Which current and former players do the top 2017 NBA Draft prospects compare to overall and in various elements of their games?
It’s a tradition as old as the NBA Draft itself, and a formality that the incoming prospects will be compared to pro players. By the same vein, though, there are often immense exaggerations when it comes to actually doing so. Player A more than likely isn’t going to be the next LeBron James or Kevin Durant. And Player B probably isn’t going to have the same career as Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki.
While all of that is true, there’s a reason that many of these comparisons get thrown out there or gain any kind of traction. Someone’s length and offensive prowess may lead to a Durant comparison. By the same token, an elite stretch-four prospect could be subject to Dirk comps. And so the list goes on and on.
But the danger when it comes to making comparisons in this vein is that it tends to put unrealistic expectations on these young players. That’s unfair to them and unfair to raise the hopes of fans. In that vein, we’re going to try and remedy that to some degree.
We’re going to make comparisons to the top eight prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft. However, we’re going to pinpoint the areas that make the comparison noteworthy. What’s more, there will be plenty of hybrid comparisons with numerous areas being compared to separate players. Now that we have that, let’s get started with Lonzo Ball as we go in alphabetical order.
Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Comparison: Jason Kidd (playmaking on the run), Kevin Martin (outside shooting, defense)
The Jason Kidd to Lonzo Ball comparisons have been thrown out roughly 100 times at this point. When you see Ball on film throughout his time at UCLA, it’s not hard to see why. Whenever the Big Baller is running the offense on the break, he has a lot of Kidd to his game. He’s great at simply making the fun and creative play that will best set his team up in those situations. The unfortunate thing about that comparison, however, is that the aptness of it really falls apart from there.
For one, Ball is a much more prolific shooter coming out of college than Kidd was. Yes, there are concerns about that because of his funky stroke (we’ll get to that), but the efficiency numbers don’t lie and he’s far more adept than Kidd was coming out of Cal. In Kidd’s favor versus Ball, however, is that the Cal product was much better in the halfcourt creating and running the offense. He was also a much more capable defender on the perimeter. Ball is a complete liability on the defensive end currently, though he has the length and athletic profile to develop into a player who’s Kidd-like on that end.
When it comes to getting the complete profile through comparison for Ball, the other player that has to be mentioned is Kevin Martin. Though he flamed out quickly, he proved out of Western Carolina to be an offensive threat, despite a weird shooting stroke and being a minus-defender for his entire career. Ball as of now fits that profile well, coupled with the playmaking of Kidd.
De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Comparison: Dennis Schroeder
One of the more ludicrous comparisons that we’ve seen thrown out time and again throughout this current 2017 NBA Draft process is Kentucky prospect De’Aaron Fox being compared to John Wall. Superficially, it’s not hard to see where this comes from. Both thrived as the point guard in Lexington under John Calipari. What’s more, both point guards are dynamic and lethal in penetration and finishing amongst the trees with a variety of looks.
However, Fox athletically isn’t in the same universe as Wall. The Wizards point guard is built like a bag of bricks and moves like a runaway train in the open floor and even in the lane when he’s slicing through the defense. While Fox is a capable player in both capacities, he’s not the same physical force that a player like Wall is. His athletic and physical profile is much more akin to a player like Dennis Schroeder.
Though he’s been mired by inconsistency, Schroeder could more or less be considered a diet version of Wall, which is more apt of a comparison for Fox. They do similar things, but in a much less imposing way. What’s more, both Fox and Schroeder aren’t necessarily the same playmakers in terms of their passing that Wall is. Could Fox develop into a Wall-like player? Without question after getting on an NBA training program. For now, though, he’s much more like the Hawks guard.
Markelle Fultz, G – Washington
Comparison: Brandon Roy (playmaking, physical profile)
For most scouts and analysts, Markelle Fultz is the unquestioned No. 1 player in the 2017 NBA Draft class. Subsequently, his pro comparisons have a tendency to get more overblown than some. However, these comparisons are more apt considering what the combo guard brings to the table. Subsequently, the first player that Fultz profiles similarly to is a fellow Washington Huskies alum in Brandon Roy.
