Grading the 2025 NBA Draft

The 2025 NBA draft came and went in a whirlwind. We barely had time to take a deep breath after the Finals ended before the big night was upon us. Now, the dust has settled and we can evaluate all the picks. Here are my initial grades and thoughts on how each team did. 

Atlanta Hawks

Draftee: Asa Newell (23rd)

Newell was mocked as a lottery pick for a large part of the draft cycle, but his stock slipped in the last two months. He’s not as concrete of a product as other bigs in the class, but he looks the part of a pro with his 6’10” frame. The Georgia product will bring hustle, defensive versatility, and stretch big upside to Atlanta, but it might be a while before he sees real playing time after the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Perhaps he’ll be able to follow the Jalen Johnson developmental track. 

Grade: B-

Boston Celtics

Draftees: Hugo Gonzalez (28th), Amari Williams (46th), Max Shulga (57th)

Boston is on the precipice of a major retooling season. The Porzingis and Holiday trades made that clear, but drafting Hugo Gonzalez truly cemented it. Gonzalez is a toolsy project pick who will need patience and reps for his potential to be actualized. However, even if the Celtics afford him those things, he still may completely flame out due to his lack of a true NBA skill.

Amari Williams and Max Shulga feel like classic Celtic role players. Williams is a rugged big man with high IQ and Shulga is an efficient movement shooter with playmaking chops. As the team searches for a new rotation next season, one of their two second-rounders may sneak in there. 

Grade: C+

Brooklyn Nets

Draftees: Egor Demin (8th), Nolan Traore (19th), Drake Powell (22nd), Ben Saraf (26th), Danny Wolf (27th)

This is definitely the wildest draft class an individual team has brought in this decade. Brooklyn had five first rounders and used every single one of them. No trade-up, no consolidation, no nothing. Even crazier is the fact that each member of the new Nets quintet is a project pick, making the haul both incredibly exciting and terrifying. 

My preferred swing from this group is actually Ben Saraf, but it’s tough to picture any of the three guards really succeeding when they’re all lead ball handlers with streaky jumpshots. Egor Demin may end up looking like 2023-24 Josh Giddey out there if he’s forced to spot up next to Traore and Saraf. Traore might be a worse version of Killian Hayes. It’s not that these guys are bad prospects on their own, it’s just putting them all together on one team is a recipe for complete unpredictability. 

That said, the Nets have essentially zero real core pieces and their roster is about as wide-open as it gets. Throwing a bunch of darts at the board and seeing what sticks is the right move for this franchise, although they probably should have aimed in a couple different places. 

Grade: B-

Charlotte Hornets

Draftees: Kon Knueppel (4th), Liam McNeeley (29th), Sion James (33rd), Ryan Kalkbrenner (34th)

The Hornets have been painfully mediocre for too long. This draft class could change that. All four guys have the type of complementary play styles that help win games. Kon Knueppel isn’t the typical upside swing you see in the top five, but he’s a 19-year-old with remarkable IQ and a stunning three-point stroke who can be a calming complement to the wildness of LaMelo Ball. James (Knueppel’s Duke teammate) and Kalkbrenner are two really solid role player bets. Kalkbrenner especially seems likely to succeed; the second round has been a treasure trove of frontcourt value in recent years and the four-time Big East DPOY checks a lot of boxes. 

Grade: A-

Chicago Bulls

Draftees: Noa Essengue (12th), Lachlan Olbrich (55th)

No team on draft night took a bigger upside swing than the Bulls did with Noa Essengue. The Frenchman has all the parts required to build a star (youth, insane positional size, tantalizing defensive potential, willingness to shoot, etc), but I’m not sure if I trust Chicago to piece them together the right way. But, if Essengue does pan out, the team will have a formidable forward tandem for the future with him and Matas Buzelis. 

Lachlan Olbrich is a fun play finisher with quality scoring touch and feel for the game at the center spot. He should be a nice fit in Chicago’s uptempo scheme if he sees the floor. 

Grade: C+

Cleveland Cavaliers

Draftees: Tyrese Proctor (49th), Saliou Niang (58th)

This is a respectable late-draft haul for Cleveland. Proctor used to be considered a first-round-level prospect, and his secondary scoring and playmaking skills could make him a replacement for Ty Jerome if the 2025 6MOY candidate leaves in free agency. Saliou Niang is a super exciting athlete, but it feels like he’ll probably be stashed for now. 

Grade: B-

Dallas Mavericks

Draftee: Cooper Flagg (1st)

Not much needs to be said here. Nico Harrison got bailed out, and the Mavericks now have a kid who could become the face of their franchise one day in Cooper Flagg. 

Grade: A+

Detroit Pistons

Draftee: Chaz Lanier (37th)

The Pistons did well for themselves here by nabbing one of college basketball’s elite shooters early in the second. Lanier is a flat-out flamethrower. Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. showed us last season how valuable having shooting next to Cade Cunningham is, and now Detroit has another sniper in their arsenal. 

Grade: B

Golden State Warriors

Draftees: Alex Toohey (52nd), Will Richard (56th)

These weren’t exciting picks, but the Warriors got two guys who have a shot at fitting in their system. Toohey is a strong shooting forward from down under and Richard is a versatile off-guard who just won a championship at Florida. We saw Steve Kerr extract value from end-of-bench guys like Gui Santos and Pat Spencer last season, and maybe he can do the same with Toohey and Richard. Still, there were probably better options available for the Dubs here, even though they picked in the 50s. 

Grade: C+

Indiana Pacers

Draftees: Kam Jones (38th), Taelon Peter (54th)

The Pacers have a type. They like quick decision makers who can play in the open floor and knock down triples. Kam Jones and Taelon Peter both fit that bill. Jones is a crafty combo guard out of Marquette who can take on some ball handling responsibility from day one with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss the 2025-26 season. Peter was one of the more unknown names in the class, but he might be a picture-perfect Pacer. The 6’5” guard from Liberty is a good athlete and he led the entire nation in true shooting percentage (72.4%) as a senior. 

Grade: A-

Los Angeles Clippers

Draftees: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th), Kobe Sanders (50th)

Many mocks predicted the Clippers bringing in a backup center, and that’s exactly what they did. Yanic Konan Niederhauser will be a phenomenal fit next to James Harden as a rim-running lob threat and excellent shot blocker. He may end up being one the more impactful rookies next season. Kobe Sanders is a point forward who has the dribble-pass-shoot skillset teams covet, but he’ll probably be buried in the depth chart in year one. 

Grade: B+

Los Angeles Lakers

Draftee: Adou Thiero (36th)

Los Angeles smartly moved up on Thursday night to snag one of the top-rated prospects on the board in the second round. Adou Thiero must have been made in the same lab as the Thompson twins, as he’s an insane functional athlete with a nonstop motor. He’ll be able to run the floor in transition with LeBron and Luka and cover up some of their flaws on the defensive end. Thiero isn’t a beautiful fit in Los Angeles (he can’t really shoot), but this was a really nice value grab regardless. 

Grade: B

Memphis Grizzlies

Draftees: Cedric Coward (11th), Javon Small (48th), Jahmai Mashack (59th)

The Grizzlies traded up to grab Cedric Coward, so he’s clearly their guy and I love the fit. In fact, I mocked him going to Memphis at 16 prior to the draft. Coward is a knockdown shooter on the wing with an impressive frame. In many ways, he’s Desmond Bane-esque. However, I don’t think he’s the safe prospect everyone thinks he is. He only played six games at Washington State last season, and before that he was playing at Eastern Washington, a small school. We haven’t seen this guy against a lot of real professional talent. His intrigue is drawn from mystique more than anything. For that reason, I feel giving up an additional first round pick and two seconds to move up and grab him at 11 was excessive. 

Memphis’ second-rounders will fit their gritty culture exceptionally. Javon Small is a downhill guard who plays bigger than his 6’2” height, and Jahmai Maschak is one of the better backcourt defenders in the class. 

Grade: B

Miami Heat 

Draftee: Kasparas Jakucionis (20th)

This may end up being the biggest steal of the draft. A nearly-conensus lottery pick, Jakucionis somehow slipped all the way down to 20 and ended up with one of the best player development staffs in the league. The Illinois product is the lead guard the Heat need and could look like a star for the team in three years. Great pick from Miami. 

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks

Draftee: Bogoljub Markovič (47th)

Markovič is one of the most intriguing international players in this draft. He’s a product of Mega Basket, a Serbian club that has produced a number of successful NBA players, including Nikola Jokic. The lanky big man has fantastic feel for the game, a crisp shooting stroke, and no shortage of confidence. The issue is that Markovič is way behind the curve right now in terms of strength, which is why it’s rumored that he may be stashed in Europe next season. If that’s the case, this was a wasted pick, regardless of how awesome Markovič is. The Bucks need guys who can help the team right now. 

Grade: B (D if Markovic gets stashed)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Draftees: Joan Beringer (17th), Rocco Zikarsky (45th)

Minnesota is clearly preparing for the end of the Rudy Gobert era (whenever that will be), as they brought in two defensive-minded giants in Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky. Both guys are really raw right now, which won’t help the Wolves continue to compete in the short term, but all it will take is one of the two to pop in the future for this to look like a smart draft for the team. 

Grade: B-

New Orleans Pelicans

Draftees: Jeremiah Fears (7th), Derik Queen (13th), Micah Peavy (40th)

Brooklyn had the wildest draft of any team, but New Orleans’ decisions were the most confusing. They recently traded for a youngish star guard in Jordan Poole, and they already had Dejounte Murray, and yet they brought in a 18-year-old project guard who can’t effectively play off the ball right now with the 7th pick. They also traded their 2026 first round pick, despite the odds being stacked against them to make the playoffs next year, and in return they got a raw jumbo power forward who might fit awfully next to Zion Williamson. 

Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are both fun high-upside prospects, and this grade doesn’t reflect them as players. Instead, it reflects the fact that they should be on rebuilding teams, not a directionless Pelicans franchise who has big money wrapped up in a core that isn’t good enough to legitimately compete. 

Grade: C

New York Knicks

Draftee: Mohamed Diawara (51st)

In Diawara, the Knicks are getting an unrefined athletic forward with intruiging defensive potential. He may be a stash guy, but if he can come over to the NBA right away,  he could help New York restore the defensive identity they lost last season. However, the team could have really used a shooter, and Diawara is not that. 

