It's rare to see a college senior projected so highly in the NBA Draft Lottery these days, but Corey Kispert is an exception.
The 22-year-old forward is coming off of a stellar final season at Gonzaga, where he averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from beyond the arc.
His efforts led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season all the way up until the National Championship game. Kispert added a West Coast Conference Player of the Year trophy and a Consensus All-American bid to his name in the process.
But what would Kispert bring to the NBA franchise that selects him?
Strengths
Simply put: Kispert is the best shooter in the 2021 NBA Draft class.
He can knock down shots from the perimeter in any way, shape or form – coming off of screens, running the lane in transition, off the bounce, on the move or with very little space to get a shot off.
He has a quick release and takes very little time to get his shoulders square to the basket to fire away.
Kispert isn't the fastest player but he runs the floor well, knowing exactly where he needs to be to make defences pay in transition, whether that be sprinting to the 3-point line or diving toward the rim. He's a smart cutter and navigates around screens well to free up enough space to get a shot off.
While he likely won't be asked to do much ball-handling in the early stages of his NBA career, he's a confident and efficient dribbler, capable of putting the ball on the floor and rising up to knock down a jumper or drive all the way to the basket if the defender is too eager on a closeout. He's a solid passer and never forces the issue, always playing within the flow of the game.
Defensively, his IQ and effort closes the gap on what he lacks in quickness and athleticism, and he's not afraid to get physical, using all of his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame. He's a smart help defender, rotates well and puts himself in the right spots to come up with stops.
Weaknesses
Although he is an intelligent defender, Kispert is by no means a lockdown defender. His lateral quickness is lacking and he could be a frequent target in pick-and-rolls because of that. His size allows him to take on bigger defensive assignments, but the quicker guards of the NBA could give him trouble.
On the offensive end, the biggest concern is his ability to create his own shot. Without much of a burst in his first step or shifty go-to dribble moves, he's a pretty traditional spot-up or catch-and-shoot shooter. He is effective off of a few dribbles, especially after an upfake or when a defender is trailing around screens, but expecting much beyond that would be asking too much.
Projected NBA Draft Position: Mid-to-late lottery
Projected NBA Role: Sharpshooter
Shades of: Joe Harris, Danny Green
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.