2016 NBA Draft: Best perimeter defenders
By Chris Stone
5. Gary Payton II, PG, Oregon State
Following in his father’s footsteps, Gary Payton II has made a name for himself in college basketball as a high-quality perimeter defender. As a sophomore, he averaged 2.9 steals per 40 minutes, which is the second best mark among college prospects in this year’s draft class. Payton has good instincts when it comes to jumping into passing lanes and his physical tools — namely his 6-8 wingspan and elite athleticism — give him the ability to follow through on his gambles. He should be quick enough when engaged on the ball to stay in front of most point guards at the next level, but he’ll need to play with a bit more consistent effort to do so.
Related Story: Gary Payton II Scouting Report
Payton also posted a 3.2 percent block rate over two seasons at Oregon State, an incredibly impressive mark for a point guard. Additionally, he is a very good rebounder for his position, grabbing 9.2 boards per 40 minutes with an 18.0 defensive rebound rate as a sophomore.
As a 6-3 point guard, Payton doesn’t check the positional versatility box as well as some of the other players on this list, but his wingspan should at least allow him to defend both guard positions in the NBA.
To read more about Gary Payton II, click here.
Next: 4. Jaylen Brown