Grade: C

Oklahoma City Thunder

Draftees: Thomas Sorber (15th), Brooks Barnhizer (44th)

With extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams looming, the Thunder won’t be able to pay Isaiah Hartenstein the big bucks forever. Luckily, they found his long-term replacement with the 15th pick. Sorber plays extremely hard and has some of the highest defensive upside in the class. He has some feel and finesse to his game, too. Even if Sorber ends up being a career backup for OKC, he’ll probably be a very good one.

Brooks Barnhizer was widely projected to go undrated, but he has the makings of a successful NBA role player, as long as he can find consistency from beyond the arc. Luckily, the Thunder have a renowned shooting coach in Chip Engelland. 

Grade: B

Orlando Magic

Draftees: Jase Richardson (25th), Noah Penda (32nd)

Orlando continues to make smart moves and they keep ascending because of it. Jase Richardson may be small, but he’s a superb shooter and decision maker who can play on and off the ball. Noah Penda is a burly and versatile defensive stopper who fits the mold of player Orlando likes. Both of these guys compete and know their roles, making them ideal picks for an up-and-coming playoff team. 

Grade: B+

Philadelphia 76ers

Draftees: VJ Edgecombe (3rd), Johni Broome (35th)

The Sixers have quietly assembled an exciting young core. Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Justin Edwards, and Adem Bona are now being joined by electric athlete and potential two-way star VJ Edgecombe. The former Baylor Bear has so many impressive traits and Philly will be able to mold him into whatever type of player they’d like him to be. Issues may arise when trying to fit him in a backcourt rotation with Maxey and McCain, but that’s the only nit to be picked here. 

Johni Broome was one of college basketball’s best players last year. He’s a winner and a junkyard dog and will be ready for some backup five minutes as a rookie if they’re available for him. 

Grade: A-

Phoenix Suns

Draftees: Khaman Maluach (10th), Rasheer Fleming (31st), Koby Brea (41st)

Phoenix is clearly committed to revamping their roster and heading in a positive direction after trading Kevin Durant. They made a number of smart moves on draft night, headlined by the selection of Khaman Maluach at 10, who can be their center of the future. Rasheer Fleming was a projected first-round lock and may end up looking like a huge steal. He and Ryan Dunn will terrify offensive players on the wing. Koby Brea is an all-world shooter who could replace Grayson Allen should he get traded. Importantly, everything the Suns are doing is helping them save money and move below the imposing second apron. 

In addition to their draft selections, Phoenix traded for Mark Williams, which isn’t included in this grade but was a good move. He’s better than any big man they’ve had since Deandre Ayton was traded and he’s still young. 

Grade: A

Portland Trail Blazers

Draftee: Hansen Yang (16th)

The single most surprising pick of the night was Hansen Yang going to Portland just outside the lottery. Like Noa Essengue, Yang is an ultimate lottery ticket with both a tremendous ceiling and a significant chance of failure. I’d honestly love the swing if they didn’t already have Donovan Clingan and Deandre Ayton on the roster, as Yang probably won’t get a ton of developmental minutes early on. This pick gets a slightly above average grade for now, but that will likely change dramatically for better or worse in the future. 

Grade: C+

Sacramento Kings

Draftees: Nique Clifford (24th), Maxime Raynaud (42nd)

Sacramento probably shouldn’t want to compete, but they do, and that goal heavily influenced these selections. Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud are both plug-and-play older prospects with versatile skillsets. You can’t fault the Kings for targeting good basketball players, but trying to build a young core with higher upside guys probably would have been better. 

Grade: B-

San Antonio Spurs

Draftees: Dylan Harper (2nd), Carter Bryant (14th) 

The Spurs just keep on absolutely killing it in the team-building deparment. They didn’t overthink their pick at two and brought in a future stud in Dylan Harper. The Rutgers phenom will absolutely be able to share the court with Stephon Castle or De’Aaron Fox, and he could be Wemby’s star running mate for the long haul. At 14, they grabbed one of the class’ premier 3&D guys in Carter Bryant, who fits the winning brand of the the Silver in Black. In three year’s time, this team will probably be running the league. 

Grade: A+

Toronto Raptors

Draftees: Collin Murray-Boyles (9th), Alijah Martin (39th)

This draft was so bad it got Masai Ujiri fired. 

Ok, in all seriousness, that’s definitely not the reason, but I don’t like this pick. It’s almost too on brand for Toronto. Collin Murray-Boyles in a vacuum was a lottery-tier player with his elite defensive versatility and bully mentality, but I don’t see how this can be the pick when they have an overload at forward already. Scottie Barnes isn’t a good enough shooter to have Murray-Boyles (a non-shooter) next to him for big minutes, especially when their center (Jakob Poeltl) doesn’t space the floor at all. Getting a real center instead, like Maluach, would have made much more sense. 

Like with the Pelicans, this grade is bad because of the team context, not because of the player himself. 

Grade: C

Utah Jazz

Draftees: Ace Bailey (5th), Walter Clayton Jr. (18th), John Tonje (53rd)

All the weird drama aside, Ace Bailey was the right choice for Utah at five. They need a blue chip prospect to complete their core and the Rutgers wing has the chance to be just that. If Bailey becomes the player he says he can be, the Jazz will have their long-term star. 

Clayton and Tonje are pro-ready complementary pieces who will help Utah improve their outside shooting. The team ranked 22nd in the league in three-point percentage last season. 

Grade: B+

Washington Wizards

Draftees: Tre Johnson (6th), Will Riley (21st), Jamir Watkins (43rd)

Like the Jazz, the Wizards have assembled a really cool and well-rounded young core, but they still need a lead scorer/number one option. Tre Johnson is the best pure bucket getter in this draft— he averaged nearly 20 points as a freshman guard in the SEC. With the guidance of Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum, the sky is the limit for this kid. 

Will Riley is a 6’8” microwave scorer, but he’s less polished than Johnson. He’ll benefit greatly from the vets on the team. Jamir Watkins will fit like a glove in Washington’s growing defensive identity. 

Grade: B+

Thoughts on the Jrue Holiday & Jordan Poole Trades

The NBA offseason started two days ago, and four star guards are already in new garments (as are Kevin Durant, Desmond Bane, and Kristaps Porzingis). This has been a chaotic summer and it’s only just begun!

Here are my immediate thoughts on the Jrue Holiday and Jordan Poole trades, which I think were the most unexpected of the five that have gone down so far:

Trade #1

Boston Celtics receive: Anfernee Simons & two future second-round picks

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday

The writing was on the wall for Boston to make cost-cutting moves this summer, but this specific trade came all the way from left field. If he got traded, it felt like Jrue Holiday would end up with a playoff team, but instead he’s heading to Portland for the second time in two years. That’s right— in case you forgot, Holiday was part of the Damian Lillard trade in 2023 but was flipped to Beantown not long after. This time, though, it seems like he’ll be staying in Rip City (although there have been reports saying he’s pretty unhappy with being sent there).  

The Blazers walk away from this deal as big-time winners in the short term. Holiday is pretty much the picture-perfect vet for this team. Unlike Simons, he isn’t a high-volume scorer, so more on-ball reps will be available for Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and others in the backcourt. This may be a sign that they’re targeting Jeremiah Fears, Kasparas Jakucionis, or another guard in the lottery. Defensively, Portland has built a really solid foundation with Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Deni Avdija, and Matisse Thybulle. With a six-time All-Defensive honoree now in the fold, this might be a top-ten defense next season. All in all, the Blazers are going to be a serious sleeper moving forward. They have an awesome young core and some quality vets too. Don’t sleep on them. 

Boston, on the other hand, is in for a not-so-encouraging 2025-26 campaign. Jayson Tatum’s injury seriously mucked up their plans. The Kristaps Porzingis trade confirmed they’re going all in on a retool. In an ideal world, they probably would have loved to keep Holiday, but at least Anfernee Simons isn’t a bad consolation. The Florida native was once said to be Dame’s heir apparent, and while he hasn’t fulfilled that prophecy, he’s still one of the more underrated combo guards in basketball. He confidently drills threes of all kinds on a high volume, so he’ll be a smooth fit in Joe Mazzulla’s modern attack. Simons isn’t a standout playmaker, but he’s an unselfish decision maker with some lead guard chops. Overall, he’ll compliment Derrick White nicely in the backcourt and will help make up for Tatum’s absence in the scoring department. 

Boston’s 2025-26 backcourt: White, Simons, and Pritchard

The only weird part of this deal for Portland is that they gave up two picks to take on an undesirable contract. Holiday’s on-court and locker room contributions should make it worth it, but still, curious business. For Boston, the main question mark is Simons’ contract, which expires at the end of next year. Will he become part of their core, or is this a rental? 

Trade #2 

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, 40th overall pick in Wednesday’s draft

Washington Wizards receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, future second round pick

This deal looks like a random, confusing, nothingburger until you see the financial aspect of it. CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, and more are all on expiring contracts for the 2025-26 season (whereas Poole has two full years left), meaning next summer the Wizards are projected to have around $100 million coming off of their books. That sort of financial flexibility is a positive no matter what way you spin it. They’ll be able to facilitate other trades in exchange for draft picks, extend any and all of their young guys, and maybe even lure in a notable free agent or two. Money talks, and the Wizards heard it whispering in their ear when they called this one in. In the upcoming season, McCollum and Olynyk can be leaders in the young Washington locker room while also being dangled as trade chips. 

While New Orleans isn’t getting the same sort of cap relief, they are getting younger and at least marginally better on the court here. Poole is a McCollum disciple in some ways with his crafty microwave scoring, and the two produced very similarly this past season. Saddiq Bey didn’t play at all in 2024-25 due to an ACL tear, but he’s a career 14.1 point-per-game scorer who can space the floor next to Zion Williamson. The Pelicans still don’t have a clear direction, but turning a 33-year-old and a 34-year-old into two 26-year-olds that are also good players right now is smart no matter which organizational path they choose moving forward.

Overall, the only “loser” here, at least on first glance, is Boston. Simons is a good get, but being forced to break up a championship core this soon is quite unfortunate. Otherwise, Portland, New Orleans, and Washington all did pretty well for themselves.

