So You Think You Can Be An NBA Role Player: Wing Edition
Our own Nathan Grubel examines NBA wing examples from pre-draft through their current situations to better determine what types of draft prospects succeed as role players in the league.
This phrase gets thrown around quite a bit in the NBA scouting community:
“Well, he might not have the framework of a star, BUT he could come off the bench for an NBA team as a role player.”
That has made me wonder for quite some time: what do fans and observers consider a “role player” in the NBA?
There are several ways to answer that question, but I’ve been taught by those who have spent their careers in basketball that role players are those who fill the gaps and make the lives of stars easier.
Now, those players can come in all shapes and sizes, even in terms of minutes within a rotation. There are role players who start, come off the bench, etc.
For this exercise, it was important to examine current role players in the NBA making impacts for playoff teams. Where did those players come from? What did they accomplish before making it into the NBA? How involved were they in their pre-NBA team’s success?
When evaluating players for the NBA, I’ve come to the conclusion that success, reps, and experience doing more on the court all matter. Rarely do players scale their games UP in the NBA as opposed to the other way around.
Playing in the league is all about problem-solving at a high level. Without experience solving those problems in real time at volume, how are players expected to translate up in competition? When the ball gets swung to Player X, are they able to make the right decision at the drop of a hat? Are they comfortable handling the ball? Do they know how to utilize ball screens? Can they create in isolation?
Those who are considered “role players” in the league today have been able to mold their games and fill specific gaps within a team’s offensive and defensive structures. But what if I were to tell you they accomplished much more than that before they set foot in the NBA?
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to examine player examples from each positional category I use when evaluating prospects: guards, wings, forwards, and centers.
The goal is to establish some high-level criteria I utilize when grading players out as a whole by position, then highlighting some retrospective research on some current NBA examples while also showcasing their current roles on their respective teams. Finally, I will try and tie some common threads together between every example, regardless of player archetype, and provide some prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft that project well when stacking their current resumes up against selected examples.
Next up is the ever-popular wing position!
*All statistics are courtesy of Basketball-Reference, Synergy Sports, Dunks and Threes, and Cleaning the Glass*
Evaluation Outline: Wings
Some positional characteristics/responsibilities I evaluate in wing prospects are as follows:
Plays off guards on the perimeter in secondary actions that can involve operating ball screen actions as the handler, setting screens for others, moving off screens, and spacing out to the corners on spot-up looks; runs the floor well in transition, and can handle the ball to finish or find the next man on the break
Knows how to move without the ball, and isn’t just stationary as a player; finds gaps within the defense to cut to the basket, move to the opposite side of the floor, lifts from the corner on time, and even moves to the corners in both transition and halfcourt settings
Defends one or multiple perimeter positions at an above-average level
Creates extra possessions through both offensive and defensive rebounding opportunities
Creates passing looks both from a standstill as well as on the move if run off spots by a hard closeout; can “make the next pass” when the shot isn’t there
Rotates well off the ball defensively, and has the instincts and physical ability to play passing lanes, and help contest shots from the weak side; can help defend as the “low man” and contest shots around the rim. Has the quickness and length to properly close out on and contest perimeter shooters
SEPARATOR: Has the ball handling and playmaking vision to operate offenses as a higher usage option
SEPARATOR: Can defend bigger forwards on the block, and even switch onto quicker guards or centers and hold their own
Now, not every player checks every single one of these boxes. The unique ones that do are the NBA’s best of the best. Rarely do we find prospects in EVERY class who even sniff the upper tier of the league.
However, it is important to share how I try and evaluate players by position and what I’m looking for to provide insight into what I look for on the court.
Let’s dig into some NBA examples of wing role players that have made significant impacts for their respective teams.
Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder: 6’6”, 200 pounds
Pre-Draft College: Maryland
Drafted: 55th Overall in 2021 NBA Draft
Player Archetype: Scoring Wing
Pre-Draft Season College Stats:
14.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.0 TOV, .446/.356/.772 Shooting Splits
21.9 FGA Per 100, 9.5 3PA Per 100, 4.7 FTA Per 100
1,023 MP, 55.0 TS%, 10.6 REB%, 17.3 AST%, 2.1 STL%, 2.0 BLK%, 25.4 USG%, 7 BPM
70th Percentile in Total Offense, 61st in Total Defense
Current NBA Role: Bench Two-Way Wing
Current NBA Stats:
12.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 0.9 TOV, .488/.383/.831 Shooting Splits
20.0 FGA Per 100, 9.3 3PA Per 100, 2.4 FTA Per 100
1,744 MP, 59.6 TS%, 9.1 REB%, 10.6 AST%, 1.7 STL%, 1.0 BLK%, 20.3 USG%, 1.1 BPM
80th Percentile in Total Offense, 64th in Total Defense
Aaron Wiggins grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and played for two high schools in the area. He was an All-State selection as a high school senior at Wesleyan Christian Academy and a four-star recruit. Wiggins committed to Maryland, where he played his entire college career.
Wiggins did come in as a starting wing for the Terrapins but worked with the coaching staff to transition to a role off the bench, where he still played the most minutes of any reserve on the team. Wiggins was named the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year during his sophomore season.
As a junior, Wiggins had his most productive season as the team’s best potential pro prospect. There were reasons to buy into what Wiggins, a 6’6” wing who could do a little bit of everything on the floor, could become in the NBA.
