2019 NBA Mock Draft: A crazy lottery throws everything into question

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 14: NBA Draft Prospects Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett look on at the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 28: Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) looks on during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship Sweet Sixteen round basketball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Michigan Wolverines on March 28, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

. G/F. Texas Tech. Jarrett Culver. 5. player. 156

Culver was second to Morant in terms of the media attention he got in Chicago and the hype surrounding his appearance at Quest Multisport for the combine. Nearly every team in the lottery met with him before the week was up and it would be shocking if he was still available after the top five.

Culver’s intangibles — his work ethic, passion and the way he interacts with his teammates — were on full display as he handled media questions on Thursday afternoon.

“I love the game, I don’t see it as a job, I see it as something I love to go out and play basketball,” he said. “I’m level-headed when I play, I don’t yell and all that stuff, but it’s a different beast when I get on the court.”

We all got to see up close how that manifested for the wing throughout the year as he led Texas Tech to overtime of the national championship game.

“We were one of the best defensive teams in college and I feel like that’s something I’m good at and I want to do,” Culver said, though he admitted, “I need to improve on my ball-handling for sure, being able to come off screens and get my shot off, and that has a lot to do with ball-handling.”

As for his role in the NBA, Culver feels his versatility will be key.

“That was a great adjustment for me this year, coach put me on the ball,” he said. “Being able to do both, I feel like it helped me a lot. Whatever a team needs me to do, to play the point guard spot, to come off of screens or anything.”

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