What do you think about these two trades, and the others that happened recently? Let me know in the comments or on X— my handle is @finleykuehl. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Big Facts: Why Centers Are the Most Undervalued Position in the NBA Draft

NBA teams are drafting centers too low. There are always a couple prominent big men picked early, but in the last five years we’ve seen dozens of non-lottery centers outperforming their expectations and rewarding teams with valuable contributions in their rookie seasons and beyond. Let’s look at the facts about non-lottery centers drafted in the 2020s that prove centers need to be higher on draft boards. 

The Sample

In the last five drafts (2020-2024), 42 centers were selected outside of the lottery. Five of them were draft-and-stash picks who haven’t yet joined an NBA roster. One of them, 2024 draftee DaRon Holmes, missed his entire rookie year with injury. That leaves 36 non-lottery centers drafted in the last five years who have played in the league. Thirteen were non-lottery first round picks and 23 were second rounders. 

Centers Contribute as Rookies 

Kel’el Ware, 15th pick of the 2024 draft

More often than not, rookie centers that have entered the league in the last five years have been trusted to at least soak up some regular season minutes—and several have made an even bigger immediate impact.

  • Half (18/36) of the non-lottery centers drafted in the last five years played in 40 or more games as rookies
  • Nine played in 60+ games
  • 28 of them played in at least 20 games
  • Twenty-two centers from that 36-player sample logged 10+ minutes per game as rookies, and seven played 20+ MPG

The eight centers drafted outside the lottery in the 2024 draft class turned out to be especially deep. 

  • Six of the eight played over 15 minutes per game this past season (DaRon Holmes played zero minutes as he missed the entire season with injury)
  • Two of them, Kel’el Ware (15th overall pick) and Yves Missi (21st), were full-time starters by the end of the season
  • Quinten Post (52nd) became a regular member of Golden State’s regular season and playoff rotations
  • Ariel Hukporti (58th), the only healthy one of the bunch to not reach 15+ MPG, played 8.7 minutes per game for the Knicks and started one contest. He earned a standard contract in the middle of the season before a torn Achilles ended his season prematurely

Several other non-lottery centers outside of the ‘24 class played big roles as rookies in the last five years. Walker Kessler (22nd overall pick in 2022) played 74 games (40 starts) as a rookie and ended up placing third in Rookie of the Year. Jaylin Williams (34th, 2022) played 18.7 minutes per game in 49 appearances (36 starts). He was a starter in OKC’s two play-in games in his first year. Trayce Jackson-Davis (57th, 2023) was a key member of Golden State’s rotation, averaging 16.6 minutes in 68 appearances. Isaiah Jackson and Day’Ron Sharpe (22nd & 29th, 2021) only logged 36 and 32 games respectively, but both played major rotation roles when their teams faced injuries. Jackson started 15 of his 36 games played.

Fourteen non-lottery rookie centers in the last five years did average fewer than 10 minutes per game: Ariel Hukporti (2024 draft), Moussa Diabate (2022), Kai Jones (2021), Neemias Queta (2021), Filip Petrusev (2021), Charles Bassey (2021), Sandro Mamukelashvili (2021), Zeke Nnaji (2020), Udoka Azubuike (2020), Vernon Carey Jr. (2020), Daniel Oturu (2020), Nick Richards (2020), Marko Simonovic (2020), and Paul Reed (2020). However, nine of them are still in the NBA. Even when they don’t make a splash as rookies, their play and presence are keeping them around and providing the teams that drafted them a ton of value.

Centers Have Staying Power

Nick Richards, 42nd pick of the 2020 draft

Non-lottery centers drafted in the past five years are sticking around in the league for several seasons, and they aren’t just hanging around on the margins—they’re advancing into bigger roles over time. The high likelihood that centers play several years after being drafted gives us an idea of why they so often outperform their draft slots. 

  • Twenty-nine of the 36 centers drafted outside of the lottery in the last five years are still in the NBA (30 if you count DaRon Holmes)
  • Five 2020 draftees, including Isaiah Stewart, Precious Achiuwa, and Nick Richards, have already built five year careers and are set to stick around for longer. Younger guys, like members of the 2024 draft class, are primed to reach that milestone too based on how they’ve performed early in their careers
  • Alperen Sengun, the 16th pick in 2021, has blossomed into an All-Star
  • Five other centers from our sample are currently starters (Nick Richards, Walker Kessler, Mark Williams, Kel’el Ware, and Yves Missi)
  • Only one non-lottery center who was drafted in the last five years and is still in the league is a fringe player (Christian Koloko, who is on a two-way contract). The rest have fit snugly into a bench role of some capacity
  • Neemias Queta, Paul Reed, Luka Garza, and other reserve centers may not stand out as big impact players, but they’ve all contributed enough to hang around for several years and counting

Centers Outperform Their Draft Position

Jericho Sims, 58th pick of the 2021 draft

Keeping a roster spot and playing minutes are two things that show a player is valued, but they don’t exactly paint a guy’s on-court impact. Win shares, sourced from Basketball Reference, show how centers frequently outperform their draft positions with their on-court contributions. This fact directly implies that centers are being drafted too low relative to their return value. 

  • Twenty-three of the 29 sample centers who are still in the NBA are top 30 in their respective draft classes in win shares. Eight are in the top ten
  • Only one is 40th or lower (Ariel Hukporti is 40th in the 2024 class)
  • Alperen Sengun was drafted 16th overall and is second in the ‘21 class in win shares. Kel’el Ware was the 15th overall pick and is second in win shares in the ‘24 class

Here are all the players from our sample who have outperformed their original draft position based on win shares:

PlayerDraft position (year)Win share rankThe Diff
Alperen Sengun16 (2021)2+14
Kel’el Ware15 (2024)2+13
Walker Kessler22 (2022)3+19
Yves Missi21 (2024)4+17
Trayce Jackson-Davis57 (2023)5+52
Kyle Filipowski32 (2024)8+24
Mark Williams15 (2022)9+6
Adem Bona41 (2024)9+32
Isaiah Stewart16 (2020)11+5
Jaylin Williams34 (2022)12+22
Quinten Post52 (2024)14+38
Oso Ighodaro40 (2024)15+25
Day’Ron Sharpe29 (2021)17+12
Nick Richards42 (2020)17+25
Isaiah Jackson22 (2021)19+3
Jericho Sims58 (2021)21+37
Paul Reed58 (2020)22+36
Moussa Diabate43 (2022)24+19
Christian Koloko33 (2022)26+7
Neemias Queta39 (2021)26+13
Sandro Mamukelashvili54 (2021)27+27
Charles Bassey53 (2021)30+23
Tristan Vukcevic42 (2023)31+11
Luka Garza52 (2021)31+21
Karlo Matkovic 52 (2022)35+17
Ariel Hukporti58 (2024)40+18

Centers > Guards

Jalen Hood-Schifino, 17th pick of the 2023 draft

While the facts we’ve discussed are impressive at face value, they can’t truly be used to prove that centers are undervalued unless they’re compared to those of a different position. All of the data for this study was also collected for guards, and there are some key differences between the two positions that show centers tend to be more valuable. 

Non-lottery centers have had more staying power than non-lottery guards in recent years. 

  • Sixty-five guards drafted outside of the lottery in the past five drafts have appeared in at least one NBA game
  • Forty-seven of them, or 72.3%, are still in the league today, meaning 27.7% (18) are no longer on a roster
  • Meanwhile, 80.5% (29) of our sample centers are still in the league and 19.4% (7) are not
  • On top of that, 14.2% (1/7) of sample centers no longer in the NBA played only one season, but 44.4% (8/18) of sample guards fit the same criteria

According to win shares, non-lottery centers are much more likely than non-lottery guards to outperform their draft slots. In fact, many more guards have actually underperformed their draft slot.

  • Of the 47 sample guards still in the league, 48.9% (23) of them are top thirty in their respective draft classes in win shares. Ten point six percent (5) are in the top ten
  • Meanwhile, 79.3% (23) of sample centers still in the league are top thirty in their classes in win shares, and 27.6% (8) are in the top ten
  • Only one (3.4%) sample center still in the league is currently outside of the top 40, but 16 (34.0%) sample guards fall in that range

Here are all the sample guards who have not only fallen short of their draft slot according to win shares but also rank outside of the top thirty in their classes: 

GuardDraft position (year)Win share rankThe Diff
Nick Smith Jr. 27 (2023)55-28
Keon Johnson21 (2021)55-34
Jalen Hood-Schifino17 (2023)54-37
Isaiah Collier29 (2024)52-23
Blake Wesley25 (2022)52-27
KJ Simpson42 (2024)51-9
TyTy Washington Jr.29 (2022)51-22
AJ Johnson23 (2024)50-27
Malaki Branham20 (2022)49-29
Kobe Bufkin15 (2023)47-32
Josh Christopher24 (2021)43-19
Jaden Springer28 (2021)40-12
Jaden Hardy37 (2022)39-2
Tre Mann18 (2021)38-20
Keyonte George16 (2023)34-18

For reference, only one sample center fits that criteria— Kai Jones. Yes, some of the guards on the table are probably better than their win share ranking suggests (George, Mann, Collier), but still, the evidence makes it overwhelmingly clear that non-lottery centers simply produce more value than non-lottery guards. 

Conclusion

Here’s a recap of the main information we’ve covered:

  • Non-lottery centers play roles as rookies at a high rate
  • Non-lottery centers have strong staying power and are more likely to stick in the league than guards
  • Non-lottery centers who won’t stick can be identified early if they aren’t playing real minutes as rookies
  • Non-lottery centers often outperform their original draft positions and are very likely to at least return first round value, according to win shares
  • Non-lottery guards are much more likely than centers to fall below their original draft positions and outside of the top thirty in their classes, according to win shares 

The bottom line is that non-lottery centers tend to provide more value than what’s expected of them. The facts prove that centers are being undervalued on draft night. They’re being drafted way too low. Teams searching for value outside of the lottery should be giving big men more attention, because odds are they will benefit greatly from doing so. 

Appendix: Undrafted Centers

Trey Jemison, undrafted in 2023

While the findings in this article apply most strongly to drafted centers, the undrafted market has produced some notable overperformers as well. For example, Dominick Barlow, who went undrafted in 2022, would rank 26th in his class in win shares had he been drafted. Oscar Tshiebwe (2023) and Trey Jemison (2023) would also rank 26th in their class. Branden Carlson, a 2024-25 rookie, is currently 21st in the 2024 class in win shares. All of those guys are still in the league playing some sort of role, as are Jay Huff, Jock Landale, Duop Reath, Colin Castleton, and others. Even some guys who are no longer on rosters, such as Omer Yurtseven, Orlando Robinson, and Olivier Sarr, were able to hang around for a few seasons despite going undrafted. Robinson would rank 25th in win shares in the 2022 class. 

