me the most joy is getting an assist. It was ingrained in me from a young age: Being able to share the ball, playing team basketball, and a team game. To win one-on-five, you need everyone on the floor to be contributing. The ball has energy behind it. I really believe that. The more it gets zipping around, the more energy you’ll have on the offensive end and the more energy you’ll have on the defensive end and everyone will be feeling good with themselves.

How are you able to score near the basket so well?

I’m super crafty. I’m not an above-the-rim guy. I’m not going to dunk on you or anything like that. But just working on my touch, my floaters around the rim, my wide finishes. I have to get creative. You watch all these guys in the NBA. There are a lot of guys that don’t have the leaping ability. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, those type of guys. They still get it done at at a really high level. So just trying to emulate stuff that they do. Take bits and pieces from everybody’s game that would benefit mine and just constantly working on it. That was something I really improved on when I got to Marquette was my finishing package just because there are bigger, taller, more athletic guys in high-major basketball. I wasn’t accustomed to that before but after I got one year under my belt there, I really figured out what I needed to work on and get better at and I really tapped into all of the finishing stuff.

What led to you becoming a potential first-round pick?

I definitely couldn’t have pictured this a couple of years ago. It’s crazy to think about. I talk about it with my friends and my family. I still have a long way to go, obviously. I’m not a finished product by any means but to get to this point, all the hard work and dedication that I put into it and everyone sees it. Everyone sees it. Everyone that’s been around me on this journey is like: ‘Wow. I’m really impressed with how hard you worked and how dedicated you are.’ A lot of guys to get to this level have to be that. But I feel like I’ve taken it to another level. I really appreciated this process for that. 

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Meet Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski, the Duke star ready to reintroduce himself in the pros

Kyle Filipowski is a Duke big man who is ready to dribble, pass, and shoot in the NBA.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 4, 2024.

Duke Blue Devils star Kyle Filipowski is a talented, versatile big man who can help space the floor and impact winning at the next level.

Filipowski is widely considered one of the top players at his position in this class. After averaging 16.4 points with 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a sophomore, he was named as a consensus second-team All-American.

He told For The Win during a recent video interview that he has the unique ability as a big man who can dribble, pass, and shoot.

“It gives teams a lot to do with me. I’m very adaptable. I’m very coachable,” Filipowski said. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m going to be able to do it just because of that uniqueness in my skills.”

The former Duke star measured just short of 6-foot-11 in socks at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine. His shuttle run (2.93 seconds) was near the best among all players at his position.

His versatility during his collegiate career puts him in unique company as a top-tier prospect.

“I’m very disciplined with what I need to be doing in order to take my body to the next level in order to play at the NBA stage,” Filipowski explained. “I’m excited for the spacing just to expand my range on 3-pointers because I know that’s going to help a lot with my passing and my facilitating as well if I get that more dangerous for teams.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Watch Episode 2 of Prospect Park, a video series featuring future NBA players brought to you by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win:

How helpful will it be to have a fully healthy offseason?

That’s going to be huge. Like you said, right after we lost in the tournament my freshman year at Duke, I got double bilateral hip surgery two weeks later, if that. That was a really hard decision for me to make because I knew I wasn’t going to have an offseason to develop and take off but ultimately, it was the best decision for me because now I’m feeling fantastic with where my body is at and I’m super excited to now have that offseason to get stronger and just work on my body even more now. Even now, every day, my body is getting better than it was. It’s not even at its full peak yet. So having this full offseason is going to be huge for me and I’m looking forward to it.

What should NBA teams know about you?

I’m not even at my fullest potential. I’m not even at my best yet. That comes with physicality and my skill set, of course. I think a lot of players can say that but for me, my upside is a whole lot more because of that hip surgery. I’m still getting better from that every day. So the strides and leaps I can take with that, they’ll get a guy that is going to be a dangerous player that loves competing and loves playing the game. Those are the biggest things for me.

How does your basketball IQ impact winning?

