NBA Draft: Calipari thinks UK’s Murray should be top pick
With the NBA Draft quickly approaching, University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari thinks that his guy, Jamal Murray, should be the number one overall pick.
Despite everybody thinking that Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are the top two prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft, UK coach John Calipari thinks that his player Jamal Murray should be taken by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick.
"“If you’re going to take the No. 1 pick, you probably should do it from our program,” Calipari said on the ESPN U College Basketball podcast."
Calipari’s argument for Murray at number one centers around the successful first overall picks who have been taken from his programs. He mentions former league MVP Derrick Rose, reigning Rookie of the Year Karl Anthony-Towns and dynamic point guard John Wall.
While Calipari’s players have certainly had NBA success, that does not necessarily correlate from player-to-player. Murray is a fantastic player who can put the ball in the hole with regularity, but his overall game pales in comparison to Simmons and Ingram.
With his ability to score in bunches, Calipari called Murray the “safest pick.”
"“What does Philadelphia need more than anything else? Someone to make shots and guard play,” Calipari continued. “I am biased. I want my guy. But he can play multiple positions, he can physically step in and play right away.”"
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In his only college season, Murray led a powerful Kentucky squad with an even 20 points per game last year. His number one skill is his ability to shoot with consistency from long-range, hitting three-point shots at a 41% clip on the season.
The NBA undoubtedly values the three-point shot now more than ever before, making Murray an extremely interesting prospect. That being said, a majority of his shots come off of a catch-and-shoot situation.
Murray is undoubtedly a great shooter, but he does not create his own shot, is not much of a play-maker for his teammates and his defense is average at best. His ability to score certainly puts him in position to go as high as number three to the Boston Celtics, but I simply cannot get behind Calipari in supporting Murray at number one.
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