Appendix: 2025 Draft

Yanic Konan Niederhauser

With all of the information from this article in mind, the 2025 draft should be approached with centers as a higher priority. There are a number of big man prospects in this year’s class who aren’t getting talked about much but have the makings of future overperformers, including Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Dylan Cardwell, Hansen Yang, Vladislav Goldin, and Lachlan Olbrich.

None of those guys are currently projected to go anywhere higher than the second round. However, their archetypes match those of the centers from our sample that proved to be much more valuable than their original draft position. Keep an eye on Niederhauser, Cardwell, Goldin, Yang, and others with draft night on the horizon.

2025 Bench Mob Blog NBA Mock Draft

Bench Mob Blog draft coverage is back! With the big night coming up fast, there’s no better time than now for a good ol’ mock draft. I put together a full two-round mock based solely on what I would do, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this year’s prospects. 

A final version of my big board will be released on my X account @finleykuehl sometime in the week before the draft, but I’ll share a bit about it here. I currently have 71 prospects ranked as draftable, but 57 of my top 59 were selected here in this mock. There’s some solid depth in this class but I feel pretty good about the guys I have within my top sixty.

Alright, let’s get started!

  1. Dallas Mavericks: Copper Flagg (Forward, Duke)

This is a no-brainer pick. On lottery night, everyone knew whoever came out on top would be capturing the Flagg. Duke’s freshman phenom has the highest floor in the draft with his advanced physicality and ability to dominate defensively. His two-way potential is off the charts. Flagg is built for the moment and ready for the responsibility of being the number one pick. I will say, though, I think his ceiling is being slightly overhyped. People have been questioning if he’s a better prospect than Wemby. Like, what? Talk about being a prisoner of the moment. Still, if all goes right, Flagg could restore peace and justice in Dallas after the Luka catastrophe. 

  1. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (Guard, Rutgers)

Questions about Harper’s fit with the Spurs are gaining traction, but they would be silly to pass up on the clear second-best guy in this class. Harper’s sensational downhill scoring acumen and offensive engine potential would make him the best star bet on the team outside of Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio is still figuring out what their long-term core next to Wemby will be, and they don’t need to rush to form a well-oiled competitive lineup quite yet. Yes, a backcourt room of De’Aaron Fox, Harper, and Stephon Castle sounds a little clunky. However, I’m not sold enough on Castle as a future star to say he’s good enough to force San Antonio to go another direction here. Plus, Fox mainly feels like a bridge guy. 

  1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey (Forward, Rutgers)

Philly has their guys in the backcourt in Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. They also have their man in the middle, of course, in Joel Embiid (if he’s healthy, that is). Adding a dynamic scoring threat on the wing in Ace Bailey on top of that just sounds unfair. Yes, Bailey has a lot to work on, but playing with Maxey and Embiid, two established stars, would really simplify the game for him and therefore make him better. The Rutgers freshman could be a cornerstone for the 76ers both in the short term and in the future when the Embiid era eventually comes to a close. 

  1. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Guard, Baylor)

LaMelo Ball and the young Hornets are at their best when they’re getting out in transition and playing fast and free. VJ Edgecombe would be a perfect fit in that style with his incredible athletic tools. Between his blurring quickness, relentless motor, and outlandish bounce, the Baylor product has everything he needs to succeed in the league from a physical standpoint. He’s also shown a ton of promise as a versatile two-way contributor and could be the ideal backcourt running mate for Ball. The only way this pick could go south is if Charlotte’s player development staff fumbles Edgecombe’s development just like they did with James Bouknight, Malik Monk, and more. 

  1. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson (Guard, Texas)

Utah’s rebuild will drag on until they find a young star they can start to build their future around. Out of all the prospects left at this point, Tre Johnson has the best chance at becoming an All-Star. The 19-year-old is a lights-out shooter with a scoring bag that suggests he could be a number one option. He’ll need to continue to develop his playmaking to reach that point, but he’d have all the freedom he needs to spread his wings on the Jazz. 

  1. Washington Wizards: Khaman Maluach (Center, Duke)

Alex Sarr played a lot of five for the Wizards last year, but he projects to be more of a Evan Mobley-type jumbo four with his shooting and switch-big potential. If that’s the case, adding a monstrous man like Maluach next to him would be the perfect compliment. Again, think of Cleveland’s frontcourt with Mobley and Jarrett Allen. With the South Sudanese shot blocker anchoring their backline, the Wizards could begin establishing a defensive culture fueled by a core of Maluach, Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Kyshawn George.  

  1. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel (Guard, Duke)

The Pelicans are at a crossroads this offseason. On one hand, a rebuild is calling their name. They already traded Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum could be next. On the other hand, keeping their core together could pave the way for a playoff push in 2025-26, especially if Trey Murphy makes another leap. Whichever direction the team chooses, Kon Knueppel can help them. The Wisconsinite has the smarts, ball skills, and sniping ability to contribute to winning right away, and he also has the upside to become a Desmond Bane-type star at his peak. 

  1. Brooklyn Nets: Derik Queen (Big, Maryland)

The Nets have a completely blank slate for a roster. They need to find some franchise cornerstones, and Derik Queen has a shot at being that caliber of player. He’ll need plenty of time to work through growing pains, but the Nets can afford to fully invest in his growth. Queen has that “it” factor— maybe he can make some magic in Brooklyn. 

  1. Toronto Raptors: Ben Saraf (Guard, Israel)

Toronto has an overabundance of wings/forwards on their roster, so it’s time to spruce up the backcourt instead. Saraf has polish and pro experience as a lead guard already and he’s just 19 years old. The lefty is just a stronger frame and a more consistent pullup jumper away from being a high level sixth man at minimum. The best part? He’s 6’7”. I know this is a reach relative to consensus, but it’s a bet I would take. 

  1. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix): Kasparas Jakucionis (Guard, Illinois)

Jakucionis would give Houston’s halfcourt attack a much-needed boost. The Lithuanian native is crafty, heady, and he knows how to run an offense. In H-Town, he could develop off the bench behind Fred VanVleet to start his career, a low-pressure situation that would likely boost his development rather than hinder it. Jakucionis is close to 6’6”, meaning a future pairing of him and Reed Sheppard in the backcourt wouldn’t be out of the question. 

  1. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremiah Fears (Point guard, Oklahoma)

Portland seems to have found their frontcourt in Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. Their backcourt chemistry is a little murkier, but Jeremiah Fears could be the agent that makes the solution. He’s a walking (well, running) jolt of energy who can get to the rim in an instant. Like Derik Queen, Fears is another freshman who just has an “it” factor to him. Even if he doesn’t reach a high-end outcome, he could at the very least be in-house competition to help Scoot Henderson grow. 

  1. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue (Forward, France)

Essengue has some of the most intriguing physical tools in the class. He’s nearly seven feet tall, he has length out the wazoo, and he’s a super fluid mover. The Frenchman has a lot to put together when it comes to actual basketball skills, but he projects to be a defensive force with OG Anunoby (or even Giannis Antetokounmpo)-esque versatility. The Bulls haven’t proven to be a top-tier player development program (see Patrick Williams), but it would be in the best interest of their rebuild to take a swing on a high-reward project like Essengue. 

  1. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento): Carter Bryant (Forward, Arizona) 

When the Hawks drafted De’Andre Hunter fourth overall back in 2019, they were hoping he’d be the type of player that Carter Bryant actually is. Bryant is one of the best wing stoppers in the class, he has a pretty jumper, and he knows his role. He just projects to be more complementary to Trae Young on both ends than Hunter was (even though Hunter is a good player). The Arizona product’s stock is soaring lately, so whether or not he’ll actually be available at 13 is yet to be seen, but this would be a fantastic addition for Atlanta.  

  1. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta): Nique Clifford (Wing, Colorado State)

It doesn’t matter if the Spurs compete or tank next year, draft Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey, trade for Kevin Durant or not; Nique Clifford would still look like a good pick. He spent five years in college working on his game and becoming a picture-perfect role-playing wing. Clifford can shoot, pass, defend, cut, rebound… he does it all. Even if his ceiling isn’t the highest, he’s virtually a lock to be a quality rotation player in the league. 

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami): Danny Wolf (Big, Michigan)

This is a chaos pick. The Thunder already have an unreal amount of dribble-pass-shoot wings, and in Danny Wolf they’d be adding a big man of the same variety. Wolf is like a 2K created player with the way he can direct pick-and-rolls and hit threes off the dribble as a seven-footer. His defensive limitations could be covered up by OKC’s already elite infrastructure. The best part? Wolf would be insurance for when the team can no longer pay Isaiah Hartenstein the big bucks. 

  1. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando): Cedric Coward (Wing, Washington State)

This pick belonged to Orlando until the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade went down. Now, Memphis has a chance to add a highly coveted 3&D wing who has rocketed up draft boards in recent months. Coward checks every box a potential playoff role player should. He’s lengthy, he has solid feel, he can defend, and, most importantly, he shoots the cover off the ball. Even if he can’t live up to the hype he’s gaining, it would be tough to imagine this being a bad pick for the Grizzlies. 

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit): Thomas Sorber (Big, Georgetown)

The Wolves have operated without a true backup five for over three years. Naz Reid has technically played that role, but he’s really just an oversized forward, and now he may leave in free agency. Sorber is a 6’10” ball of intensity who isn’t afraid to bang around on the glass and in the paint on both ends. He does all the traditional stuff, but he also has intriguing feel, coordination, and touch. Sorber could be Minnesota’s short-term backup and potentially the long-term starter, too. 

  1. Washington Wizards (via Memphis): Collin Murray-Boyles (Forward, South Carolina) 

After picking Maluach in the lottery, I have the Wizards buying even further into a defensive identity by bringing in Collin Murray-Boyles. The South Carolina forward has drawn comparisons to Draymond Green with his ability to be a one-man wrecking crew on defense. His complete lack of a jumpshot limits his ceiling, but he wouldn’t need to take on much offensive responsibility in Washington with Jordan Poole, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly already in the fold and a 2026 lottery pick hopefully in the cards as well. 

