The NBA Draft Combine started yesterday, which means we got some important information regarding various prospects athletic measurements. Here’s how some of the prospects in the projected range the Kings will be picking stood out:
- Keaton Wagler – 6’5 barefoot, 6’7.75 wingspan, 8’4 standing reach
- Kingston Flemings – 6’2.5 barefoot, 6’3.5 wingspan, 8’2.5 standing reach
- Darius Acuff Jr. – 6’2 barefoot, 6’7 wingspan, 8’2.5 standing reach
- Mikel Brown Jr. – 6’3.5 barefoot, 6’7.5 wingspan, 8’4.5 standing reach
- Nate Ament – 6’9.5 barefoot, 6’11.5 wingspan, 9’1.5 standing reach
- Brayden Burries – 6’3.75 barefoot, 6’6 wingspan, 8’2.5 standing reach
- Labaron Philon – 6’2.5 barefoot, 6’6.25 wingspan, 8’3.5 standing reach\
Kingston Flemings measurements in particular stood out, as he had by far the shortest wingspan of any of the guards, which could be considered a big detriment at the next level and cause his stock to drop. While Flemings is considered one of the best two-way guards in the draft and was known for his defensive intensity in college, his lack of reach isn’t going to help at the next level on either end of the floor and bigger and longer competition. Keaton Wagler also didn’t jump off the page with his wingspan to height ratio, and it makes sense that both Flemings and Wagler dealt with struggles finishing at the rim as a result. Wagler notably didn’t have a single dunk in his entire college season. The other guards all measured reasonably well, including Acuff and particularly Mikel Brown Jr. Nate Ament also has great measurables for a wing, but he will need to fill out as he’s only 210 pounds.
Some other standouts from the combine measurements include Michigan’s Aday Mara, who measured 7’3 barefoot and has a standing reach of 9’9, tying Mark Williams for the highest standing reach ever recorded (Victor Wembanyama notably did not attend the draft combine). Houston’s Chric Cenac measured at 6’10.25 with a 7’5 wingspan and 9’0.5 standing reach, great for a big man, and Baylor’s Cameron Carr measured 6’4.5 with a 7’0.75 wingspan and 8’8 standing reach.
The full results for the measurements will eventually be posted here, and more results for other tests like speed and shooting drills will be added as the combine continues, although not every prospect will participate. Athletic measurements are just one part of evaluation, but outlier results one way or the other can definitely affect draft stock. Still we’ve seen time and time again that sometimes players don’t make the full use of their athletic gifts, while others make the most of it. Only time will tell, and it will be up to Scott Perry and the Kings front office to parse the data and film and decide for themselves who they think will help the Kings the most. For all our sakes, hopefully they get it right.
His wingspan is fine
I remember they said the same exact thing about Julius Randle. Literally everyone called him a t-rex pre-draft
Desmond Bane and Tyler Herro have negative wingspans.
Mara would be awesome if we can trade for another 1st round pick. Kings desperately need to be like a divorced Dad. Sell everything and go younger.
lol
I don’t understand the Flemings measurements. How could he possibly have the same standing reach as Acuff and Burries? He’s a full inch shorter than Burries and his wingspan is nearly 3 inches shorter, so how is that possible?
Acuff’s wingspan is impressive for being the shortest on the list.
Ament’s measurements look impressive, but so were Donte Greene’s. If Ament can’t learn to shoot it won’t matter much.
I’m with you. Flemings’ wingspan < Dame, but his standing reach > Dame. /Shrugs
Every year we see teams pass on basketball players in favor of hops and measurables. And while I don’t feel strongly enough about Flemings to plant a flag, I liked him over Acuff, Wagler, Brown and Burries before the measurements, and there is nothing about the measurements that changes that. I’ll add that Flemings does not even turn 20 until January, so I’m not sure that I agree with some commentary that I have seen that paints him as a safer, lower upside choice – this is the same stuff that we see about Boozer, who I believe will be the youngest player selected in the lottery (and perhaps the entire draft).
What’s even more wild, if these measurements are accurate, Flemings wingspan is a full inch shorter than Davion Mitchell’s who is a 2.5″ shorter in height.
LOL, Devin Carter is was the exact same height at his combine, but with 6’8.75 wingspan. That’s 5″ more than Flemings!
His standing reach? Exactly the same at 8’2.5.
Make it make sense.
Basically just means Flemings has narrow shoulders and smaller frame.
I’ve always questioned the logic behind putting so much emphasis on height, which is simply the distance from the floor to the top of an athlete’s head. It seems to me that more relevant measurements would be the distance from the floor to the player’s eyes, and from the floor to the top of the shoulders. And wingspan isn’t the whole story on arm length—a player with short arms and broad shoulders could have the same or longer wingspan as a player with long arms but narrower shoulders. I’m guessing the discrepancies we’re puzzling over would be more clear if we knew these numbers too.
6’4″ / 8’0″. The wingspan and standing reach of Jalen Brunson.
Players can play.
And I guess that Flemings had the best vertical of the PGs today (40.5 inches) and the best shooting performance from 3 (19-25).
The Merton Hanks effect; aka long neck?
Relatively long arms, slim in the shoulders?