Through his college career, Wiggins was a reliable shooter from three-point range. He would have streaky stretches as a spot-up shooter, but leveled out as an above-average three-point shooter on decent volume. Wiggins was the type of player who could defend multiple perimeter positions, knock down open shots, and make plays for others in a pinch. His game wasn’t limited to transition runouts and feasting off any opportunities created for him.
Where Wiggins’s evaluation got tricky was weighing his overall impact in terms of winning games. Maryland wasn’t a powerhouse program while Wiggins was arguably the best player on the team, and he would have stretches in games where he disappeared and wasn’t particularly active on either end of the floor.
Wiggins declared for the 2021 NBA Draft and kept his name in, landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 55th overall selection.
Wiggins proved himself as a prospect with a solid Summer League run in Las Vegas, which earned him a two-way contract with the Thunder. Midway through the 2021-22 NBA season, Wiggins signed a standard deal. He penned an extension in July 2024 for five years and $45 million.
Ultimately, Wiggins bet on himself throughout the pre-draft process, and his hard work paid off. Steady improvements to his jump shot went a long way to getting time on the floor to contribute. As he’s gotten more minutes within the rotation year over year, Wiggins has improved his defensive communication, rotations, and off-ball movement. Wiggins fits in well within the Thunder’s system as a reliable play finisher, be it off open jumpers or cuts to the rim. Rarely is Wiggins caught stationary on either end of the floor. He’s reactive and has the athleticism to finish at the rim or over defenders on jumpers.
Even though Wiggins didn't have a bright green statistical profile in any particular area, he gained experience in his college career doing a multitude of things, including running pick-and-rolls. I will continue to come back to the well on pick-and-roll possessions for perimeter players because it forces quick decision-making at a high level, regardless of competition. More reps for a player with the ball in their hands is always a good thing, and Wiggins took his lumps as a scorer and distributor out of those possessions during his last year in college.
The experience hasn’t been for nothing, though, as he’s learned how to adapt to the guys around him after gaining that experience himself. He knows how to time his cuts to the basket and what angles to take, where to run the floor in transition, and he’s become familiar with how to position himself on the floor for easy jumpshots off kick-out looks.
Even when a play breaks down and Wiggins is left on an island, he’s able to call for a screen or create a shot for himself off the dribble and connect reliably. Even on threes off the bounce, Wiggins has hit 32% of those shots for the Thunder, while also making nearly 45% of his off-the-dribble twos.
Not every role player who slips through the cracks in the second round wins a job without having that signature skill to hang one’s hat on. However, Wiggins was good enough in several areas, including defensively on the wing, to earn minutes and turn certain aspects of his game into known strengths, such as spot-up shooting and rim finishing. When the ball kicks his way, he’s someone who can figure out what the next play is in a pinch.
Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans: 6’8”, 210 pounds
Pre-Draft College: Alabama
Drafted: 35th Overall in 2021 NBA Draft
Player Archetype: Defense-First Wing
Pre-Draft Season College Stats:
11.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 2.8 TOV, .446/.351/.713 Shooting Splits
17.2 FGA Per 100, 3.4 3PA Per 100, 7.7 FTA Per 100
900 MP, 52.8 TS%, 12.3 REB%, 21.7 AST%, 3.4 STL%, 4.0 BLK%, 22.7 USG%, 8.7 BPM
38th Percentile in Total Offense, 90th in Total Defense
Current NBA Role: 5th Starter, Defense-First Wing
Current NBA Stats:
10.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.8 TOV, .436/.306/.825 Shooting Splits
12.9 FGA Per 100, 5.4 3PA Per 100, 3.0 FTA Per 100
648 MP, 54.1 TS%, 6.5 REB%, 13.8 AST%, 2.8 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 14.6 USG%, -3.6 BPM
26th Percentile in Total Offense, 16th in Total Defense
Herb Jones was born and raised in Alabama. He went to Sunshine High School and helped his team make it to a Class 1A State Championship during his sophomore season. The school was shut down, so Jones transferred to Hale County High School as a junior and led that program to its first-ever state championship as a senior.
Jones committed to Alabama, where he spent his entire college career growing within the program. Known as a defensive specialist coming in due to his size, length, and instincts as a playmaker, Jones grew into a multi-faceted player over his time in Tuscaloosa.
It’s no surprise that Jones was an award-winning defender throughout his career in the SEC. He was a two-time SEC All-Defense winner, came away with the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and won SEC Player of the Year in that same season. Jones was even named to the All-American Third Team.
Those honors towards the end of his college career wouldn’t have come to him without significant growth on the offensive end. Jones wasn’t a shooter in college, but his ball-handling and decision-making to create opportunities downhill became signature skills that he could hang his hat on in terms of evaluation for the pros.
Jones gained credible experience as a secondary creator for the Crimson Tide, coming off different actions, and making the necessary passes with either hand. As a downhill force, Jones generated free throws at an exceptional rate, which became a reliable source of offense for Alabama.
Defensively, Jones was quite literally everywhere on the floor in college. He could guard lead ball-handlers at the point of attack, rotate and help, and even cover some matchups on the backline. His steal and block rates were eye-popping as a perimeter-oriented wing.
Still, the lack of a jump shot hurt Jones’s case as an NBA prospect to the point where he fell into the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Scouts weren’t sold that he could bring enough to the table on the offensive end to justify the minutes coaches would want him to play because of his defensive capabilities.