I’m a big learner of the game. I love watching basketball. I love watching the playoffs right now and seeing and reading all of these things that players are doing. It’s just so exciting for me. I know what I’m capable of and obviously college is a whole different style of play than the NBA and I feel like my style of play suits the NBA so much better. With that IQ coming into play, being able to facilitate and with the spacing and just reading and reacting, the defense will be so much easier in my opinion with my IQ.

What is your ideal role in the NBA?

I think what I love to do is just space the floor. I think that opens up a lot for myself and for my teammates. Starting on the perimeter, that gives me the ability to drive the ball and kick it out to the shooters or even pass it off to the five man like a Dereck Likely. Doing that at my size and also being able to space the floor and let the five man go to work inside or let the guards attack and facilitate, and they don’t have to worry about an extra defender because my defender will stay on me because of my 3-point ability as well. That’s the kind of stuff I’m looking forward to.

What are some of your goals?

Definitely going right into this year is Rookie of the Year. I don’t think that’s out of my reach at all. If I should play the way I’m capable of, there is no question I should be in that conversation. But ultimately, wherever I go, I just want to help that team win. Winning is the most important thing for me and I know that with what comes with that is those individual accolades and just being able to do that and work for those types of goals is very important to me.

How would you rate your competitiveness?

I would say an 11 out of 10. I’m so competitive when it comes to playing and winning. I never want to lose and if I fall short, I’ll go right back at it. So just bringing that competitiveness and that personality to a team will be big. That’s just something that makes me such a special player.  

How would you describe your personality?

I would say it’s a very joyful but passionate person. Obviously, if you do the right things playing in a competitive game, you can get me fired up. But at the same time, just being a very joyful guy and enjoying the process and embracing it all because this is what I love to do every day. 

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Meet Magic rookie Tristan da Silva, the trumpet-playing March Madness star from Germany

Tristan da Silva is one of the most intriguing players in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 20, 2024.

Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva is a versatile forward whose shooting and basketball IQ will make him a fascinating player in the pros.

He was one of the breakout stars during March Madness, helping to lead his team to multiple victories in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Now, he looks to bring many of those skills he displayed during the Big Dance to the pros.

It wasn’t just a brief hot streak during the postseason that help him elevate his draft stock, though. After averaging 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds with 2.4 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent on 3-pointers, he was named Second-Team All-Pac-12 last season.

Although he isn’t necessarily going to jump out of the gym or blow anyone away with his speed, da Silva elaborated on the beautiful simplicity to his game during a recent interview with For The Win .

“I’m someone who goes out there and gets the job done,” da Silva said. “I have athleticism and I’m much more athletic than people think I am. But it’s just my smooth play style and my shot selection isn’t to try to dunk on people every single play.”

Da Silva also played soccer, which is how he developed a lot of the footwork that he uses on the basketball court.

He added that growing up in Germany, he was inspired by his brother, former Stanford forward Oscar da Silva. He said his father, a former Brazilian pro boxer, was an inspiration for him as well.

“My brother plays in the EuroLeague for Barcelona. He was the reason why I started playing basketball,” da Silva explained. “My dad being the athlete that he is, he lived the lifestyle that you should be living as an athlete. He’s a big part of my habits.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Watch Episode 4 of Prospect Park, a video series featuring future NBA players brought to you by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win:

What should NBA teams know about you?

The consistency aspect is definitely a part of it. I would say definitely my versatility is something that’s kind of unique at my size, being able to play multiple positions and multiple actions from different situations and guarding twos, threes and fours, being able to switch on to guards and stuff like that. The experience that I bring as well. Offensively and defensively, I’ve been playing this game for a long time now.

How do you describe your style of play?

I’m an IQ player. I like to keep it simple as much as possible and get myself going and get other people going through easy baskets, just doing the right thing, making the right plays. Playing multiple positions helps with that because you know the game from different angles. I can create for myself and I can create for others. I’m really just out there playing, making the right reads. I can stretch the floor. My shooting is very appealing to NBA teams. So those are some of the things that are key to my game.

How will your range help you in the NBA?