  1. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee): Egor Demin (Guard, BYU)

Everything I said about Derik Queen being a worthy project for Brooklyn can be said about Egor Demin too. Demin has become a polarizing prospect due to his lacking athleticism and shaky shooting, but he’s also a 19-year-old who can pass as well as any player in the world at his age. Josh Giddey has been the most popular comparison for Demin, and it’s often used negatively (what if he’s just another Giddey?). However, Giddey is objectively a good NBA player so I think that would be a good outcome. I would just prefer to take other swings which is why Demin fell outside the lottery. 

  1. Miami Heat (via Golden State): Rasheer Fleming (Forward, Saint Joseph’s)

The case for Rasheer Fleming is simple: he’s a massive forward who can space the floor and defend all over the court. Miami usually aims to be competitive, and Fleming would help them do so next year, especially if they land Kevin Durant. A frontcourt of Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, and Fleming would strike fear into opponents’ hearts defensively. 

  1. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota): Asa Newell (Big, Georgia)

Newell was once a nearly consensus lottery pick, but he’s been tossed to the side in favor of shiny new risers. The Jazz have a history of bringing in guys who slide on draft night— Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Jared Butler, for example. Newell could fill in as a four next to Walker Kessler if his shot comes along or just be an energy backup five if not. 

  1. Atlanta Hawks (via Lakers): Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Big, Penn State)

Trae Young and (insert lob threat here) is a duo guaranteed to be effective, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser is one of the best roll-man finishers in this draft. He’d be ready to be plugged into an NBA lineup tomorrow and give 10-15 minutes of energy and bounce on both ends. A few months ago, Niederhauser was nowhere near this spot on mocks, but his standout combine performance woke the world up to the player some already saw he could be. 

  1. Indiana Pacers: Adou Thiero (Wing, Arkansas) 

Thiero is an absurd functional athlete. He’s super quick, super strong, and he gets off the floor to dunk with ease. Add in his passing feel and transition juice and it’s clear why he’d be a great fit in Indiana’s high-octane system. Problems with Thiero could arise if he played in a bogged-down halfcourt offense due to his questionable three-ball. 

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Walter Clayton Jr. (Guard, Florida)

Oklahoma City’s dominance last season is even crazier when you consider they weren’t even a great three-point shooting team. Walter Clayton is an uber-confident shot taker and maker who could be the microwave off their bench Tre Mann was supposed to become. Clayton knows how to play winning basketball (he just won a natty at Florida), making this an ideal fit. 

  1. Orlando Magic (via Denver): Bogoljub Markovic (Big, Serbia)

Everyone and their mama knows how badly the Magic need shooting. That’s why they just traded for Desmond Bane, and that’s why Bogoljub Markovic would be a good option for them. The Serbian is a true floor spacer with his comfortable and confident jumper. He’s thin and struggles defending the paint at times, but he wouldn’t have to be a primary rim protector in Orlando with Goga Bitadze and Jonathan Isaac there to fill that role. 

  1. Brooklyn Nets (via New York): Jase Richardson (Guard, Michigan State)

Richardson was a well-regarded prospect until he measured in as one of the shortest players in the class. He’s 6’1” in shoes, which isn’t tiny, but it would tie him with the shortest active players in the league (Mike Conley, Jordan McLaughlin, and Jose Alvarado). Still, he has a lot of offensive savvy and he’s extremely efficient both as a shooter and a decision-maker. A team like Brooklyn could be patient with his development and give him room to grow beyond his height as a player. 

  1. Brooklyn Nets (via Houston): Hugo Gonzalez (Forward, Spain)

Speaking of players who need patience with their development, Hugo Gonzalez is a raw forward/wing with an impressive toolkit. He’s a solid athlete and an intense defender with real 3&D+ potential if his offensive game is ironed out. Gonzalez gained valuable experience playing a bench role for a Real Madrid team rich with former NBA talent, and could take his learning from there and expand upon it with a bigger opportunity in Brooklyn. 

  1. Boston Celtics: Igor Milicic Jr. (Big, Tennessee)

Boston is set to make some cost-cutting moves this summer, which may include trading Kristaps Porzingis and/or Sam Hauser, as well as potentially losing Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. Luckily, they could get a cheap floor-spacing frontcourtman late in the first round in Igor Milicic. Milicic would be a crisp fit in Boston’s modernized offense with his shooting, closeout attacking, and connective passing capabilities. 

  1. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland): Nolan Traore (Guard, France)

Just like last year, the Suns still need a point guard. With a Kevin Durant trade on the horizon and a Bradley Beal trade hopefully in the cards as well, the team may be undergoing a bit of a retool, which means they could take a chance on a younger project guard in Nolan Traore. Traore has fallen steeply from his days of being ranked as a lottery pick, but he still has upside as a lead guard that could be unleashed in the Valley.  

  1. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City): Ryan Kalkbrenner (Center, Creighton)

The Clippers found a ton of success with Ivica Zubac at the five last season. So, why not bring in a guy who plays more or less exactly like him to back him up? Kalkbrenner is a polished five-year prospect ready to be a rotation center from day one. He won four conference Defensive Player of the Year awards in college and would give Los Angeles 48 minutes of high-level rim protection between him and Zubac. 

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Kam Jones (Guard, Marquette) 
  2. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Noah Penda (Forward, France)
  3. Charlotte Hornets: Maxime Raynaud (Big, Stanford)
  4. Charlotte Hornets (via New Orleans): Liam McNeeley (Forward, UConn)
  5. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome (Big, Auburn)
  6. Brooklyn Nets: Joan Beringer (Center, France)
  7. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): Will Riley (Wing, Illinois)
  8. San Antonio Spurs: Rocco Zikarsky (Center, Australia)
  9. Toronto Raptors (via Portland): Drake Powell (Wing, North Carolina)
  10. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix): Mark Sears (Point guard, Alabama)
  11. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): Hansen Yang (Center, China)
  12. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Dylan Cardwell (Center, Auburn) 
  13. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Chaz Lanier (Guard, Tennessee)
  14. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Dink Pate (Guard, Mexico City Capitanes)
  15. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento): Vladislav Goldin (Center, Michigan)
  16. Orlando Magic: Javon Small (Guard, West Virginia)
  17. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): John Tonje (Wing, Wisconsin)
  18. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State): Max Shulga (Guard, VCU)
  19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Viktor Lakhin (Center, Clemson)
  20. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Eric Dixon (Big, Villanova)
  21. Los Angeles Clippers (via Minnesota): Tyrese Proctor (Guard, Duke)
  22. Phoenix Suns (via Denver): Hunter Sallis (Guard, Wake Forest)
  23. Utah Jazz (via Clippers): Jamir Watkins (Wing, Florida State)
  24. Indiana Pacers: Lachlan Olbrich (Center, Australia) 
  25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koby Brea (Wing, Kentucky)
  26. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston): Wooga Poplar (Wing, Villanova)
  27. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Sion James (Wing, Duke)
  28. Cleveland Cavaliers: Amari Williams (Center, Kentucky)
  29. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Coleman Hawkins (Power forward, Kansas State)

The Haliburton vs Siakam Debate— And How the NBA Finals Will Settle It

Tyrese Haliburton is a top ten player.

That’s what consensus is saying, at least. The Ringer ranked him seventh in their latest top 100 update, putting him ahead of guys like Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum. A great playoff run has quickly taken the “Tyrese Haliburton is overrated” campaign and flipped it on its head, and rightfully so. And yet, despite his amazing play, Haliburton might not even be the best player on his team. 

Newly minted Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam isn’t a popular name. He’s almost universally respected— nobody really hates him— but he’s never gotten the same level of hype as other players of his caliber. His three All-Star and two All-NBA nods came surprisingly for some but were undoubtedly deserved. It’s the same case for his latest trophy— even Haliburton himself thought the award would be his and not Siakam’s. 

Haliburton is often likened to the engine of Indiana’s offense— that’s the metaphor commonly used for lead playmakers, after all. However, he feels more like the driver, the guy who is making decisions and steering the vehicle. It’s actually Siakam who is the team’s engine. He’s the go-to scorer, the guy who the team wouldn’t run without. Even if Haliburton is the team’s closer, it’s Siakam who can be leaned on for the full 48 minutes of a playoff game to put pressure on the defense as both a scorer AND a playmaker. Haliburton has had more memorable moments in the postseason, and that makes it too easy to forget the Pacers wouldn’t be here without Siakam. 

The two guys play very different styles of ball and they impact the game in different ways. Haliburton is already an all-time table setter, a passing maestro whose mistakes in a game can be tallied on one hand. He elevates the role players around him— Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, etc.—  with his ability to set them up in the spots where they’re most effective. He’s a leader, he’s dependable, and he energizes the operation. He’s the fire, and Siakam is the ice. The only time you’ll hear Siakam is when he’s yelling “AYYYY!” to get a foul when he drives. Otherwise, he’s a silent killer who can tally 25-30 points in the scoring column on any given night in a way that you have to watch closely to notice. He’s not a highlight producer, he’s just a fundamentally elite basketball player. The Cameroonian is a matchup nightmare with the size and strength to punish small defenders and the skills and quickness to brush off bigs. 

Oftentimes, the best player on a championship team has traits that more closely match Siakam’s. Teams don’t win titles without a go-to scorer. Most would suffer if their leader went 2/7, 3/8, or 3/13 in a postseason game like Haliburton has this spring (see the James Harden-led Clippers and Rockets). Teams also *usually* don’t win titles with a guard as their top guy. Only one team in the 2020s has won a championship with a guard at the helm— the Warriors in 2022 with Steph Curry. Oklahoma City may change that this year, but Shai is a legit 6’6” which makes him a slightly different case. 

So, with that in mind, the Pacers completing a championship run with Haliburton being considered the top dog would make him a serious anomaly. Which, maybe he is. But, the mantle of Indiana’s best and/or most important player should be more up in the air than what people think. It’s no coincidence that the team started making deep runs after acquiring their All-Star forward. So, who truly is the best Pacer, Haliburton or Siakam? That question will be answered in the Finals. 