Fortunately for Jones, he was brought into the New Orleans Pelicans organization, where he’s had the privilege of working with Fred Vinson, one of the league’s premier shooting coaches. After a few seasons, Jones shot a career-high 41% from deep on a respectable number of attempts. He turned a major weakness into something that he could go to if defenses chose not to respect him from deep.
As a defensive player, Jones has proven very useful as a pick-and-roll disruptor. His ability to get skinny and navigate ball screens has helped the Pelicans to rely less on certain coverages that create other gaps in the team’s defensive structure. Jones’s instincts in jumping passing lanes and helping to block shots as a weak-side rim protector are bonuses to what he provides as an on-ball defender.
Because of Jones’s shooting leap, he signed an extension on his rookie deal and is now viewed as one of the best value role players across the league. He suffered an injury this past regular season that led to some dips in his production, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t return to form when healthy next season.
Jones was a developmental project on offense because of his lack of shooting, but he understood the game at a high level and had the defensive skill to warrant such resources from his team. Without that key strength to defend in multiple structures, Jones may not have been a priority for anyone to develop his jump shooting to what it has become today. All credit goes to Jones for working his ass off to commit to what he knows, and better what he was the weakest at.
Buddy Hield, Golden State Warriors: 6’4”, 220 pounds
Pre-Draft College: Oklahoma
Drafted: Sixth Overall in 2016 NBA Draft
Player Archetype: Scoring Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
25.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.1 TOV. .501/.457/.880 Shooting Splits
25.9 FGA Per 100, 13.9 3PA Per 100, 8.6 FTA Per 100
1,309 MP, 66.5 TS%, 8.8 REB%, 12.7 AST%, 1.8 STL%, 1.4 BLK%, 30.2 USG%, 12.8 BPM
97th Percentile in Total Offense, 63rd in Total Defense
Current NBA Role: Fifth Starter/Sixth Man Shooting Specialist
Current NBA Stats:
11.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.1 TOV, .417/.370/.828 Shooting Splits
20.5 FGA Per 100, 14.3 3PA Per 100, 1.7 FTA Per 100
1,863 MP, 56.0 TS%, 7.6 REB%, 10.7 AST%, 1.8 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 20.5 USG%, -1 BPM
58th Percentile in Total Offense, 45th in Total Defense
Buddy Hield grew up in the Bahamas, and he was the country’s top prospect while he was a high school player. He was recruited to play for Sunrise Christian in Kansas for his last two years in high school, and he led the program to the National Association of Christian Athletes Championship during his junior year. He was named the tournament’s MVP during that run.
Hield committed to playing college basketball for Oklahoma despite offers from other top programs, including the Kansas Jayhawks.
Year over year, Hield grew exponentially as an offensive player. He doubled his number of shot attempts from his freshman year to his junior season, all while improving his efficiency as a shooter.
By his senior year, Hield made an effort to improve his on-ball defense, and he ended up finishing above the 60th percentile in terms of total defense per Synergy Sports. Not only was Hield quite literally the entire offense, but the fact that he was able to hold his own on the other side of the ball was a testament to his conditioning and commitment to winning. In 2016, Hield was the National Player of the Year and a First Team All-American. By the time his college career was over, he was also a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 winner.
Hield’s shot-making became prolific by the time his days were over at Oklahoma. His versatility as a shooter/scorer made him a lottery selection in the 2016 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Hield was a First-Team All-Rookie performer in the 2016-17 season, despite being traded midway through his first year in the league in a deal that landed DeMarcus Cousins in New Orleans. Hield was sent to the Sacramento Kings in that trade, and spent several years as one of the league’s best three-point shooters both starting and coming off the bench.
Throughout his professional career, Hield has signed multiple NBA contracts and has played for numerous other teams, including the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors. Hield’s dedication to his craft as a shooter both off the catch and off movement has made him a mainstay in the league despite his inability to create off the dribble and pressure the rim at a high level. Hield’s length and strength have helped him to stay on the floor through certain situations defensively, and by no means is he someone teams can easily target on that end of the floor.
Hield is a shooting specialist through and through, but that’s not all he was as a player in college. His experience taking on the burden of a number one option gave him a fresh set of eyes when embracing an off-ball role in the league. He learned firsthand where he needed to be on the opposite end of passes, and how to best play around those who command the highest usage on an NBA floor. Now, in a system that is tailor-made for his strengths in Golden State, Hield has had several big moments for the Warriors and looks to be a key rotational piece for the next few seasons.
Not every player is willing to scale their game down to best match what’s needed and adapt for the sake of winning in the league—especially someone who’s had as much success on the ball as Buddy has. This speaks to the type of player Hield is and wants to be in the NBA. He’s an example for many who have come after him as to what it means to succeed as a role player.