Prior to his knee injury, Roy’s game was eerily similar to the way Fultz plays. Neither player was an overwhelming athlete, but both players had the versatility and skill because of their frame and basketball IQ that any lack of quickness wasn’t substantially detrimental. What’s more, the playmaking of Fultz is reminiscent of Roy in that he can beat teams in a number of ways. He can knock down jumpers from anywhere off the floor, especially with his lethal pull-up. What’s more, they’re also both elite finishers at the rim.
Where the comparison to Roy deviates a bit is in Fultz’s ability to make plays for others and run an offense as a combo guard. Fultz probably has a slight athletic edge of Roy and, being a younger prospect, may even have more upside.
Jonathan Isaac, F – Florida State
Comparison: Longer Andrei Kirilenko (game), Kevin Durant/Brandon Ingram (length, size)
Perhaps the most ridiculous comparisons that have been thrown out belong to Florida State stud Jonathan Isaac. The first comparison he gets is to Durant. While their body types may be similar, Isaac isn’t the elite scorer that Durant was and him reaching that type of upside would be a long-shot. Then the other comparison, also due to his frame, is that of Brandon Ingram. However, Ingram was looked at as a defensive-potential guy coming into the draft, still needing to develop on that end. Isaac is a much more complete product than Ingram was on defense, and not nearly as polished or versatile as Ingram was on offense.
When watching Isaac, the player that comes to mind for me is Andrei Kirilenko with the length and physical profile of a Durant or Ingram. Like AK-47 in his prime, Isaac has the ability to affect the game in every facet. While he may not be spectacular in any of those regards, he has the ability to perform at well above-average levels in those aspects of the game. Much like Kirilenko, Isaac has the IQ and complete game to be 5-by-5 threat every time he takes the floor.
The only difference between Kirilenko and Isaac is that their offensive game is a bit different. For one, Isaac has a bit more of a reliable shooting stroke from long-range, shooting over 34 percent on 3-point attempts at Florida State last season. More importantly, Kirilenko was a much more consistently physical player. However, with physical development in regards to strength, Isaac has the game to develop into the same type of player on offense.
Josh Jackson, G/F – Kansas
Comparison: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (athleticism, versatility), Andrew Wiggins (offensive potential)
More than perhaps any other prospect — or at least elite prospect — for the 2017 NBA Draft, it’s hard to pigeon-hole Josh Jackson into being like one pro player. There are elements of what the Kansas product does that remind you of other players, but there are other aspects of his game that don’t fit the bill for whatever comparison. Thus, taking the hybrid approach to finding a comparison for him is really the only acceptable route to take.
One comparison that gets thrown around that’s only partially applicable is that of another Kansas product, Andrew Wiggins. When you look at the offensive game of Jackson, you see where that comes in. Watching Jackson on the offensive end of the floor, it doesn’t take a great leap of faith to imagine him being a versatile all-around scorer. He can attack and score at will when slashing. However, his jumper and his ball-handling both leave a bit to be desired. That’s the same M.O. that Wiggins had when coming out of Lawrence.
However, Wiggins was an other-worldly athlete and, though Jackson is athletic, I don’t think he’s on that level quite as much. What’s more, I think Jackson is a better and more versatile defender than Wiggins was. That’s where we bring Michael Kidd-Gilchrist into the equation. Though a great athlete in his own right, he’s not on the same level as Wiggins. What he does have, however, is the defensive and versatile traits that Jackson possesses. Therefore, the hybrid of those two elements seems the best way to assess Jackson.
