CHICAGO — Player comps are a well-worn way of creating sense of the draft. They create easy-to-digest heuristics for teams and fans to know what and who they’re .
This type of framework goes well beyond online speculation. Finally week’s NBA Draft Mix, probably the most frequent questions these players were asked, they said, was about their NBA comparisons.
It may be an insightful query. It reveals how the players consider themselves and their game, how realistic they might or will not be, and likewise who they consider NBA teams value at this moment in time.
Last week, The Athletic asked a superb variety of draft prospects in regards to the NBA comp they use for themselves after they pitch teams on themselves in the course of the interview process. Their answers are below.
Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis
Comp: Devin Booker
Why: “I like the way in which he scores the ball. He’s a three-level scorer.”
Kentucky guard TyTy Washington
Comp: D’Angelo Russell, Tyrese Maxey and Jamal Murray
Why: Russell for his pace and feel for the sport; Maxey because he keeps his game easy; Murray because he plays off pick-and-rolls.
Milwaukee forward Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Comp: Michael Porter Jr.
Why: “You never wish to put a limit on yourself, initially. But there are some guys that you just watch film, and also you pull from. I do know a preferred name surrounding me is Michael Porter. In order that’s a preferred name around circles. I believe that’s a superb start. But you mostly wish to construct the roof off that and proceed to progress and improve annually.”
G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels
Comp: Tyrese Haliburton on offense, Lonzo Ball or Alex Caruso on defense
Why: “It’s a troublesome one for me because I actually have such a singular game.” Daniels said hopes to turn into a Luka Dončić-type role.
Nebraska guard Bryce McGowens
Comp: Zach LaVine and Devin Booker
Why: “Their ability to get to their spots and rating in any respect three levels. Use their athleticism. They’re just talented players.”
Ohio State wing Malaki Branham
Comp: He watches Caris LeVert and Khris Middleton
Why: Branham cites that they’ve the identical construct and says he’s a three-level scorer, like they’re.
LSU forward Tari Eason
Comp: He uses Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey and Jerami Grant as his comps now, while Kawhi Leonard is his ceiling.
Baylor forward Kendall Brown
Comp: The Scottie Barnes point-forward mold
Why: “Any point forward within the league. Two players. Players like Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. I may be among the finest two-way players in order that’s what I see myself as.”
Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley
Comp: Jordan Poole
Why: “The best way he is available in and does his role.”
G League Ignite wing MarJon Beauchamp
Comp: Mikal Bridges and Matisse Thybulle on defense; he told the Pacers that he sees Paul George as his potential on offense.
Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell
Comp: Parts of P.J. Tucker, Grant Williams, Paul Millsap, and Draymond Green.
Why: Guys like P.J. Tucker, Grant Williams, Paul Millsap, Draymond. I’d take pieces from their game, offensively and defensively. Like Draymond having the ability to pass and the center that each one of those guys bring on the defensive end.”
North Carolina State guard Terquavion Smith
Comp: Tyrese Maxey and Jordan Poole
Why: “They fast and so they shoot the 3-ball well.”
Toledo guard Ryan Rollins
Comp: CJ McCollum, Devin Booker, Jordan Poole
Why: “Combo guards that may create for themselves and others.”
Kansas guard Christian Braun
Comp: Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks.
Why: “The personality that Dillon Brooks brings to the Grizzlies. I’d say that a few of that’s a superb comp from me. He’s a 3-and-D guy willing to protect multiple positions. He’s only a guy with lots of energy, lots of passion and toughness. He’s got a chip on his shoulder that I believe I bring to a team. In order that’s someone that I’d compare myself to and I believe that he does lots of things just like me.”
Auburn center Walker Kessler
Comp: Rudy Gobert on offense, Brook Lopez on defense
Why: “I cover pick-and-roll higher. I move my feet quicker.”
Memphis forward Josh Minott
Comp: A mixture between Mikal Bridges and Derrick Jones Jr.
Why: “Each exceptional defense; another athletic than the opposite. But like Mikal Bridges form of play when it comes to just knowing the proper reads, creating transition and knock down the open 3 and, then not a liability on many switches. Something like that, and I feel like I’m pretty versatile defensively. And weakside, just help defense and in transition-wise, like a Derrick Jones Jr. He might definitively have more athleticism than me. But I say somewhere up there, .”