A.J. Green, Milwaukee Bucks: 6’4”, 200 pounds
Pre-Draft College: Northern Iowa
Drafted: UDFA in 2022 NBA Draft
Player Archetype: Shooting Specialist
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
18.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0 BPG, 2.2 TOV, .410/.388/.915 Shooting Splits
22.4 FGA Per 100, 12.6 3PA Per 100, 8.0 FTA Per 100
1,129 MP, 58.3 TS%, 6.3 REB%, 14.3 AST%, 1.4 STL%, 0.1 BLK%, 27.1 USG%, 3.8 BPM
86th Percentile in Total Offense, 20th in Total Defense
Current NBA Role: Bench Shooting Specialist
Current NBA Stats:
7.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 0.5 TOV, .429/.427/.815 Shooting Splits
12.4 FGA Per 100, 10.6 3PA Per 100, 0.8 FTA Per 100
1,659 MP, 62.1 TS%, 5.7 REB%, 8.5 AST%, 1.1 STL%, 0.4 BLK%, 12.6 USG%, -2.2 BPM
93rd Percentile in Total Offense, 44th in Total Defense
A.J. Green was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and played basketball in high school for his hometown school. Green became Cedar Falls High School’s all-time leading scorer and won an Iowa state championship.
Green was a four-star recruit who committed to play for Northern Iowa, where his father was a member of the coaching staff.
Green went on to collect numerous accolades for the mid-major program in the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVC Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-MVC in his first college season, Green also ended up with two First Team All-MVC selections and two MVC Player of the Year Awards by the time his career was done.
In total, Green scored 1,769 points in college, averaging over 30 points per 100 possessions and a 30% usage rate over all four years.
During his senior season, Green registered 309 pick-and-roll possessions including passes as the team’s leading offensive scorer and playmaker. No other player on Northern Iowa came close to matching Green’s offensive responsibility and production. As a high-volume pick-and-roll player, Green graded out as “Excellent” on those looks, per Synergy Sports.
Whether it was operating with the ball in his hands, coming off screens, or driving and creating downhill, Green was one of the best players in the country at putting the ball in the basket. As a 6’4” guard, who ultimately transitioned to a wing role in the NBA, Green’s experience doing anything and everything on offense put him in position to absorb a ton of knowledge concerning spacing, court mapping, and playmaking—similarly to Buddy Hield, who I wrote about above.
After college, Green went undrafted in 2022 and signed a two-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by a multi-year contract in 2023.
While he hasn’t been as successful in getting downhill in the league, nor has he been counted on to make plays at a high rate for others, Green has found a specialist role with Milwaukee as a shooter off the bench. One area he’s improved in significantly during his time in the NBA is on defense, where he’s found ways to become a net positive player on that end of the floor. He’s not as broad and bulky as some other perimeter players on the wing, but Green is a fierce competitor who can fight through screens, plays with his head on a swivel, and communicates well on rotations and in help defense.
Overall, Green came out of college as an underrated and well-conditioned athlete, with a legitimate strength in shooting the basketball, having been one of the most prolific perimeter scorers in Division I. Although he didn’t produce gaudy numbers at a Power 5 school, Green’s experience being “The Guy” before he set foot in the league helped him to scale and translate to an off-ball role because of his awareness and vision in seeing where he needs to be to affect the game at all times.
Looking back at Green’s collegiate career, it’s surprising to this day how he went undrafted. He wasn’t a standout passer in college by the numbers, but he had enough chops on tape to suggest he could move the ball effectively—at least when he needed to get off it. Factor in how he got most of his shots in college in terms of movement and conditioning, and there’s a clear argument for Green at least hanging on to a deep bench role for longer than a cup of coffee in the NBA. At this rate, especially given the strides he’s made defensively, Green could walk away with multiple contract extensions and some great career moments when it’s all said and done.
Caris LeVert, Atlanta Hawks: 6’6” 205 pounds
Pre-Draft College: Michigan
Drafted: 20th Overall in 2016 NBA Draft
Player Archetype: Scoring Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
16.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.7 TOV, .506/.446/.794 Shooting Splits
21.2 FGA Per 100, 8.5 3PA Per 100, 8.9 FTA Per 100
464 MP, 63.6 TS%, 10.6 REB%, 33.3 AST%, 2.0 STL%, 0.7 BLK%, 25.6 USG%, 11.4 BPM
96th Percentile in Total Offense, 50th in Total Defense
Current NBA Role: Sixth Man Playmaking Wing
Current NBA Stats:
12.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.2 TOV, .467/.373/.710 Shooting Splits
17.8 FGA Per 100, 8.5 3PA Per 100, 4.6 FTA Per 100
1,596 MP, 58.2 TS%, 6.9 REB%, 18.1 AST%, 1.7 STL%, 1.9 BLK%, 19.4 USG%, 0.9 BPM
76th Percentile in Total Offense (w/ ATL), 41st in Total Defense
Caris LeVert was born and raised in Ohio, and he attended Pickerington Central High School alongside future NBA player Jae’Sean Tate. Both LeVert and Tate helped Pickerington Central win a state championship towards the end of their high school careers.
LeVert had committed to Ohio University back in 2011, but due to a coaching change, de-committed from the school and instead ended up as a recruit for a talented Michigan program led by John Beilein.
LeVert came off the bench to start his freshman year due to the talented perimeter players in front of him, including Nik Stauskas and Tim Hardaway Jr. Before the end of his first season, LeVert had earned starting time with the Wolverines due to his defensive efforts and spot-up shooting away from the ball.
By his sophomore season, LeVert was a key member of the starting unit, both shooting the cover off the ball and taking defenders off the bounce to score at the rim. His defense was valuable on the wing, given his lateral mobility and length. All of those strengths tied together to give LeVert more on-ball reps by his junior year.
Unfortunately, LeVert suffered multiple leg/foot injuries in college that affected the number of games he played his senior season. LeVert’s draft stock was up and down through the pre-draft process despite his statistical resume and tape being that of a potential lottery pick in the NBA Draft.