That’s essential in today’s game, being able to shoot the ball and space the floor. It opens up so much in the game. I’m aware of that. Teams are aware of that. So I feel like that is a huge part of how I can contribute to teams. It’s not the only way, of course, but it definitely helps to get my foot in the door and get out there and contribute. I’ve been working on it. That’s why I brought up the consistency aspect to make sure I’m reliable within the range that we’re working in new with different basketballs and different spacing. 

I’d love to hear more about your passing

I’ve been doing it. As soon as I get to the next level where if you get an open shot, it’s a higher chance of going, that’s going to increase my numbers from an assist standpoint. I’m able to find the open guy. I’m able to find the little advantages and keep those advantages and make the high IQ plays. It’s going to make my life a little easier because I’m going to be playing with people who know how to play and kind of think the same way I think. I feel like this next step is going to give me the opportunity to showcase it even more.

What do you like to do off the court? I’ve heard you speak five languages.

I don’t know about the five languages, to be honest. I do speak German. I do speak English. My Portuguese is just what I know from being raised by my dad and spending summers in Brazil. I also learned French and Spanish in school. I wouldn’t necessary say I’m fluent in either of those two. I did play the trumpet for about seven to eight years. I played in two orchestras. I did a musical. I played in school band. It was really fun. I kind of miss it. I’m probably going to pick that up once I get my own little place set up and all this grind is over. I do the regular stuff everybody else does. I keep myself busy. I’m reading some German thrillers right now. I watch shows obviously. I play a little games to keep my mind off whatever. I don’t listen to much classical music. I like playing classical music. Every now and then, when I crave it or when I want to listen to it, I’ll put it on when I’m feeling artsy. But it’s not part of my playlist.

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Meet Timberwolves rookie Rob Dillingham, Kentucky’s elite scorer ready to shine in the pros

His scoring and playmaking could translate very well to the next level.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 12, 2024.

Kentucky Wildcats star Rob Dillingham is a crafty guard whose scoring and playmaking could translate very well to the next level in the pros.

Dillingham is widely considered one of the top players at his position in this class. After averaging 15.2 points with 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent on 3-pointers as a freshman, the SEC named him Sixth Man of the Year.

Although he is celebrated for his incredible ball-handling and his ability to score off the dribble, during a recent interview with For The Win, the guard said there is plenty more to know about his game.

“I would say an all-around playmaker player who can get my teammates involved and really just do whatever the team needs to win,” Dillingham said. “I feel like if it involves scoring a ball, I can score the ball. If it involves passing the ball, I can pass the ball.”

Dillingham, who has represented Team USA in the FIBA U-16 Americas Championship and played for Donda Academy as well as Overtime Elite, has already had a long journey in his young basketball career.

Through it all, he has kept the same attitude that has gotten him this far.

“I’m just a funny dude. I always joke around with my friends,” Dillingham added. “I can’t help but joke. I laugh all day. I just be in the gym for sure. Outside of basketball, I feel like I try to make people happy because you never know what people go through.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Watch Episode 3 of Prospect Park, a video series featuring future NBA players brought to you by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win:

What should NBA teams know about you?

I’m an all-around dude. I want to see everybody win. I feel like that’s a boost to my thing because if I want to see everybody win, everything feels good for people that want positive things. I feel like I can help my teammates and it gives confidence to my teammates and it makes my teammates like me, so just knowing I can be a leader and also a player that gets guys together.

Is ball-handling your best skill?

I really don’t feel like ball-handling is my best. I feel like change of pace makes my ball-handling looks a little better because I know how to change speeds. But I feel like reading the game is my advantage because I feel like a lot of people don’t really see because I’m moving so fast. I feel like I can really read the game. I see everything that happens on the floor. I know where people are. I know basketball.

How will your shot-making off the dribble help you?

I think honestly it would be a big help for me because getting past your first defender, if you can score with the ball, they have to guard you. If they have to guard the shot, getting past them isn’t really the hard thing about it. So once you’re past them, the defense has to help and once the defense helps, it’s based on what reads you’re going to make. Sometimes, getting to the second thing is just helping me get to the reads. Once I get to the reads, it’s up to me to make the right decisions.

