2020 NBA draft profile: International prospect R.J. Hampton

R.J. Hampton’s weaknesses: Shooting

As you may expect a typical NBL defense is more structured, disciplined, and smarter than a college team with a bunch of teenagers trying their hardest to make the NBA. Hampton was streaky as a shooter and at times looking like an average shooter, and at other times was given the Andre Roberson treatment.

Overall, for the season Hampton shot 28.6 percent from three, with going 67.9 from the free-throw line (not great). Hampton was ranked within the bottom 15 in the league for True shooting percentage, granted in 15-game sample size but it’s still worrying.

ESPN NBA draft analyst Mike Schmitz does a good job of breaking down with Hampton some of the funkiness with his shot in Schmitz’s film breakdown.

The shot selection can be questionable at times, two examples stuck out during a game against the South East Melbourne Phoenix – the shots themselves aren’t awful takes like shooting 19 seconds left on the shot clock. However, if you’re an optimist you can say these shots come from places Hampton should be focusing on, behind the arc and on switches.

This game was his return from a hip injury which eventually ended his season in February and decided to return to the states to continue his rehabilitation and prepare for the draft. Hampton has had eight or nine months of pre-draft training and with the draft set for November 18th and has spent his time wisely. More to come on that on that later.

The second issue was Hampton’s defense. The tools are there but what was missing?