LeVert was selected 20th in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, and he battled through multiple years of injuries to become a valuable starting offensive wing. LeVert’s tenure in Brooklyn lasted four seasons, and he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2021, followed by a move to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022.
With his move to Cleveland, LeVert transitioned to a sixth man role where he thrived for multiple seasons before being traded once more to the Atlanta Hawks at this past deadline.
Regardless of where he’s played, LeVert has been a productive offensive player because of his blend of perimeter shooting and ball-handling. LeVert is great at getting to his spots inside the arc, while also having improved as a three-point shooter off the dribble since his time in college. Before he was dealt to Atlanta, LeVert was shooting 38% on off-the-dribble threes with the Cavaliers.
LeVert came into the league with a legitimate bankable skill in shooting, along with enough success in pick-and-roll offense as a secondary ball-handler. LeVert was able to see over the defense in college and twist and wind his way to the basket for clutch finishes in the lane. His slithery approach to navigating ball-screen offense has carried over to the NBA, and his dribble-drive game has helped to set up improvements in shooting off the dribble, particularly from deep. LeVert has developed into a three-level scorer with touch from every area on the floor, and he has consistently had a better than 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA.
Teams trust LeVert to run backup units with the ball in his hands, and play off the ball with starting-caliber units. His offensive versatility on the wing allows him to slot in and out of multiple different lineup constructions, only increasing his NBA value. LeVert will be a free agent after this season, and he should be one of the top wing options on the market for any contending team.
Common Threads Between NBA Role-Playing Wings
Pre-Draft Season Efficiency Metrics
Current 2024-25 NBA Efficiency Metrics
Taking a look at these examples, there are some common threads to pull out that align with a lot of the key principles I use in evaluating wing prospects:
All players chosen for this exercise had key strengths to hang their hats on coming out of college to at worst slot into specialist roles, be it their shooting or defensive production
Each player, except for Herb Jones, had significant on-ball reps in college and weren’t just limited to their ability to shoot from the perimeter; all developed real feel for making plays off the bounce, and almost all of them were incredibly effective at finishing when they got to the rim
All but Herb Jones had a three-point shot ready to translate to some capacity in the NBA, be it off catch-and-shoot looks or off movement
Each player but Aaron Wiggins had success as winning players and awards finalists before they set foot on a college campus; they were conditioned to winning at the highest level, which carried over to being some of the best perimeter options towards the end of their collegiate careers
All found other ways to contribute to winning games outside of purely scoring the basketball, be it making plays for others, creating deflections and turnovers on defense, and rebounding the basketball at a certain level; Doing the “little things” to win games as competitive forces was evident in the tape of each player
Each player has fought through adversity at some point in their careers, whether it was in college or the pros; having the attitude to never quit, and adapt to any situation, are key traits to being successful pros in the NBA
Now: who are the prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class that personify most or all of these traits, and thereby should be viewed as potential steals given where they’re currently slotted on consensus draft boards?
Kon Knueppel, Duke: 6’6”, 219 pounds
Player Archetype: Scoring Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
14.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.4 TOV, .479/.406/.914 Shooting Splits
19.1 FGA Per 100, 10.5 3PA Per 100, 6.5 FTA Per 100
1,189 MP, 64.2 TS%, 7.6 REB%, 15.7 AST%, 2.0 STL%, 0.6 BLK%, 21.4 USG%, 10.8 BPM
95th Percentile in Total Offense, 80th in Total Defense
I didn’t think I’d be one for including a player in this exercise who wasn’t a multi-year established player in college, but here we are. I’ve just become too big of a Kon Knueppel supporter to not discuss him here as a potentially incredible role player in the NBA.
Now I get it—there’s a fear about who Kon is and what he could become in the NBA. If he’s associated with the term “role player” here, why would a team take him in the Top 10 of the draft? Top 5? Top 3?!
Truth be told, this exercise is hopefully starting to open up some ideas about what a player can be in the right context, while also focusing less on a number next to them on a big board. Playing the value card in professional sports matters when constructing a team; I’m not necessarily refuting that.
But passing on a player like Knueppel, who has real deal strengths to bank on at the next level, for a player who could have more theoretical upside with a narrower path to retain a role should the highest level outcomes not pan out, is a completely different animal altogether.
I just wrote about two players up top who were selected in the first round. Hield was selected in the lottery! Looking back, you would probably take Hield in a similar range given how his career has turned out, and I’d argue LeVert would’ve gone higher than 20 on draft night if not for the injury concerns.
Both have carved out careers as role players, and they have proven valuable to winning basketball games in the NBA. Just because you aren’t drafting a star doesn’t mean you should pass on a player whose ceiling has been manufactured for him based on certain aesthetic biases.
Kon could very well develop into a star-caliber combo wing in the NBA. Even if he doesn’t, what he brings to the table in terms of pedigree, experience, and on-court production checks a lot of boxes for me as an evaluator.
Knueppel grew up in Milwaukee, WI, and played high school basketball for Wisconsin Lutheran. As a senior, Kon grew his averages to 26.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG, and he led his team to a 30-0 record and a Division 2 Wisconsin State Championship.
Graded as a five-star recruit by all outlets but ESPN, Knueppel committed to Duke and played quite the supporting role alongside Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach.