How would you have helped teams in the playoffs?

Really, depending on the role I’m playing. But if I’m in a point guard role, coming off screens is easy because you’ve got to switch it. If you don’t switch, it’s a play where I’m ahead and I have an advantage. If I’m at the two, I feel like I can knock down shots at all times. I have to space the floor and they can’t help as much. Either position, I feel like I can do both and help any team.

How can you help teams defensively?

I feel like I can be a pest at all times. I can always be on the ball and really just knowing the game plan. When I know the game plan, I can do it and if I don’t do it, that’s on me. I’m going to rise to the occasion. Whatever the coach needs me to do to play defense, I can do it. If I don’t do it, you can take me out. I don’t have a problem. I want to get better in that role and I feel like I can, honestly. 

What have you learned on your basketball journey?

Really, it’s just keeping the main thing the main thing: Understanding that it’s going to be so many distractions and so many things that come to you and if you keep basketball the main thing and you really love it with everything you want and that’s what you want, it’s always going to work out for you because that’s your main goal. As long as you put that as your main goal and you don’t have other distractions, God is going to guide your path. That’s how I look at it. 

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Q&A: Raptors rookie Gradey Dick: ‘I just try to be myself in everything that I do. It’s goofy.’

For The Win caught up with Raptors rookie Gradey Dick.

NEW YORK — Toronto Raptors rookie Gradey Dick is one of the most interesting rookies in the league.

The former McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade National Player of the Year (we spoke to him after he won the award) was a standout freshman at Kansas last season, earning Big 12 All-Freshman. The 19-year-old forward was then selected by the Raptors at No. 13 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

While he is known for his sharpshooting off the court, he is also an animal lover who does a shockingly good impression of the Disney character Donald Duck.

He performs dance routines and backflips on his TikTok, he is followed by Drake on Instagram and he has a personality as vibrant as the suit he wore on draft night.

Before the 2023 NBA Draft, For The Win met up with Dick, who shared his thoughts about his transition to the NBA.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Read more of our pre-draft interviews with NBA prospects.

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Q&A: Jazz rookie Keyonte George on rapid improvements: ‘It’s just the beginning, so I’m taking everything in’

For The Win caught up with NBA Summer League standout Keyonte George.

NEW YORK — Keyonte George was arguably the biggest standout from the 2023 NBA Draft at NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

George, a 6-foot-4 guard from Texas who played one collegiate season at Baylor, was named Big-12 Freshman of the Year. Then the Utah Jazz selected him at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

On the court for the Jazz this summer, he averaged remarkable splits. He produced 28.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 2.0 steals per 40 minutes.

Unfortunately, however, George injured his ankle and will not play again while in Las Vegas.

He was also one of the leaders in free-throws attempted and 3-pointers attempted during these games as well. George was frequently able to create his own jump shot off the bounce, sometimes even managing to drop his defender with nifty dribble moves.

This was nothing new for George, via CBB Analytics, who ranked in the 97th percentile for unassisted 3-pointers per 40 minutes among all players in college basketball last season.

But his ability to score as the ball handler in transition and in the pick-and-roll made him project well as the point guard of the future for the Jazz.

What was especially encouraging, per Synergy, is that George recorded as many dunks (3) in NBA 2K24 Summer League as he did during his entire career at Baylor.

Before the 2023 NBA Draft, For The Win met up with George, who shared more details about how his game will translate to the NBA and what he likes to do when he is not on the court.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Read more of our pre-draft interviews with NBA prospects.

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Meet Lakers rookie Maxwell Lewis, the saxophone player turned prototypical NBA wing

Lewis played the saxophone until deciding he wanted to pursue an NBA career.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 8, 2023

Pepperdine sophomore Maxwell Lewis is one of the most intriguing wings in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Lewis averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during his breakout campaign for Pepperdine in 2022-23. Although he didn’t take the most traditional path to the pros, we project he’ll be a first-round pick in our latest 2023 NBA Mock Draft.