Indiana hasn’t yet faced a perimeter defense as good as OKC’s in these playoffs. Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York didn’t have the personnel to properly cover Haliburton’s pick-and-rolls, so he torched them as a playmaker and subsequently a scorer. The Thunder don’t have the same deficiencies. Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace can stay glued to Haliburton and prevent him from getting easy advantages. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are not incompetent defensively like Karl-Anthony Towns. He won’t be allowed to waltz around screens and embarrass scrambling help defenders anymore. Haliburton is pretty clearly a better playmaker than bucket-getter because he can’t quite create separation and get his shot off against good defenders in the same way guys like Siakam can. For that reason, if he’s going to drop 20-balls consistently against an OKC defense that eats guards for breakfast, he’s going to have to do some legitimately special stuff. 

On the other hand, Siakam should prove to be more of a headache for the Thunder. In the Conference Finals, we saw how Julius Randle was able to score efficiently in iso and ultimately command triple team traps in the paint. Siakam is a more polished scorer and playmaker than Randle, so OKC will have to be laser focused on stopping him or else he’ll do some serious damage.

The overarching question is this: if Pascal Siakam can bend defenses on basketball’s biggest stages while filling the typical “best player on title team” role and also being a leader (just a different kind than Haliburton), then why are people so hesitant to say he’s at least equally as important to the Pacers as Haliburton? This article isn’t meant to be disrespectful to Haliburton, he’s just frankly not playing so much better than Siakam to the point where he should be talked about as a top ten player and Siakam should be ranked below Jalen Williams. At minimum, both guys should be in the discussion for top fifteen. 

As mentioned, how the Finals shake out will greatly shape this conversation. If Haliburton is able to do what no guard has yet done against OKC, which is cook them, then he will flat-out earn the right to be talked about the way that he currently is. However, if the Thunder’s defensive demons make him look mortal and have a tougher time with Siakam, then the NBA community will need to reevaluate the way they’re currently ranking Haliburton relative to Siakam.  

What Game 7 Says About Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets season is over. It was an incredibly successful campaign overall, and they and their fans should be proud. However, their series against the Warriors exposed some big weaknesses in their roster construction that need to be addressed if they want to truly compete in the playoffs next year. 

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off. After the playoffs, it’s clear that Alperen Sengun cannot be Houston’s franchise player for the future.

That may seem harsh or even flat-out false at first. After all, Sengun was far-and-away the best Rocket in the postseason. He averaged 20.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals, upping his production in almost every area compared to the regular season. He was often tasked with putting the team on his back and creating something out of nothing, and did an admirable job of delivering at times. Yet, it became obvious throughout the series that he can’t be leaned into that heavily if a deep playoff run is the goal. Game 7 was a good example of why.

In the season-ending loss, Sengun posted 21 points on 9-23 shooting while adding five assists and three turnovers. His plus/minus of -12 was tied for the game low with Tari Eason. Of course, this was the 22-year-old’s first playoff run, and excelling in a Game 7 scenario at his age with his responsibility is almost unheard of. Still, his performance left a lot to be desired in terms of his process. Sengun’s playstyle was the main cause of struggles he had in the playoffs.

Sengun’s game is built on a combination of power and finesse sometimes reminiscent of Nikola Jokic. He wants to get to his spots in the post and finish inside. However, he doesn’t have the quickness, strength, or dexterity to consistently carve out easy looks. In the playoffs, he had a tough time going against guys like Draymond Green and Kevon Looney one-on-one because he wasn’t able to move them out of the way and create space. This often led to ill-advised, awkward looking hooks and push shots that he wasn’t converting at a high level.

That’s the other problem— Sengun’s touch is not good enough for a guy whose game often relies on finesse more than anything. He struggles with efficiency too much for someone of his size. His 49.1% true shooting rate in the playoffs ranked in the 29th percentile, via Shotcreator. In the larger sample size of the regular season, his true shooting rate of 54.5% was in the 32nd percentile. It’s not like Sengun takes a ton of jumpshots— 67.2.% of his shots in the Warriors series came inside of 10 feet. He struggles to finish because his touch is not elite and he doesn’t create advantages. The only time he truly warrants a double team or extra help is when a much smaller player is switched onto him. Even then, he doesn’t always brush those flies off, and he can be prone to committing charging fouls if he ramps up his aggression when trying to attack the basket. 

The big fella’s lack of advantage creation becomes concerning when considering how much offensive responsibility he currently carries for Houston. You can’t give him the ball and tell him to get a bucket at any time. Additionally, despite the fact that he’s a good passer, he can’t be a primary playmaker because he doesn’t break down defenses. Teams are unafraid to let him go one-on-one for an entire game. That’s why Houston still needs to find their true franchise player. 

None of this is meant to take away from what Sengun has accomplished. The 22-year-old is an All-Star who just led a team to the number two seed in a stacked Western Conference. He’s a really good player who is only going to get better. However, his playstyle won’t ever make him a viable number one option on a contending team, and that’s okay. With his ability to screen, roll, be a connective passer, and score inside, he would be a fantastic complementary star next to a true top dog who plays on the perimeter. The Rockets need to find a guard or wing who can carry their offense and lead them in big games. If Houston wants to improve next year, they should be calling about Devin Booker, Trae Young, and LaMelo Ball this summer. A core of (insert star here), Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson would make them one of the scariest teams in the league. Then, they would need to prioritize adding some more shooters around those guys in order to provide enough spacing for them to operate. Sengun could look better in iso if he didn’t have to operate in a cramped paint. 

Overall, despite their current flaws, the contending potential is there for Houston. They’re young, they have a winning culture, and they have a ton of assets. A couple big moves this summer would set them up for serious success. 

2024-25 NBA Award Show

Picking NBA awards was as tough as ever this year. The 65 game requirement meant that usual pen-in selections like Luka Doncic for All-NBA or now Victor Wembanyama for All-Defense/DPOY were no longer eligible, leaving races much more wide open and tough to decide. And, even with the games played restriction, there was still a long list of deserving candidates and mentions for each award. That said, I’ve narrowed down my final picks. Here are the official 2024-25 Bench Mob Blog NBA awards, including all the real awards as well as the annual Bench Mob Player of the Year and All-Bench-Mob teams. 

(Note: the results of the BMB fan award survey will be included under each of my picks, where my friends and followers on X submitted their votes for each award.)

(Second note: for brevity, ineligible players such as Doncic and Wembanyama will not be listed anywhere. Honorable mention lists will only include eligible guys.)  

(Third and final note: my Clutch Player of the Year pick is Jalen Brunson, with Nikola Jokic and Tyrese Haliburton as the runner-ups. Didn’t feel the need to write a whole section for the award.) 

Coach of the Year

Honorable Mentions: J.B. Bickerstaff, Tyronn Lue, Joe Mazzulla, Jordi Fernandez

Finalist: Kenny Atkinson

In his first season back as a head coach after 4+ years of being an assistant, Kenny Atkinson proved to be arguably the best in the biz. He maximized Cleveland’s roster on both ends of the floor and turned them into a two-way juggernaut. This year’s Cavs won the second most games in the history of the franchise, and Atkinson’s guidance is one of the biggest reasons for their success. 

Finalist: Mark Daigneault

The Thunder were an utterly dominant force this year, holding onto the one seed with basically no sweat despite the depth and competitiveness in the West. They did so with Chet Holmgren playing just 32 games and Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell missing major time as well. Mark Daigneault’s coaching turned a young, hungry, and shorthanded OKC squad into an all-time good team and he deserves a ton of credit for it. 

Finalist: Ime Udoka

Few coaches in recent years have done a better job of establishing a culture than Ime Udoka. He transformed a once unstructured and immature Rockets squad into a polished defensive goliath. Houston surged to heights many didn’t expect from them this year, and Udoka’s orchestration sent them on that trajectory. 

2024-25 Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson

(BMB Fan COTY: Kenny Atkinson. Also receiving votes: J.B. Bickerstaff, I. Udoka, M. Daigneault, T. Lue, J. Redick, J. Fernandez, J. Mazzulla) 

Sixth Man of the Year

Honorable Mentions: Ty Jerome, Naz Reid, Caris LeVert, Keldon Johnson, Aaron Wiggins, Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr. 

Finalist: Malik Beasley

Five players in NBA history have made 300+ threes in a season: Stephen Curry, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Anthony Edwards, and Malik Beasley. Only one of them came off the bench when they did it. Beasley was the best pure shooter in the league this season, and the work he did from behind the arc was instrumental in Detroit’s shocking turnaround. Not only was he a huge contributor on the court, the journeyman wing was also a high-quality vet who brought great leadership and vibes to Detroit’s youthful locker room. No other sixth man was as important to their team in 2024-25 as Malik Beasley. 

Finalist: De’Andre Hunter

De’Andre Hunter led the association in bench points per game this season. He started the year on a heater with the Hawks, turning himself into one of the most coveted assets on the trade market. Before the All-Star break, the former 4th overall pick averaged 18.8 points. In December, he put up 22.7 points on 52/49/87 splits. Once he landed in Cleveland, Hunter didn’t miss a beat and continued to be a highly effective scoring option. While he isn’t the All-Star some may have envisioned him becoming when he was drafted, Hunter has become a star in his role. 

Finalist: Payton Pritchard

While Hunter led the league in bench points per game, it was Payton Pritchard who surpassed all other sixth men in total points. The little guard made a massive impact for a Celtics team that won 61 games. Any given night, Pritchard can catch fire and cook like a number one option. In 10 games without Jayson Tatum this season, he averaged 19.0 points and 5.3 assists. Pritchard is the definition of a microwave and the ideal sixth man. 

2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year: Malik Beasley

(BMB Fan 6MOY: Payton Pritchard. Also receiving votes: M. Beasley, T. Jerome, D. Hunter, C. LeVert, N. Reid, R. Westbrook) 

Most Improved Player

Honorable Mentions: Evan Mobley, Tyler Herro, Ty Jerome, Ochai Agbaji, Deni Avdija, Quentin Grimes, Aaron Wiggins, Shaedon Sharpe

Finalist: Christian Braun

When Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left in free agency, it was clear that another Nugget would need to step up and fill his place to help the team remain in contention. Christian Braun made that leap. The third-year wing fits like a glove in lineups next to Nikola Jokic because of his willingness to cut, run the floor in transition, and cash in big triples. Braun averaged career-highs in every single category, including field goal percentage (58.0%) and three-point percentage (39.7%), while appearing in 79 games. His improved play was integral in Denver’s playoff push. 