Knueppel made the ACC All-Freshman Team and earned a Second Team All-ACC slot. By all accounts in terms of advanced metrics, Kon was Duke’s second-best player behind Cooper Flagg on a team that has upwards of six or more NBA prospects.
As a 6’6” wing in shoes, Kon transitioned from being “The Guy” in high school to playing a supporting role alongside Flagg as a shooting specialist and secondary creator.
Knueppel got more opportunities as the season went on to handle the ball in pick-and-roll offense, and held his own when the burden of the offense was on his shoulders. With Flagg off the floor, Knueppel’s on/off splits still stood out amongst freshmen in his class.
Knueppel’s game is built on his jump shot. He can knock down perimeter looks from all over the floor, be it off the catch or on the move. Knueppel’s pull-up game inside the arc is one of the best mid-range weapons from any player in this draft class, even if he hasn’t yet extended that same prowess out beyond the arc on shots off the dribble.
That pull-up shot from three is Knueppel’s main weakness outside of defensive concerns. Knueppel will have his fair share of challenges defending at the point of attack in the NBA, but still rated out 80th percentile in terms of total defense per Synergy Sports. Yes, he did share the floor with one of the best off-ball defenders in college basketball, and another 7’2” rim deterrent, but Knueppel found ways to be impactful defensively from a team perspective. He’s smart enough to beat ball handlers to spots on certain rotations, and is strong at nearly 220 pounds to absorb and withstand contact from drivers.
Knueppel competes on the glass, and he is always looking for opportunities to create offense with or without the ball. As a finisher, he has the type of craft and footwork in the lane that many guards look to develop. He’s not a “leaper” exactly, but his strength and body control project well for him at the next level.
As a passer, Knueppel rated “Excellent” in terms of pick-and-roll possessions including passes, and sported a low turnover rate all season. He plays with quickness in a good way despite not being an elite-level athlete. Everything about Kon is about processing the game at blazing speeds, and he excels at knowing how to make the most of who he is as a player and outthink his opposition.
Role players in the NBA need a strong characteristic to hang their hat on, along with the awareness on both ends of the floor to at least contribute and not be a total zero. Knueppel does more than just check those boxes. He has the type of game where he can play off other good players and blow past his “ceiling” of expectations in a great situation.
Christian Braun has shattered his perceived ceiling in Denver playing alongside Nikola Jokic to the point where he’s statistically rated as a top-three player in his draft class up to this point. Knueppel won’t be playing with Jokic, but if he’s put in a position to succeed around other known talents, such as with the Philadelphia 76ers, Knueppel could become one of the most valuable role players in the league—even if he isn’t a “star” depending on how high he’s drafted.
Don’t overthink Kon Knueppel.
Nique Clifford, Colorado State: 6’6”, 202 pounds
Player Archetype: Playmaking Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
18.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.6 TOV, .496/.377/.777 Shooting Splits
22.7 FGA Per 100, 8.3 3PA Per 100, 8.5 FTA Per 100
1,274 MP, 60.3 TS%, 16.4 REB%, 26.8 AST%, 2.0 STL%, 2.0 BLK%, 27.7 USG%, 11.1 BPM
81st Percentile in Total Offense, 78th in Total Defense
Nique Clifford is another player who I’ve graded out as a lottery-level prospect, but has mixed projections as a draft pick depending on who you talk to.
Clifford’s certainly battled adversity through his college career, and he made quite the decision to better himself in college through the transfer portal.
Before college, Clifford grew up in Colorado and committed to the Buffaloes after his time at The Vanguard School, where he was a standout athlete and Gatorade’s Colorado Player of the Year during his senior season where he averaged a staggering line of 26.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 5.9 APG, 3.5 SPG, and 2.8 BPG.
Clifford’s statistical and athletic profile graded him out as a high-major caliber prospect, and he did play in several games for Colorado through three seasons. Clifford started in 33 games as a junior, but ultimately made the decision to transfer out and head to mid-major program Colorado State for his last two seasons in school.
This decision allowed him the opportunity to be “The Guy” in order to explore more of the studio space, if you will (notice the trend here?).
As a senior, Clifford was named to the All-Mountain West Third Team. He was a First Team selection during his last year in college, along with making the All-Mountain West Defensive Team.
Clifford helped the Rams finish their season successfully during his fifth year, winning Mountain West Conference Tournament MVP after a trip to the championship game.
I applaud Clifford for making the transition that he did to Colorado State. Going back to his high school evaluation, Clifford had on-ball juice and real two-way talent to step up as a team’s primary option at the college level.
He got that opportunity and experience through multiple seasons, and is ready to come into the NBA as a role player with a number of translatable skills.
First and foremost, I can’t think of another wing since Josh Hart that I’ve scouted who rebounds as well as Nique does on both ends of the floor. He creates extra possessions through his timing, awareness, and vertical bounce to go grab those extra boards. He’s a fast break by himself, and his ability to generate second-chance points is always a game changer if his team’s shots aren’t falling from the outside.
Past his signature skill, there really isn’t much that Clifford CAN’T do on the floor. He can handle the ball in pick-and-roll offense, cut, make another read, score at the basket, and even run the floor in transition for a finish at the basket or fan out to the corners for a spot-up jumper.
Clifford’s shooting has been his biggest swing skill through multiple seasons up to this point, but he’s improved as a shooter to the point where I’d be surprised if he regresses at the next level. He shot 36% on catch-and-shoot threes this past season, and even hit 39% of his threes off the dribble!