As the youngest of five children but the tallest in his family, Lewis always knew that basketball was an option for him. Soon, he can potentially turn it into his career.

“I feel like it was meant for me to play basketball,” Lewis told For The Win during a recent interview. “I had a size 15 shoe in like sixth grade.”

Lewis has spent the offseason training at IMPACT Basketball in Las Vegas with legendary skills trainer Joe Abunassar. Lewis has spent the pre-draft process training alongside several NBA players including Josh Green, Caleb Houstan and Keon Johnson.

The former Pepperdine standout has worked out for several teams with draft picks in the lottery including the Mavericks, Pelicans and Thunder. Some of the other teams with first-round picks that brought Lewis into their facilities include the Hawks, Lakers and Rockets.

Now, he feels ready to take the next step and make his mark in the NBA, and here are five things to know about him.

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Meet Clippers rookie Kobe Brown, who projects as the perfect ‘glue guy’ at the next level

Missouri senior forward Kobe Brown is a fascinating sleeper available in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the NBA Draft and has been updated.

Missouri senior forward Kobe Brown is a fascinating sleeper available in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Brown averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.5 percent on 3-pointers last season. He also added 1.5 steals per game and was named First-Team All-SEC in 2023.

After the season ended, Brown immediately became focused on turning pro.

“I really didn’t take but a day or so off,” Brown told For The Win during a recent interview. “I tried to keep things going because I knew this process was going to be a very crucial part of everything. It’s been really great. A lot of discipline.”

Brown says that the offseason has included “a lot of self-improvement” and training in the months leading up to the draft on June 22. Soon, he will learn where he will begin his professional career.

Although he wasn’t included as a projected first-round pick in our latest consensus mock draft, Brown could outperform his draft position and soon provide tremendous value for whatever team selects him. His highest ranking in any mock draft is No. 35 overall, per HoopsHype.

Until then, here are four of the most important things you need to know about Brown.

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Meet Hornets rookie Nick Smith Jr., who thinks he can be one of the NBA’s top passers someday

For The Win caught up with NBA draft prospect Nick Smith Jr.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the NBA Draft and has been updated.

Although Nick Smith Jr.’s productivity on the basketball court was limited, the 19-year-old Arkansas star who was once the top high school player in the country is ready for the NBA.

Since his days as a one-and-done at Arkansas ended, he’s ramped up the intensity.

“The pre-draft process has been one of the best offseasons I’ve had in a long time,” Smith recently told For The Win. “I’m just working on my game each and every day and getting my body prepared for an 82-game season.”

Smith was a McDonald’s All-American who participated in the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit in 2022. After playing one season of college basketball at Arkansas, he is a projected lottery pick in Thursday’s 2023 NBA Draft.

Here are four things to know about Smith before the draft.

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Meet Mavericks rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who says he is ‘somebody that is electric’

We spoke to Meet Marquette forward and NBA draft prospect Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the NBA Draft and has been updated.

Marquette junior wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper, also known as O-Max, is an intriguing NBA draft prospect originally from Montreal.

Prosper, who measured just short of 6-foot-7 in socks with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, was one of the biggest standouts at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. We have Prosper as a projected top-20 pick in our latest 2023 NBA Mock Draft.

When he meets with NBA teams during the pre-draft process, he told For The Win during a recent video interview that there is one thing that he wants to make clear.

“I want them to know that I’m going to leave everything on the floor to win. I’m a competitor. I’m a hard worker,” explained Prosper, who played a crucial role in leading Marquette to win its first-ever Big East Conference title.

Prosper, who attended the NBA Academy and speaks four languages, knows what he wants to see come next in his journey.

“I feel like my body is ready. I feel like my basketball skills are ready,” Prosper said. “I feel like I’m in the best position to go out there and do my thing.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

RELATED: Why NBA teams looking for the next OG Anunoby should consider drafting Olivier-Maxence Prosper

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