With the NBA draft approaching in less than two months its time to hand out some made up awards to this year’s topprospects.
Markelle Fultz, the freshman phenom guard from the University of Washington, is projected by most media outlets to go as the number one pick in the draft that is being held Thursday June 22. But what about some of the lesser known prospects who do not receive as much attention from the First Takes of the world?
The first award, “Tragic Johnson”, will be given to freshman North Carolina State guard Dennis Smith. Although the 6 foot 2 Smith averaged 18 points and 6 assists per game in his only season with the Wolfpack, he led them to a sub .500 record and their coach was fired midseason. In return his draft stock fell from as high as number two in some early mock drafts to as far as nine in some currently.
The “Pinocchio” Award goes to T.J. Leaf, the boyish looking 6 foot 10 freshman forward from UCLA. After being essentially off the draft board and “Lunardi radar” before the start of the season, Leaf skyrocketed to the mid first round in most mocks. The freshman from UCLA who turns 20 on Sunday will be able to claim he is “a real man” after he is paid first rounder money in June.
The “Dark horse” Award goes to half of Kentucky’s freshmen first round-bound backcourt, the lanky 6 foot 3 Malik Monk. The 19 year old Arkansan, whose counterpart De’AaronFox is anticipated by most experts to be selected higher, is more of a pure scorer who will be able to get buckets easier in the NBA. Monk dropped 47 points including the game clinching three in a December victory against the eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.
Speaking of the Carolina blue their 6 foot 8, 22 year old stretch four Justin Jackson earns the award for “Wiliest veteran”. Jackson earned the real award for ACC player of the year this season as he averaged 18 points and shot 37% from the three point stripe. Although he is a couple years older than most first round prospects, his knack for scoring and length may turn him into the wiliest veteran in the NBA in the next decade.
Last but certainly not least the award for “Most pervasive father” goes to the freshman UCLA guard Lonzo Ball whose father Lavar has surpassed him in popularity in recent months. Anyone who has ever tuned into ESPN or any sports related television has heard this name countless times, mostly in discussions not even related to basketball. Lavar, the former Washington State Cougar, has figured out a way to wrangle the spotlight away from his son as if he is the one who is projected to go as a top three pick in this year’s draft.
Those were just a few of the hypothetical awards I gave out for this year’s NBA draft in June. For the complete award ceremony tune in to the post game show after the draft which will be hosted by L.L. Cool Jeff Probst.
No comments:
Post a Comment