With all of that scoring gravity comes his ability to find his teammates and dish the rock. Clifford can pass with either hand and connect on anything from a bounce pass to a clean lob. His playmaking is his most underrated skill, and one that will translate to the NBA in a secondary or tertiary role, depending on what the situation calls for him to do. If the ball swings to him, he can call for a second-side action and create in a pinch. Clifford has experience running ball-screen offense at the top of the floor, and has the type of first step and pop off that screen to get downhill, or pull up and score in the midrange.
I do have some concerns about Nique defensively as an on-ball matchup for bigger wings, as he is slight of frame given his age. However, he competes his tail off, has great hands, and knows how to create deflections and force turnovers in his favor. Clifford is a sharp player who knows what his strengths are on both ends of the floor.
Clifford plays with fire, has proven himself as a versatile chess piece, and comes to the NBA armed with a jump shot and nose for the ball. I mentioned Hart above in terms of his rebounding, but I find myself coming back to Caris LeVert in terms of what kind of player I think Clifford could evolve into in the NBA. He’s not the same player aesthetically, but both can slither in the lane, finish at the basket, create for others off double teams and collapsed defenses, and can knock down shots from the outside in numerous ways.
That type of upside for Clifford is completely in play, potentially making him one of those guys teams could be kicking themselves in time that they passed on in the 2025 draft.
Cedric Coward, Washington State: 6’6”, 213 pounds
Player Archetype: Athletic Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
17.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 2.2 TOV, .557/.400/.839 Shooting Splits
17.2 FGA Per 100, 8.5 3PA Per 100, 8.7 FTA Per 100
198 MP, 70.0 TS%, 12.4 REB%, 20.7 AST%, 1.4 STL%, 5.3 BLK%, 22.1 USG%, 9.3 BPM
97th Percentile in Total Offense, 14th in Total Defense
There has been no player during the 2025 pre-draft process who has improved his stock more than Cedric Coward.
The crazy thing is, Coward is rising on the back of not even a full season’s worth of work!
Coward’s story is one of my favorites in this class. Coward grew up in Fresno, CA, and played high school basketball at Central. He played varsity his junior and senior year, and was productive as a wing player.
Coward’s been dubbed a “late bloomer” because his body has developed physically after high school. He’s continued to grow, now standing at 6’6” with a 7’2” wingspan and massive hands. While not being close to a finished product, Coward began his college career at the D-III level playing for Willamette University. He averaged 19.4 PPG and 12 RPG en route to winning Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Northwest First Team.
After his lone D-III season, Coward transferred to Eastern Washington for two years and gained more experience playing with the ball in his hands. He already had a track record as a classic “3-and-D” prospect, but getting opportunities to handle the rock in transition and make plays for others off the bounce put him on the radars of D-I programs. Coward transferred to Washington State this past season, but unfortunately, he only got to appear in six games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
In those six contests, Coward showed off a lethal jump shot, excellent defensive capabilities, and started to show some flashes of improved ball handling. His metrics in those six games are off the charts, and project well from a wing standpoint off his entire college run.
Wings who can reliably shoot from the outside and defend multiple positions are all the rage in the NBA. As the game skews towards having plus positional size all over the floor, players who are between 6’6” and 6’8” with strength and length are necessary to play defense at the point of attack, and shut off as many passing/driving lanes as possible to limit interior penetration and entry passes.
Coward has the physical profile to project as such a player without taking anything off the table from a spacing perspective. He’s a powerful, vertical athlete who can score in transition. There’s a lot to like about his game, which makes the buzz that much more palpable as we inch closer to June.
However, there’s a large aspect of his game that’s theoretical when compared to others who have scaled their games down in the NBA at his position: on-ball volume.
Coward’s film leading into the draft process doesn’t have a large sample size of pick-and-roll possessions where he was tasked with making decisions on the move. Coward has largely been a play finisher in college, but a hyper-efficient one at that.
In recent interviews, Coward has been adamant he’s put in the work to become the type of ball handler that can attack defenses with confidence, and I believe him. Given the adversity he’s already faced as a player working up through different levels in college and succeeding at every stop, I have no reason to doubt his approach to becoming a better pro.
However, where he comes in as far as limiting his turnovers in traffic and navigating ball-screen offense matters in terms of his overall ceiling. If all else fails for him, Coward’s understanding and awareness on both ends of the floor, along with his shooting stroke and physical tools, present a real baseline for a player of his archetype.
If he can develop over his first few years in the league and warrant on-ball reps, however, that’s where his higher-end outcomes as a player become incredibly exciting. Coward has real star upside on the table if he can string everything together, making him a worthwhile bet to make anywhere from late lottery and on in this class.
Koby Brea, Kentucky: 6’7”, 202 pounds
Player Archetype: Shooting Specialist
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
11.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 0.5 TOV, .470/.435/.914 Shooting Splits
17.2 FGA Per 100, 11.7 3PA Per 100, 1.9 FTA Per 100
1,010 MP, 63.6 TS%, 6.2 REB%, 8.0 AST%, 0.9 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 16.7 USG%, 7.1 BPM
98th Percentile in Total Offense, 41st in Total Defense
Few players in the country have been as prolific outside shooters as Bronx-born Koby Brea has been through several seasons in college.
