The NBA Draft 2022 takes place this weekend. It is a process through which the 30 franchises choose 60 new NBA players through two rounds of picks in the “Draft Lottery“. Notable number 1 picks of the past include LeBron James, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Edwards. These players have shown the potential to change the future of a franchise.
The NBA Draft is an opportunity for teams to find raw talent that they can adapt to their system. It is also a chance for various teams to assess the value of their individual picks. With that being said, here are the top prospects and best players with defensive potential especially at the center position.
Top prospects for the NBA Draft 2022
It is difficult to say which prospect evolves into a fully-fledged NBA player. This is because each player is used to a certain system and playing in a certain manner. However, this will have to change if they join the NBA. Some skills may not necessarily translate to or work outside the level of college basketball. Additionally, players who seem to have talent may not be able to handle the grind and process of the league.
Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr have emerged as the top prospects from this 2022 batch. Chet played for Gonzaga College and Jabari Smith Jr for Auburn University.
Journey to the #NBADraft: Jabari Smith
Hear 2022 Draft prospect Jabari Smith share on his path to the NBA Draft!
2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm
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The 3 future players are all above 6’8 and have unique skillsets to complement their individual playstyle. Chet has made the most noise out of the prospects and drawn attention to himself as an upcoming star in the league even before playing a single game.
The best defender out of these draft prospects
Defense is the bread and butter of any rookie in a star-studded league. Simply put, no team wants a player who is a liability on the defensive end. The modern NBA is more offense-oriented. However, it has always been said that good defense wins championships. Therefore, teams are always on the lookout for players who can become defensive anchors for the team.
It is even harder to guess who will be the best defender coming out of this draft. Be that as it may, Chet Holmgren has made a resounding statement with his play to prove he is arguably the best defender in this draft.
Holmgren was averaging 14.1 points and 9.9 rebounds for his college team. The most remarkable stat is him averaging 3.7 blocks per game. This is a stat line similar to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and swings the argument of who can be the best defender his way.
Is Chet Holmgren the best center in the NBA Draft 2022?
Chet has made a statement even before entering the draft. This is quite a move as NBA players are known to rough up overconfident cocky rookies. It is easy to say that Chet is the best of everything and deserves all the spotlight and attention. But that would be an insult to all the other potential soon to enter the league.
Jalen Duren is a top 5 draft prospect, who studied at Montverde Academy and played for the Memphis Tigers. He plays the same position as Chet and is listed at 6’9 just like Holmgren. Jalen was averaging 12 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in college. These stats are very similar to Chet’s.
Jalen Duren has flown completely under the radar thanks to Chet’s antics. However, he might just end up stealing the title of best center of this draft from Holmgren.