Malik Monk, G – Kentucky
Comparison: Klay Thompson (offense), Poor man’s Zach LaVine (athletic profile)
Before anyone starts losing their minds, Klay Thompson is indeed a lofty comparison to start off with when it comes to a player like Malik Monk. For all intents and purposes, the Warriors electric guard is a far more complete player than the Kentucky product. So if any team is drafting Monk with the thought that they’re getting the entire package that Thompson brings to the table, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening.
But among all of the things that Thompson brings to the table, Monk is similar in his overall offensive game. Monk is a suspect ball-handler overall, though he’s still able to create his shot. That’s a similar assessment to how Thompson was viewed coming out of Washington State and, though he’s improved his weaknesses, to how he’s viewed now. Taking it a step further, we’ve seen Thompson go full supernova on a number of occasions in his career. That’s something Monk has the potential for as well.
Where Monk separates himself from Thompson in terms of comparison, beyond being a worse defender, is with his athleticism. Not taking what the Timberwolves guard is capable of lightly, he’s very much a poor man’s Zach LaVine in terms of the electricity he brings to the table. Monk actually gets away with more as a playmaker because of his spring and quickness in his legs than Thompson would. Thus, his potential is truly through the roof if he can fine tune his overall game and, more importantly, stay more engaged mentally.
Dennis Smith Jr., PG – North Carolina State
Comparison: Derrick Rose (offensive explosiveness), Kyle Lowry (physical build, shooting)
Obviously comparing a player to the current version of Derrick Rose would be more of a negative than a positive. However, when you harken back to his glory days on the Bulls before his knee injury and when he was winning MVPs, people forget how dynamic and electric he was with the ball in his hands. In that same regard, Dennis Smith Jr. brings a similar level of burst and explosiveness to the table.
Though his motor wasn’t necessarily on the level of Rose’s while playing at NC State, Smith can be a just-get-out-of-his-way type of force for opposing defenses. Not only does he have a raw physicality to his attacking with the ball in his hands, but he has that same shiftiness that Rose had in the air that makes him so difficult to stop when he’s going at the rim. The primary difference, however, lies in the build of smith, which is much more reminiscent of Kyle Lowry than Rose.
While Smith may have a couple of inches on Lowry and bit more length, their body type is quite similar. That actually makes him more dangerous in some capacity because he has a more functional strength than Rose did early coming out of Memphis. Also like Lowry and unlike Rose, Smith has a reliable outside jump shot. It’s certainly not his best asset or his go-to weapon, but it’s a shot that coaches are fine with him taking at the point, which an asset that helps open up the rest of his game.
Jayson Tatum, F – Duke
Comparison: Jabari Parker (offense), More athletic/long Paul Millsap (defense)
Much like with Josh Jackson, it’s exceptionally difficult to find a 1-vs-1 comparison when it comes to Jayson Tatum. This is the case for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most difficult of those reasons to contend with is the role that Tatum played while at Duke. Though he was quite obviously the best and most dangerous player on the floor most times out, he often played second or third fiddle in the offense, especially early in the season. Thus, it’s somewhat hard to adequately assess his potential.
However, Tatum’s offensive games and frame are very reminiscent of another one-and-done prospect out of Duke, current Milwaukee Buck, Jabari Parker. Though Tatum definitely brings more athleticism to the table than Parker — which is impressive in itself — both possess an exceptionally versatile offensive game. They can spot up and knock down jumpers from deep, but also have the length and guard-like skills to slash and be dangerous on the drive.
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That being said, Parker is still a pretty notoriously poor defender at this point in his career, whereas Tatum is not and has the potential to be even better. His defensive prowess is very similar to that of Paul Millsap, only if you put the Hawks forward on a medieval stretcher to give him more length. Millsap has the physical tools to defend inside and out with great effectiveness, something that Tatum brings to the table as well.
This is a bit more of a hypothetical ceiling comparison, but if he can bulk up a bit more, Tatum has the opportunity to be one of the best two-way players in this draft class, hands down, even if he’s not a MVP-caliber type talent.