Brea’s basketball career began in high school at Norman Thomas High School. He was cut from his team, and he transferred to Monsignor Scanlan High School as a sophomore and made the junior varsity squad. Brea worked his way up to varsity for his junior season, and he was the team’s captain his senior year. Brea was named to the All-New York Second Team, and he committed to the University of Dayton.
During his freshman year, Brea played on a limited basis, but provided a spark off the bench during his sophomore season en route to winning the A-10’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Brea suffered stress fractures in both of his legs, and went through a rehab process to get back on the court for the 2023-24 season. That season, he played in 33 games and led the nation in three-point percentage, winning the A-10’s Sixth Man of the Year Award for a second time. Talk about overcoming adversity!
For his last season in college, Brea transferred to Kentucky and started in 16 games, while also splitting time coming off the bench. In the SEC, Brea still shot 43% from deep on a similar shot diet to what he excelled at for Dayton. A 6’7” wing who can shoot the cover off the rock like he can is a useful player no matter which way you slice it, and Brea maintaining that level of performance over multiple college seasons stacks well in his favor.
Brea isn’t just a spot-up shooter. He can get his own shot on the move or coming off screens. Brea’s mechanics on relocations are balanced and consistent. He’s always in control of his body—same fluid shot every single time. The best shooters are consistent no matter where they’re pulling up from in terms of the foundation of their mechanics.
Past his shooting, Brea has fared well in terms of operating off handoffs, working off screens, and even playing some pick-and-roll at the top of the floor. It’s not that he’s “bad” playing off the dribble and getting downhill, but Brea just doesn’t have the type of playmaking volume that most successful role-playing wings have coming out of college. He’s finished well around the basket throughout his college career, and he hasn’t forced a lot of bad shots.
Brea’s primary weakness, apart from limited rim pressure and passing results, would be his defensive effort. Brea isn’t a guy who is easily targeted by other teams, but he doesn’t have a plus wingspan and isn’t the type of guy on tape that has done all of the dirty work defensively to help his team win games. NBA teams will want to see more effort and improvement from him on that side of the ball to justify the minutes he could play because of how excellent he is as a shooter à la A.J. Green, as discussed up top.
Put simply, Brea is a shooter’s shooter. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea in terms of selecting him in the first round of the draft, but by all accounts, he’s a few improvements away from having the type of game that projects well for good teams off the bench in the NBA. There aren’t too many fliers I’d want to take over Brea in the second round at the wing position, given how well he could translate in a shooting specialist role.
Sion James, Duke: 6’6”, 218 pounds
Player Archetype: Athletic Wing
Pre-Draft Season Stats:
8.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.2 TOV, .516/.413/.810 Shooting Splits
13.1 FGA Per 100, 4.5 3PA Per 100, 6.0 FTA Per 100
996 MP, 63.5 TS%, 9.5 REB%, 18.9 AST%, 1.9 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 16.2 USG%, 9.3 BPM
91st Percentile in Total Offense, 91st in Total Defense
Last but certainly not least is one of my favorite second-round targets in the 2025 draft regardless of position.
Sion James is a 22-year-old wing prospect who grew up in Sugar Hill, Georgia. He wasn’t a top-level recruit coming out of high school, but committed to an opportunity to play at Tulane University.
He earned a starting role within the program during his freshman season and steadily improved as a two-way player due to his powerful frame, explosiveness as a driver, and defensive playmaking ability.
Over his sophomore and junior years, James made sizeable improvements in every area of his game offensively as he took on more responsibility as a playmaker and leader for his team while also maintaining low turnover rates despite the uptick in volume.
James graded out as one of the top players in the transfer portal after his junior year and transferred to Duke, where he was able to assimilate as a key role player for one of the best teams in the country. James brought with him versatility, experience, and leadership. He even stepped in to play point guard for the team during important stretches in ACC and NCAA Tournament play.
James ended up being the exact type of veteran connector Duke was looking for on the wing and in the backcourt. He played both sides of the ball for the Blue Devils through and through, able to guard every perimeter position on the floor while also taking care of the basketball and making his fair share of layups and spot-up jumpers on the offensive end. James’s ability to handle pick-and-roll offense took pressure off Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel at times, and he also developed chemistry with Khaman Maluach and Maliq Brown.
When projecting James to the next level, he doesn’t have the type of dynamic handle to always break down a bigger, quicker defender at the top of the floor. I would project James to get touches in secondary actions or in catch-and-drive or shoot situations. When the ball does swing his way, though, he has enough prior experience in terms of making the next play and setting the table for others to execute proper decision-making from the perimeter.
James can finish through contact or connect on pull-up jumpers inside the arc, and he has become a consistent three-point threat—albeit on lower volume than some other perimeter-oriented players in this draft class. There aren’t a ton of holes in his game as a two-way player, especially when factoring in how physical he is as a defender. James is a heady playmaker who knows when to jump passing lanes, rotate, and help to sure up gaps in the defense. As a defender at Duke, he limited opponents to just 30% shooting on shots that he was directly contesting, per Synergy Sports.
He doesn’t have a plus wingspan, and he isn’t the type of dynamic ball-handler that would suggest a higher upside in the league. However, at the end of the day, I’m not sure how many better “basketball players” there are in this draft than James. I wouldn’t be shocked to hear his name called in the first round, but in terms of available options in the second, I would sprint to the podium to add James to my team if I were a decision-maker for an organization.
the sion james and koby brea agendas >>>