NBA Draft: The best skill from Anthony Edwards and all 30 first-round selections
By Josh Wilson
21. Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers; Scoring
Tyrese Maxey should be able to establish a balanced shot profile over time, but from day one he’ll be a scorer. With the ability to play either guard spot, Maxey will find a way to score from day one in the league.
Per NBA.com, here’s what his head coach John Calipari had to say about his game:
"“He is going to do great in [the NBA] because there’s nothing he can’t do. He can handle the ball, he can shoot, he has got great athleticism and he really defended as the season went on. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of what Jamal Murray was able to do, and we know how well he has done in the NBA.”"
Maxey averaged 14.0 points per game in his lone season as a Kentucky Wildcat.
The Sixers do need some more shooters. They acquired Danny Green as a part of this deal to get the 21st pick and that will help to some degree, but Maxey can carve out a strong role with the team if he can sink more of his shots from beyond the arc.
His 83.3 percent free-throw shooting percentage in his freshman season is an encouraging sign.
22. Zeke Nnaji – Denver Nuggets; HANDS on the boards
Zeke Nnaji was an incredible rebounder in his lone season as an Arizona Wildcat. Pulling in 11.3 rebounds per 40 minutes as a freshman, he pulled balls off the board with vengeance.
You’ll think he has glue on those hands when he goes up to get boards. And as was on display on his selection ESPN feature on Wednesday night, those hands allow him to play some beautiful piano as well.
Beyond those rebounds evaluators talk a lot about his motor and ability to get to the free-throw line (where he shot 76.0 percent in his freshman year).
23. Leandro Bolmaro – New York Knicks (traded to Timberwolves); Size and court vision
Leandro Bolmaro has an unrelenting motor, but his biggest advantage is the combination of his stature and passing mentality. While standing at 6-7, quite a bit taller than what one might consider to be a playmaker, he looks to facilitate for his teammates at all times.
Combining that height and visibility with a knack for passing is huge for Bolmaro.
24. RJ Hampton- New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Denver Nuggets); Ball handling
RJ Hampton is a phenomenal ball handler and put that on full display in his time with the New Zealand Breakers. He uses that ball handling to carve out a path for himself and create for teammates.
25. Immanuel Quickley – OKC Thunder (traded to NY Knicks); Shooting
There’s a lot to like about Quickley, but right off the bat you have to talk about his shooting. He shot 42.8 percent from beyond the arc last season, a major improvement on higher volume from the season before (34.5 percent). From the free-throw line he hit a surgical 92.3 percent of his shots.
Quickley averaged 16.1 points per game at Kentucky in 2019-20.