Finalist: Dyson Daniels

The Pelicans acquired the more talented player, but it’s safe to say the Hawks feel like they won the Dejounte Murray-Dyson Daniels swap they made in the offseason. Daniels did things we’ve never seen before on defense this season, leading the league with 3.0 steals (1.2 more than second place) while also swatting 0.7 shots per game. Along with becoming an All-Defensive lock, the Great Barrier Thief also took big strides on offense. His 14.1 points per game, 4.4 assists per game, and 49.3% field goal percentage were career highs, and he showed strong poise as a driver and playmaker. 

Finalist: Ivica Zubac

The Clippers didn’t just tread water without Kawhi Leonard for most of the season, they swam like Michael Phelps. Outside of James Harden, no one on the team was more crucial to their success than Ivica Zubac. The big fella played at an all-league level at both ends, converting layups and hook shots at video game rates and wardening the paint for a top-three defense. Zubac’s 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists were all career-bests. 

2024-25 Most Improved Player: Christian Braun

(BMB Fan MIP: Dyson Daniels. Also receiving votes: C. Braun, T. Jerome, Q. Grimes, C. Cunningham, I. Zubac, C. Johnson, T. Herro, E. Mobley, S. Aldama) 

Defensive Player of the Year

Honorable Mentions: Amen Thompson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dyson Daniels, Jarrett Allen, Luguentz Dort

Finalist: Draymond Green

An all-time great defender, Draymond Green is still locking up (and letting you hear about it) at a best-in-the-world level in his post-prime years. He averaged over one steal and one block per game for the seventh time in his career this year. The disdain surrounding his personal push to win DPOY is unfortunately covering up the fact that he should have been in the race all along. The Warriors were one of the best defenses in the league throughout the season with Draymond as the anchor, and the post-Butler trade stretch of dominance is just the cherry on top of a convincing campaign for the Dancing Bear. 

Finalist: Evan Mobley

The two most important defensive attributes in today’s NBA are rim protection and versatility. Evan Mobley is elite in both areas. He won two Defensive Player of the Month awards this season while finishing fifth in the league in blocks per game and ranking in the 66th percentile of defensive versatility across all positions (Stat via CraftedNBA. Amongst just bigs, he’s even higher). Mobley was the nucleus of the 64-win Cavaliers and their eighth-ranked defense. In 2023, he was DPOY runner-up, but this year, he’s on track to finish first. 

Finalist: Ivica Zubac

The Clippers built their foundation on defense this year, finishing third in the NBA in defensive rating. That wouldn’t have been possible without Ivica Zubac. A mammoth in the interior, Zubac walled up the rim and deterred or altered countless shots with his combination of size and flawless fundamentals. Los Angeles allowed 6.9 fewer points per possession defensively when Zubac was on the court versus off it. Big Zu’s block numbers don’t jump off the screen (1.1 per game), but his impact does. 

2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Mobley

(BMB Fan DPOY: Evan Mobley. Also receiving votes: D. Green, D. Daniels, Am. Thompson, I. Zubac, L. Dort, J. Jackson Jr., J. Allen, O. Anunoby, B. Adebayo) 

Rookie of the Year

Honorable Mentions: Jaylen Wells, Kel’el Ware, Yves Missi, Zach Edey, Jared McCain

Finalist: Stephon Castle

Stephon Castle carried a bigger load than any other rookie this season. He ranked 41st in the entire league in usage rate, largely a result of injuries to Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. That’s a daunting load for a 20-year-old guard, but Castle confidently accepted the responsibility and showcased star upside. The UConn product led all rookies in points and steals, getting it done on both ends. His tact as a driver, playmaker, and defender made him look like a veteran at times. Castle had some growing pains, as most one-and-dones do, but he proved that his potential is limitless.  

Finalist: Zaccharie Risacher

No rookie was more polished than Zaccharie Risacher this season. As a starter for the Hawks, he did so many little things to help them win, from cutting, to relocating, to junking things up on defense. He did loud things too, like scoring 30+ points four times, more than any other freshman. Risacher finished the season second amongst rookies in total points, fourth in three-pointers, and fifth in minutes played. He may not be the superstar number one pick we’ve become accustomed to seeing, but he has a high floor and hasn’t even begun scratching his ceiling. 

Finalist: Alex Sarr

Two Frenchmen in the top three? You betcha! Alex Sarr was Bench Mob Blog’s number one prospect in the 2024 class, and he lived up to the hype in year one. His offense was raw as expected, but he did some encouraging stuff on that end, averaging 13.0 points and 2.4 assists while flashing high-level stretch big and passing hub chops. It was defensively where he really shone, though. Sarr ranked seventh in the NBA in blocks per game. He’s a versatile monster with the potential to become an Evan Mobley type stopper. Sarr is a lump of clay who could be molded into something spectacular. 

2024-25 Rookie of the Year: Zaccharie Risacher

(BMB Fan ROTY: Stephon Castle. Also receiving votes: Z. Risacher, J. Wells, A. Sarr, B. Carrington, Y. Missi, M. Buzelis, K. Ware) 

Most Valuable Player

Honorable Mention: Jayson Tatum 

Finalist: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The greatest player Milwaukee has ever seen put his team on his back this season. He tore up the competition on both ends of the floor, putting up Wilt Chamberlain numbers regularly on his way to a second consecutive 30+ PPG, 60+ FG% campaign. On top of his otherworldly interior scoring and defense, Giannis has officially added elite playmaking to his bag. He closed out another MVP worthy campaign with five triple doubles in his last six games and is now in full go mode for the playoffs. 

Finalist: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

After winning a league-best 68 games, Oklahoma City is in prime position to run through the league for a championship, and they wouldn’t be here without their homegrown superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Last year’s MVP runner-up, Gilgeous-Alexander has made it nearly impossible to deny him twice with the all-time season he just had. Not only did he pace the league with 32.7 points per game, he led the NBA in 20 point games, 30 point games, 40 point games, AND 50 point games while also making a real All-Defense case. Shai and his team are both on an all-time trajectory, and the Canadian guard is destined to win multiple MVPs (and FMVPs) in his career. 

Finalist: Nikola Jokic

Every year, the Joker does things we’ve never seen before on a basketball court. In 2024-25, he became the first center and third player ever to average a triple double while nearly joining the exclusive 50/40/90 club. His final statline was 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals on 58/42/80 splits. That’s unfathomable stuff. Even if he doesn’t win MVP, Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the world, and he’ll be determined to hold on to his crown in the playoffs. 

2024-25 Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

(BMB Fan MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Also receiving votes: N. Jokic, G. Antetokounmpo) 

Bench Mob Player of the Year 

Honorable Mentions: Johnny Juzang, Jared Butler, Jamison Battle, Tosan Evbuomwan, Jeff Dowtin, Brandon Williams

Finalist: Moussa Diabate

Moussa Diabate’s Bench Mob Player of the Year case can be summed up with two stats. First, he became the first player in history to start the season on a two-way contract and lead his team in games played (shoutout to @hornetshoops_ on X for that one). Second, he ranked 18th in the league in total offensive rebounds despite finishing 226th in total minutes. In his limited playing time, Diabate was one of the most impactful reserves in the association. With Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic both having uncertain futures in Charlotte, he could be a starter as soon as next year. 

Diabate won seven Bench Mob Player of the Day awards this season, tying him for second on the season leaderboard. He also made the 2025 Bench Mob All-Star team. 

Finalist: Jay Huff

Jay Huff came out of the gates hot this year. He averaged 9.6 points and 1.5 blocks on 54/44/69 splits through October and November, and the Grizzlies converted his two-way contract into a standard one in the first week of the season. While his emergence was surprising to many, those who had seen Huff play in the G League, Summer League, and with the Wizards in 2023 knew his breakthrough was inevitable. In his first real NBA season, the big man showed the world what he’s capable of. He’s one of the most valuable third-stringers in the sport with his 3&D capabilities, and he could play a much bigger role on many teams. 

Huff won 10 Bench Mob Player of the Day awards this season, which not only led the league, but is also an all-time single season record dating back to the first year of Bench Mob awards, 2021-22. He also made the 2025 Bench Mob All-Star team. 

Finalist: Tyrese Martin

In 2023-24, Tyrese Martin wasn’t in the NBA at all. He was phased out of the league after a quiet rookie season with the Hawks. However, he earned a second chance on a two-way contract with the Nets in training camp, and he took the opportunity and showed why he deserves to stick. Martin’s coming out party was against the Suns on November 27th. He netted 30 points on 10/13 shooting with eight triples in that game and didn’t fall out of Brooklyn’s rotation after that. Like Diabate and Huff, Martin earned a contract conversion during the season. He finished sixth on his team in minutes played and seventh in total points. 

Martin won seven Bench Mob Player of the Day awards this season, tying him for second on the season leaderboard. He also made the 2025 Bench Mob All-Star team. 

2024-25 Bench Mob Player of the Year: Jay Huff

(BMB Fan BM POTY: Moussa Diabate. Also receiving votes: J. Butler, L. Waters III, J. Huff, J. Battle, J. Juzang, T. Martin, B. Williams, T. Evbuomwan, J. Dowtin, J. Robinson-Earl) 

All-NBA Teams

All-NBA First Team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Donovan MItchell

All-NBA Second Team: Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden

All-NBA Third Team: Cade Cunningham, Karl-Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley, Pascal Siakam, Trae Young

All-Defensive Teams

All-Defensive First Team: Evan Mobley, Draymond Green, Ivica Zubac, Amen Thompson, Jaren Jackson Jr.

All-Defensive Second Team: Dyson Daniels, Toumani Camara, Luguentz Dort, Jarrett Allen, Rudy Gobert

All-Rookie Teams

All-Rookie First Team: Zaccharie Risacher, Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr, Jaylen Wells, Kel’el Ware

All-Rookie Second Team: Yves Missi, Zach Edey, Isaiah Collier, Bub Carrington, Matas Buzelis

All-Bench-Mob Teams

All-Bench-Mob First Team: Jay Huff, Moussa Diabate, Tyrese Martin, Johnny Juzang, Jared Butler

All-Bench-Mob Second Team: Brandon Williams, Jeff Dowtin, Jamison Battle, Tosan Evbuomwan, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

All-Bench-Mob Third Team: Lindy Waters III, Jalen Wilson, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Karlo Matkovic, Gui Santos 

So, those are my official 2024-25 awards picks. Let me know what you agree and disagree with by tweeting @finleykuehl. Thanks for reading— see you next time! 

