NBA Draft Combine takes place every year in Chicago. It’s one of the larger events in sports, drawing thousands of amateur athletes, and giving them their first chance to impress NBA decision-makers.
Players who excel at the combine are often drafted higher than originally predicted in the upcoming NBA Draft. Every attendee of the combine participates in a variety of drills and workouts to get a better sense of their physical abilities. The general goal is to see how they will be able to perform on the court and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
The Athletic Tests
Standing Vertical Jump
The NBA Vertical Jump is a measure of a player’s ability to jump off the ground. It is often used in basketball recruiting and the draft combine to determine who has high athletic potential. A higher vertical isn’t always correlated with better performance, but it does show that a player’s leg power can be translated to jumping.
Maximum Vertical Jump
Vertical jumps are among the most common tests used to measure leg power. The average person will have a vertical jump of 20 inches or less, while elite athletes will have vertical jumps around 40 inches.
Bench Press
A bench press is a weight training exercise in which a person lies on a bench and lifts a weight off the ground to above their chest then lowers it back down again.
Three-quarter-court Sprint Time
A three-quarter sprint is a drill in basketball where the player runs from the midcourt line to the baseline, touches the baseline, and pushes back up to the top of the court. The athlete then sprints back down to just before they can touch their own three-point line and returns.
Of course, time is a key measurement when it comes to court sprints. A good time for one lapse would be between 28 and 32 seconds. The less the better.
Lane Agility Time
The lane agility time is used to measure how quickly a player can run around the court in a given amount of time. It is defined as the number of seconds it takes for the player to go back and forth between two markers on the court.
Physical Measurements
Height with Shoes and Height without Shoes
Strengths and weaknesses are a result of the skills and attribute that a player has. Height is one of these attributes, and it is incredibly important to basketball players because it affects many different things including a player’s shot, defensive play, rebounding capabilities, overall endurance, etc. A shorter player with great speed will be able to out-quick their taller opponents when running up the court. Likewise, if two players with similar skill sets are matched up against each other in the lane near the basket, the taller player will most likely be at an advantage for rebounds or blocking shots.
Wingspan
Wingspan can be used to measure a player’s arm length from fingertip to fingertip. The measurement is taken from one hand to the other hand with both arms fully extended outwards from the body. Players who have a wingspan length of 7’2″ are extremely tall and might be more suited for playing at the center on the floor.
Standing Reach
Standing reach, on the other hand, is the height of a player from the floor to where they can touch their fingers when reaching straight up. This test is a way to measure a player’s range and overall arm length. For example, a player with a standing reach of 9’6″ would have an excellent range for defending shots or grabbing rebounds. A player with a standing reach of 7’6″ might not have as much flexibility as someone with an equal wingspan but could be better suited for guarding big players inside because they’re closer to the hoop.
Hand Length and Hand Width
A player’s hand length is an important thing to consider when assessing their potential in the NBA Draft Combine. A player with long hands may be more suited for basketball than someone who has smaller hands. This is because it will be easier for them to dribble and hold onto the ball. Hand length is also an important factor in defense. If someone has long hands they are more likely to be able to effectively reach over and block shots on their opponent’s side of the playing court.
Weight and Body fat
The weight assessment will include measurements from two consecutive days which should be conducted at the same time of day and with the subject wearing no shoes or heavy clothing.
Body fat measurements are taken indirectly by using a hand-held pressure meter. The device is placed on the bare skin at the hip area, and a small amount of air is forced out through a one-way valve. Reading is recorded for each body part being measured
The Shooting Tests
Three-point Field Goals
During the NBA Draft Combine, players test their skill in scoring Field Goals, from various distances (NBA, college basketball, etc).
Shooting off the Dribble
Shooting off the dribble is an important skill in basketball. A player will be asked to take shots of different levels and varying difficulty, all while dribbling. This can include taking shots from behind the three-point line or from the top of the key. A player must master their shooting technique with both hands and at various distances for this test.
Timed Jump Shots on the Move
Another important test of a player’s shooting ability is their time on the Timed Jump Shot on the Move. The player will be asked to take shots while running and jumping. This test is very similar to what a player would experience during a game. Players need to show that they can find an open space on the floor and shoot quickly.
G League Elite Camp
NBA’s younger sister, NBA G League, also organizes drafts. They are organized as G League Elite Camp and the draft process is similar to the NBA standard. The difference is, that NBA G League teams are not including strictly college basketball. Players have to be over 18 to have any draft prospects.
Players, who were selected to a G League Elite Camp and excel above other players, can be invited to take part in NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, at Wintrust Arena. They have to be over 19 years old.
