2019 NBA Draft: 5 players with steal potential in the first round
By Nick Crain
3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
After playing two seasons at Virginia Tech, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has decided he is ready to take the next step and enter the 2019 NBA Draft. He is the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Los Angeles Clippers, who just had an incredible rookie season. It is safe to say that Alexander-Walker has good basketball genes.
In the 2018-19 season, Alexander-Walker produced 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 36.0 minutes per game. He also shot 37.4 percent from deep on 4.6 attempts per contest. Looking at what he brings to the table, you may be looking at the next premier 3-and-D player in the NBA.
Although he is a very talented offensive player, Alexander-Walker is one of the most promising defenders in the entire draft class. As a 6’5.5″ guard, he boasts a 6’9.5″ wingspan and uses every bit of it to his advantage. Per Tankathon, his Defensive Box Plus-Minus was 4.3, which is very impressive. He also averaged 1.9 steals per game last season.
Although he is nearing 21 years old, his age should not scare teams off. Although he had a worrisome 2.9 turnovers per game last season, Alexander-Walker has a high basketball IQ and shouldn’t have many problems offensively at the next level.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another mid-round draft projection who could prove teams in the lottery wrong for passing him up. By the middle of next season, he could prove to have been a steal for his draft position.