Arkansas center Jaylin Williams
Comp: Parts of Al Horford, Draymond Green, Bam Adebayo, and Nikola Jokić
Why: “I take advantage of a mixture of players. Al Horford, I feel like is a giant guy that I resemble so much. I wish to say Draymond for his leadership, his defense. I’d wish to say Bam, the way in which he can run the offense. He can run the offense from the highest. I wish to say Jokić simply because he can pass the ball; he can do things like that.”
Fort Erie Prep forward Leonard Miller
Comp: Kevin Durant
Why: “Mostly someone like Kevin Durant. Because he does things on the court that I feel like I could do. I’m striving to be higher and higher day by day and excellent them. You recognize, I can prove so much in those areas and sharpen them.”
UCLA wing Peyton Watson
Comp: Mikal Bridges
Why: “One player I actually have sort of done lots of film study on and a player I feel like I may be like is a Mikal Bridges style of defender. Most definitely I feel like I can fill that role for an NBA team, and I’m just focused on maximizing my talent and being the most effective player I actually may be. Loads of people sort of say I’m considered one of the larger mysteries on this yr’s draft, but I can’t wait to simply get on the market start playing and show what I can do on each ends of the ground.”
Additional time Elite forward Dom Barlow
Comp: Pascal Siakam
Why: “Now we have similar bodies. I believe I actually have a high motor too, sort of like him. I attempted to affect the sport in alternative ways. And we sort of moved the identical, like body type clever and sort of move very similar. So definitely excited to select his brain.”
Florida State forward John Butler Jr.
Comp: Cam Johnson, Chris Boucher, Jonathan Isaac
Why: “I actually love how those players have made an impact early on and just found a task.”
G League Ignite forward Michael Foster Jr.
Comp: Bobby Portis, P.J. Tucker
Why: “The area of interest I like to select is sort of a Bobby Portis, P.J. Tucker roles. Stuff like that — only a 3-and-D guy. Because I understand the rookie rolls. They don’t need me to exit and rating. They need me to be aggressive, attack the rebounds offensively and defensively. Just bring the energy and be a presence.”
Wake Forest guard Alondes Williams
Comp: Jrue Holiday, but he watched lots of LeBron James growing up and modeled his game after James.
Why: “I’m a pass-first style of guard and I’m a much bigger guard… I wish to pass the ball first and rating at will each time I would like to. That’s what he all the time did so I checked out that.”
Rutgers wing Ron Harper Jr.
Comp: P.J. Tucker
Why: “I take advantage of P.J. Tucker. Specifically him because he just impacts winning in such a drastic way. Each time someone talks about P.J. Tucker it’s ‘Oh, that guy’s a winner. He contributes to winning.’ And I sort of want people to say the identical thing about me. People will say that I’m a winner. I contribute to winning. I slot in any role. Any role you would like me to play I’m gonna go on the market and do it. I just wish to win.”
Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard
Comp: Tyus Jones
Why: “I believe that’s someone I can emulate early in my profession off the bench as a secondary point guard. He just wins games. Has a high assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s solid.”
Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden
Comp: Mikal Bridges
Why: “(He) could just utilize his versatility each on the defensive end and on the offensive end. Just using his length. I’m someone who uses my length and my angles simply to affect the sport, whether it’s defensively getting after smaller guards or having the ability to activate within the modern-day NBA, guarding four-men, guarding greater threes. Offensively, keeping the sport easy. Whether it’s just laying the ball up either quick offensive rebounds, putbacks, catches, shoot 3s, playing off close outs and just, , keeping the sport real easy like Mikal Bridges does.”
Louisiana Tech forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Comp: Nikola Jokić
Why: “Although I say I’m a unique person, because some people have one or two things which are limited, and I feel like I actually have an entire book of things that I can pull out and show NBA teams… Now we have an analogous game. Can shoot, can dribble, can post up, just about do all the things that I do. I feel like I actually have a bit of bit more bounce than Jokić, but , I feel like we play similar.”
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(Photo of MarJon Beauchamp, Jaden Hardy and Dyson Daniels: Emilee Chinn / NBAE via Getty Images)
