2016 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Kris Dunn
With the 2016 NBA Draft not too far away, here’s a look at Kris Dunn’s scouting report.
There aren’t a lot of great point guard prospects near the top of the 2016 NBA draft, but one who’s continued to stand out is Kris Dunn.
In his years at Providence, Dunn improved the most as a leader and floor general. Coming out of high school he was always seen as a scorer who knew how to get his own shot at the rim, but playmaking wasn’t quite his strong suit.
Fast forward to today and you see a guy who wants to put his team on his back when the moment is right, but also looks to get his own teammates involved from the start.
At times scouts have pointed out his lack of aggression toward the beginning of games. When everything’s on the line he’ll drive to the basket or take a necessary jump shot, but some have said he’s slow to get into his own rhythm as a dominant player.
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That’s because he takes the time to set up plays for others and get the rest of his team in a rhythm before himself. Dunn understands what it takes to lead a team from the point guard spot and that’s the kind of maturity that NBA teams will appreciate when looking back at his film.
His individual workout mentality could end up a little different because he’s trying to sell himself as a top pick.
Sure he’s done enough in college to prove that he has a spot on a professional team, but this next month or so is his chance to show how much he’s improved on his biggest weakness: outside shooting.
Let’s be clear that Dunn’s greatest strength offensively is his ability to get inside the paint and create for himself or others. There’s no other point guard in this draft who can cause havoc off the dribble like him.
But in terms of his perimeter shooting, he’s still lacking the respect of the defender in terms of guarding him outside the paint.
His three-point percentages improved his last two years in college (35.1 percent his junior year and 37.2 percent his senior year) but he’s not comfortable pulling up from deep in game situations and even in the mid-range.
If he has to take the shot or it’s open he will, but his form is much more natural when he’s given time to compose himself rather than go up for a contested look.
Once Dunn gets his outside form in tact and raises his confidence pulling up, he’ll serve as a better threat given his athleticism and knack for getting easy points from the free throw line.
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Even though he shot less than 70 percent on free throws in college he looked to get to the line often and continued work should help him improve.
Defensively Dunn is a load for any opposing guard to deal with. His motor and lateral quickness allow him to stay in front of his man and face guard as well as any other perimeter prospect among his peers.
Teams are always looking for guys who can guard their position as well as one spot up and Dunn can hold down shooting guards on occasion given his 6’3″ size and frame.
There are little concerns regarding his competitiveness and determination on either end. His will to win and desire to take over when the time is right are on display each night, making him an attractive player in this year’s draft.
His shooting and decision making will improve as they do with most young players, but the important part is he has a lot of intangibles and qualities you can’t teach.
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Dunn is the best point guard in the 2016 draft and should end up among the five or so great players who come out of this class.