Donte Green…
Flemings arms are basically the same as Acuff’s which is why their standing reach is the same, however Acuff is broader which is why his wingspan is larger.
I thought would have been better this year. Poor shot selection hurt him, and he has a lot to prove in that area. He could be the guy that gets picked in the teens and figures it out down the line.
Some talk about how he was used at Tennessee, mainly being used in on-ball creation for himself, which he struggled at. Seems more like a set shot type of guy, a la Keegan’s rookie season. If the Kings were to acquire a pick in the teens (while keeping no. 7) and select Ament, that would be fine.
yeah numbers don’t be numbering
This is the part that scares me.
Ailene catching strays…..8 years later
Larry Bird would not have done well with the tape or stopwatch or jumping.
Or Jokic, Doncic, Curry, or Brunson, to name a few.
Also, Nash, Stockton , J-Will, Bibby and countless others . Top players find a way to be top players . Maybe just draft for playing ability ?
OT: Oh man, Brandon Clarke of the Grizzlies has died.
https://bsky.app/profile/tsnofficial.bsky.social/post/3mlofjlt3d22m
Oh man, horrible news.
What is wrong with the universe today? And also, fuck cancer.
https://bsky.app/profile/theathletic.com/post/3mlovcs7xsk2q
Holy shit. What an awful day.
Ugh.. I have been about Fleming’s if we couldn’t get AJ, Boozer, or Wilson.. i am intrigued by Acuff if it is lack of coaching on D vs Desire to be complete.. I like Burries and Waller. Ugh.. why did we win useless games why won’t LaVine be a good socialist and give up income to play for a winner.. help the kings out..
How many good teams have a player 6’2 or under that is one of the best 3-4 players on the team?
Brunson, Maxey and Donavan Mitchell are listed at 6’2
Fox and Mcollum are 6’3.
I can’t find any other starters on good teams that are 6’2 or under.
Seems like an uphill battle to build with a small point guard. I guess you could say that for any position. You have to be extra skilled at any position to overcome being shorter than average for that position.
Well, there’s Trae Young, VanVleet, Prichard, and Garland
Hall of fame dudes:
Stockton, CP3, Isiah Thomas, and Iverson.
As Rob alluded to, it doesn’t matter their height as long as they can play.
I’ll take Kings version of IT over Markelle Fultz.
Brain/stat homework -wise, Wagler should definitely be the guy if he’s there. But guts/eyes – wise, it does bother me that he didn’t dunk in college and will have a harder time getting to the rim at the next level. We went through this below the rim “King of Lay up,” crap already with Tyreke…can I get excited if Wagler is a “better shooting Tyreke”?
Wagler is the riser on my draft board. I don’t care if he didn’t dunk, the dude can do everything else. He lead his high school team to a state title, wasn’t a 5 star recruit and flew low on the radar, wasn’t supposed to start for Illinois, but earned it by the start of the season, then lead the team in scoring and playmaking all the way to the Final Four.
I’ve been getting the Hali comparison tingles for some time and it’s only growing stronger. If he is somehow there at #7 the Kings had better grab him.
yeah, I just watched the Illinois Houston game (from article photo). Both Wagler and Flemings had off-shooting nights. Nonetheless, I was impressed with Wagler and have him in the top 7. Flemings looked good also, but I still have him below Acuff, Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr. and Lendebourg.
The Kings are devoid of young talent, which means a case can be made for so many players in this draft to help the Kings.
Flemings, Acuff, Wagler, Burries, Philon, Mara, Brown Jr., etc. It will be fun to go down the rabbit hole of scouting videos this draft season.
Reading these names, knowing what the top-4 looks like, I could not care less who they pick. I think it’s completely irrelevant and even if the player is good, they’ll be begging out of here after 7 or 8 seasons (if not sooner) just like Fox did. I also guarantee that whoever they draft, regardless of how long they’re on the team, will not be on the Kings next playoff team.
vivek will probably trade the pick and Sabonis for Trae Young… can you imagine we will have our very own Clay and Currie who will single handily score 60 a night and have the worst Defensive Rating ever for a back court… yes I purposely misspelled Klay and Curry because we will have the Temu Version
Don’t know much about any of these prospect’s head-spaces or personal lives; but Mikel Brown Jr. stands out to me in highlights, and I think he will be the surprise of this draft.
Range and hops quick to basket in traffic
Does Flemmings seem like a younger shorter armed version of Devin Carter?
Don’t forget the hair
https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/2052962671255752900/photo/1
I thought the chain said Anjali for a moment…
maybe he will be more aerodynamic and fall less often. Seriously worry about his surgically repaired shoulder whenever he falls trying to lay up the ball.
I have seen no real similarities in their college games.
I realize that o no one cares but I would go
Acuff (think he will be gone)
Mikel Brown
Flemings
Wagler
but 2 of those 4 will be at least available after AJ, Peterson, A Cam and Wilson.
There may be trades and unexpected picks but usually the players go in order of talent and the teams change.
I do see Burries and Mara on some #5 lists. a great deal depends on LAC- are they going to rebuild and trade Garland (and Take Acuff) and are the Nets interested in height or big guards like Wagler
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