2021 NBA Draft Combine
2021 NBA Draft Combine Week took place between 21 and 27 of June at Wintrust Arena. It featured 69 NBA prospects. Here are the attendees:
1. Max Abmas Oral Roberts
2. Ochai Agbaji Kansas
3. Marcus Bagley Arizona State
4. Scottie Barnes Florida State
5. Charles Bassey Western Kentucky
6. Brandon Boston Jr. Kentucky
7. James Bouknight Connecticut
8. Greg Brown III Texas
9. Jared Butler Baylor
10. Julian Champagnie St. John’s
11. Justin Champagnie Pittsburgh
12. Josh Christopher ASU
13. Sharife Cooper Auburn
14. Ayo Dosunmu Illinois
15. David Duke Jr. Providence
16. Kessler Edwards Pepperdine
17. Luka Garza Iowa
18. RaiQuan Gray Florida State
19. Jalen Green NBA G League Ignite
20. Quentin Grimes Houston
21. Sam Hauser Virginia
22. Aaron Henry Michigan State
23. Ariel Hukporti Nevezis (Lithuania)
24. Matthew Hurt Duke
25. Nah’Shon Hyland VCU
26. Isaiah Jackson Kentucky
27. David Johnson Louisville
28. Jalen Johnson Duke
29. Keon Johnson Tennessee
30. Herbert Jones Alabama
31. Kai Jones Texas
32. Johnny Juzang UCLA
33. Corey Kispert Gonzaga
34. Jonathan Kuminga NBA G League Ignite
35. Scottie Lewis Florida
36. Isaiah Livers Michigan
37. Makur Maker Howard
38. Sandro Mamukelashvili Seton Hall
39. Tre Mann Florida
40. Matthew Mayer Baylor
41. Miles McBride West Virginia
42. Davion Mitchell Baylor
43. Evan Mobley USC
44. Isaiah Mobley USC
45. Moses Moody Arkansas
46. Trey Murphy III Virginia
47. Daishen Nix NBA G League Ignite
48. John Petty Jr.Alabama
49. Yves Pons Tennessee
50. Jason Preston Ohio
51. Joshua Primo Alabama
52. Roko Prkacin Cibona (Croatia)
53. Neemias Queta Utah State
54. Austin Reaves Oklahoma
55. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Villanova
56. Terrence Shannon Jr. Texas Tech
57. Day’Ron Sharpe North Carolina
58. Jericho Sims Texas
59. Jaden Springer Tennessee
60. DJ Steward Duke
61. Cameron Thomas LSU
62. JT Thor Auburn
63. Isaiah Todd NBA G League Ignite
64. Trendon Watford LSU
65. Joe Wieskamp Iowa
66. Ziaire Williams Stanford
67. McKinley Wright IV Colorado
68. Moses Wright Georgia Tech
69. Marcus Zegarowski Creighton
70. John Petty Jr. Alabama
NBA Draft 2021
Many top prospects from this 2021 NBA Draft Combine were drafted into NBA Teams:
- Jalen Green NBA G League Ignite became a member of the Houston Rockets.
- Evan Mobley USC – Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Scottie Barnes Florida State – Toronto Raptors.
- Jonathan Kuminga NBA G League Ignite – Golden State Warriors.
- Davion Mitchell Baylor – Sacramento Kings.
- Ziaire Williams Stanford – New Orleans Pelicans, traded to MEM.
- James Bouknight Connecticut – Charlotte Hornets
- Joshua Primo Alabama – San Antonio Spurs.
- Moses Moody Arkansas – Golden State Warriors.
- Corey Kispert Gonzaga – Washington Wizards
- Trey Murphy III Virginia – Memphis Grizzlies, traded to NOP.
- Tre Mann Florida – Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Kai Jones Texas – New York Knicks, traded to CHA.
- Jalen Johnson Duke – Atlanta Hawks.
- Keon Johnson Tennessee – New York Knicks.
- Isaiah Jackson Kentucky – Los Angeles Lakers, traded to IND.
- Josh Christopher ASU – Houston Rockets.
- Quentin Grimes Houston – LA Clippers, traded to NYK.
- Nah’Shon Hyland VCU – Denver Nuggets.
- Cameron Thomas LSU – Brooklyn Nets.
- Jaden Springer Tennessee – Philadelphia 76ers.
- Day’Ron Sharpe North Carolina – Phoenix Suns.
- Isaiah Todd NBA G League Ignite – Milwaukee Bucks.
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Villanova – New York Knicks.
- Jason Preston Ohio – Orlando Magic, traded to LAC.
- Herbert Jones Alabama – New Orleans Pelicans.
- Miles McBride West Virginia – Oklahoma City Thunder.
- JT Thor Auburn – Detroit Pistons, traded to CHA.
- Ayo Dosunmu Illinois – Chicago Bulls.
- Neemias Queta Utah State – Sacramento Kings.
- Jared Butler Baylor – New Orleans Pelicans, traded to UTA.
- Joe Wieskamp Iowa – San Antonio Spurs.
- Isaiah Livers Michigan – Detroit Pistons.
- Greg Brown III Texas – New Orleans Pelicans, traded to POR.
- Kessler Edwards Pepperdine – Brooklyn Nets.
- David Johnson Louisville – Toronto Raptors.
- Sharife Cooper Auburn – Atlanta Hawks.
- Marcus Zegarowski Creighton – Brooklyn Nets.
- Brandon Boston Jr. Kentucky – Memphis Grizzlies.
- Luka Garza Iowa – Detroit Pistons.
- Charles Bassey Western Kentucky – Philadelphia 76ers.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili Seton Hall – Indiana Pacers.
- Scottie Lewis Florida – Charlotte Hornets.
- Jericho Sims Texas – New York Knicks.
- RaiQuan Gray Florida State – Brooklyn Nets.
Players are chosen, draft boards are announced. Now, we have to wait and see who will become the next MVP!
Who had the highest vertical in the 2021 NBA draft?
Keon Johnson, who was selected with the No. 21 pick in the NBA Draft, recorded a vertical leap of 48 inches in 2021, breaking the previous record.
How do you get into the NBA Combine?
The only way to be selected for the NBA Combine is by being invited. Invitations are sent out to players who the NBA has scouted and deemed as talented enough. These athletes usually come from college teams, but occasionally high school students who play on their basketball team will get an invite too.