3 2024-25 All-Rookie Sleepers

With only about a week left in the regular season, the favorites for most awards are cemented. The MVP race is between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Draymond Green is making a late push for Defensive Player of the Year. The Sixth Man of the Year race is a battle for the ages between a few different candidates. However, nothing’s decided until the season ends and there is still time for campaigns to be made for deserving players. Here are three rookies who haven’t received much All-Rookie buzz but should absolutely be considered by anyone making awards picks this April. 

Jamal Shead

Jamal Shead was a great college player. He acquired a ton of hardware during his five-year career at Houston. As a senior, he was a consensus All-American. He also won two conference Defensive Player of the Year awards and was a Wooden Award finalist once. However, his age, height, and (slightly) subpar jumper beat out his clear winning value in the minds of NBA scouts, and he fell to the 45th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Shead’s performance as a rookie has proven that sometimes, the right intangibles can make up for concerning flaws and that it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog.  

Shead has found success on an NBA floor for two main reasons. He’s super heady and he plays hard. The Texas native can execute pick-and-rolls masterfully. He makes sharp reads and snappy passes consistently. It’s really tough for rookie point guards to come in and run a professional offense effectively from the jump, but Shead’s doing it. Defensively, he employs his ability to read the floor to muck things up and get steals. If a lazy pass is thrown, Shead will fly through and pick it off. He’s not afraid to apply tight ball pressure, either. On top of all that, the little guard is shooting a decent 33% from deep on the season, and he’s not afraid to let it fly. If that percentage increases in the future, he’ll become the ideal backup point guard.

Shead has dished out the second most assists by a Raptors rookie ever this season, trailing only 1996 Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire. He’s fourth amongst all 2025 rookies in total assists, third in assists per game, fourth in total steals, and seventh in games played. Jamal Shead may not be flashy as Stephon Castle or Alex Sarr, but he gets it done. 

Kyshawn George

As a prospect, Kyshawn George’s intrigue stemmed from his smooth ball handling and shooting. Big wings with the ability to dribble, pass, and shoot are at a premium in the modern NBA. However, it’s been the other end of the floor where George has shone the most so far as a pro. The 24th overall pick has been a destructive force as a defender with his length, instincts, and fluid movement. He’s already among the league’s best shot blockers at his position, and he also helps the Wizards win the possession battle with his ability to accumulate steals. The Swiss sensation has proven he can impact the game without scoring while continuing to get more and more comfortable from the NBA three-point line as the season’s gone on. He’s a jack-of-all-trades with the potential to become a master of multiple skills.

George is eighth amongst all rookies in total blocks and second when you narrow it down to non-bigs. He’s fifth in three-pointers made, 12th in total points, and second in total steals (tied with Isaiah Collier). Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington have received most of the buzz, but Washington has a clear third All-Rookie candidate in Kyshawn George. 

Karlo Matkovic 

Few rookies have displayed rotation-quality play, especially among non-lottery picks, more often than Karlo Matkovic this season. A 2022 stash pick, the Bosian big took a couple years to iron out his game before transitioning to the NBA and it paid off. He’s established a baseline for himself as a reliable backup who can soak up minutes and be productive, and has room to grow too at just 24 years young.

Matkovic does a ton of useful things on both ends of the floor. He’s a utility big in both a traditional and a modern sense. Matkovic sets good screens, eats on the glass, scraps for easy shots inside, and protects the rim. He’s also a capable handoff orchestrator with intriguing passing chops. Empowering big men to be offensive hubs is trendy in today’s NBA, and Matkovic being able to play that role will make him a coveted piece as long as the demand for dimers is still high. He’s also pretty comfortable letting it fly from outside, and has been especially effective shooting from the corner where he’s been successful over 40% of the time on the year. 

Among 2025 rookies with 20+ games played, Matkovic is seventh in rebounds per game and seventh in blocks per game. He’s 15th in total offensive rebounds amongst freshmen and 28th in minutes played. New Orleans’ unfortunate season has put them in the blind spot of many fans, but Matkovic is deserving of recognition for the way he’s produced. 

The Biggest Lesson From Drew Timme’s NBA Journey

Drew Timme is a legitimate NBA player. 

Yes, it’s March hoops. And yes, it’s only been three games of the Timme experience. But, it’s already safe to say this guy can fit right in on a court with the best players in the world. Why? He checks a lot of boxes as a backup center. He’s the type of big who can at the very least eat up minutes and be productive when a rotation mainstay is injured. Timme is active on the offensive glass and can catch and finish or score off post-ups. He also has a clear feel for the game offensively and makes smart, unselfish decisions out of the short roll, a skill becoming more and more valued by NBA teams. The big fella has even started putting in extra work on his three-ball since college. 

Timme has his flaws. He’s grounded, he’s not awesome on defense, and so on. Yet, he stepped onto an NBA court for the first time and immediately made an impact by grabbing a double-double. In his second game, he scored 19 points! Every dog has its day, sure. There’s no guarantee that Timme will be a good NBA player. But he belongs.

Despite an illustrious college career in which Timme was a consensus All-American three times, among many other awards, he went undrafted in 2023 and didn’t make it to the NBA until this March. It took maybe the best center in college basketball almost two whole years to finally get his chance in the big league. Now that he’s here, he’s making it look like he should have gotten here a lot sooner. So, what’s the lesson?

Don’t count out good basketball players.

In 2021-22, Collin Gillespie capped off an excellent college career with an All-American campaign. He was an elite college point guard who directed successful Villanova offenses at a high level and shot the leather off the ball. He, like Timme, went undrafted. Now, though, he’s the starting point guard for the Phoenix Suns, a role he flat-out earned by outplaying Tyus Jones. 

In 2020-21, Herb Jones was not only an All-American but also the SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He slipped to the second round of the 2021 NBA draft, but went on to become a full-time starter from day one and, eventually, one of the best defenders in the sport.

Jared Butler was the Most Outstanding Player for a championship Baylor team, went late in the second round, and is now one of most undervalued backup guards in the league. Tre Jones was an All-American and the POY and DPOY of his conference as a sophomore, fell to the second round, and went on to become an incredibly steady backup point guard. People doubted all-time NCAA great Luka Garza’s ability to translate to the NBA, but he’s kept a job for four seasons and will likely continue to stick around. The bottom line here is that prospects who prove to be phenomenal and polished basketball players at lower levels usually have a good chance at being contributors in the NBA, but are generally undervalued on draft night.

Of course, for all the success stories just listed, there are also Cassius Winstons, Kofi Cockburns, and Cameron Krutwigs. Great, great college players who didn’t work out at all in the NBA or just didn’t even make it there. No drafting philosophy has a 100% hit rate though. Overall, the more we see elite college players who were counted out in draft conversations end up being something in the NBA, the more mind-boggling it is that they continue to be passed on. The dismissal of players like Drew Timme needs to stop going forward, especially from teams with late first round or mid second round picks. 

5 Players With the Most To Gain in the Playoffs

In the NBA, the playoffs make or break reputations. Strengths and weaknesses are magnified. Players who exceed expectations on the biggest stage are elevated in the eyes of fans across the globe. Those who underperform rarely shake the playoff dropper title. Here are five players who have the opportunity to boost their perceptions in a massive way and have the most to gain in the 2025 playoffs. 

Cade Cunningham

The world is Cade Cunningham’s oyster. As a 23-year-old All-Star from a small market making his postseason debut, he’s in the perfect position to truly introduce himself to the world as one of the sport’s future superstars. Despite the amazing season he’s had, there are still many who doubt the former first overall pick’s potential. A huge series (or two) would erase all that and pack the Cade hype train well past capacity. The Pistons are likely going to match up against the Knicks, Bucks, or Pacers in the first round, three teams that don’t excel at defending in the half court. If Cunningham picks them apart, he’ll put himself in some lofty conversations. Regardless of how he plays, though, how he’s viewed on a general scale for years to come will be determined by his first playoff action. 

Julius Randle

Randle is one of the most polarizing stars in the NBA, if not one of the most doubted. The playoff stinkers he put up in 2021 and 2023 have tarnished his reputation despite his overall steady regular season play. Now entering his first postseason in a new context, he could turn a new leaf. The two time All-NBA honoree has found a groove in his role for the Timberwolves as of late, and the team has been successful with him healthy and on the floor. They’re 10-3 since the All-Star break with Randle in the lineup. The threat of his downhill scoring, as well as playmaking ability, have made him a much-needed pressure reliever for Anthony Edwards. If Randle can keep rolling and help the Wolves steal a couple games in a first round series (or maybe even flat-out win a series), his positive value could finally start to be widely recognized. 

Jalen Green

Jalen Green is having the most consistent and impactful season of his career. Yet, he still can’t escape mass criticism. He’s a flawed player, but he’s more important to the Rockets than people would like to admit. As a young squad with no established top dog, Houston needs Green’s ability to make something out of nothing and create shots for himself. The team’s half court offense will bog down quickly in the playoffs if Green isn’t making things happen off the bounce. The pressure is on for Jalen Green to show up and show out in the 2025 postseason. If he does, he’ll be able to separate himself from the inefficient chucker mantle that follows him tirelessly. 

Mikal Bridges

The Knicks have had serious ups and downs this season, and the rocky nature of their performance has of course led to finger pointing. One thing people love to bring up is that the team traded FIVE first round picks for Mikal Bridges. Selling essentially the entire future of your franchise in exchange for a non-All-Star is a boneheaded move in a vacuum. However, it looks slightly better in the context of New York, as they truly believe they can win a championship with the core they’ve assembled. If Bridges can elevate both his game and his team in the playoffs, he can silence the noise surrounding the trade that brought him to the ‘Bockers. 

Donovan Mitchell

The title of best shooting guard in the world is free for the taking. Donovan Mitchell has arguably held it for a good part of the past two seasons, but Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker still have strong claims as well. Mitchell is in prime position to prove himself as not only the best at his position, but also one of the best in the sport overall. He’s entering the playoffs as the leader of a dominant Cavaliers team with serious championship aspirations. Cleveland has three other All-Stars, but in the most crucial moments, they’ll go as far as Mitchell can take them. If Spida can put the city on his back, he’ll put himself in the upper echelon of current NBA players and all-time Cleveland greats.