Everyone knows the generational talent, Victor Wembanyama but this draft is filled with talent outside of just him. There are many players in the draft with all-star potential but there are 4 players in particular that have a chance at being a top 10 player in the NBA.
This can not be taken for granted. Not just anyone can be an NBA superstar and there are usually 0-2 guys a draft with a ceiling like that. This again is a ceiling and the most likely outcome is that only 1 or maybe 2 of these guys ever reach that tier.
Each of these 4 players played in a different league last year and have different styles of games. Let’s break down who each of these four players is and why they could be a top 10 player in the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama, Alien, Metropolitans 92
Who is He?
Let’s be honest, if you are reading this you already know who he is. Vic is a 7’5 french prospect that plays positionless basketball. At his size with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama is the best defensive prospect I have ever seen. He erases any defensive mistakes with his shot-blocking and defensive IQ. On offense, he has taken a massive leap this year and is now a formidable shooter and ball handler to pair with his great touch around the rim. Despite his size, Vic plays like a wing out on the perimeter and has the skills to back it up. Vic has flashes of being a good playmaker and with the attention, he will generate in the NBA it will only get better.
How Can He Become a Top Ten Player?
This will be the laziest answer out of the 4 prospects but… doesn’t get hurt. If Victor can stay healthy he will not only be an NBA superstar but an all-time great. Outside of injuries, how good the shot or playmaking get could decide his ultimate ceiling but I am not too worried about those. Wembanyama was the best player in one of the best leagues in the world this season and would be shocked if at some point in his career, he wasn’t a top 10 player.
Scoot Henderson, Guard, G-League Ignite
Who is He?
Scoot Henderson has been the point guard for the G-League Ignite for two seasons now. He is 6’2 but he plays much bigger. With a big wingspan and a chiseled body, Scoot will be able to outperform his height. As a lead guard, he is a fantastic playmaker with an incredible 35.8 assist percentage. Scoot is also a much-improved shooter and I have little doubt he will be a great shooter in the league. He is a great athlete that has done very well in the second-best league in the world. In most drafts, Scoot would be the #1 pick but unfortunately for him, this draft has an alien.
How Can He Become a Top Ten Player?
The athleticism, playmaking, and finishing is there and I am not worried at all about that translating. The two biggest swing skills that could result in him being a top-10 player are his shooting and his defensive ability. His jump shot is not yet good but he is a fantastic pull-up jump shooter, his shot looks good, and he is a great free throw shooter which usually indicates that he will be a good shooter. On defense, the biggest thing is that he can’t be a defensive liability. With his measurements I believe at worst he is an average defender.
Brandon Miller, Forward, Alabama
Who is He?
The only player on this list from college basketball, Miller has surprised many as the best freshman in the country this season. The 6’9 forward was SEC player of the year while leading the #1 team in the country Alabama to both a regular season and SEC tournament title. Miller is a great shooter and got better as a ball handler and half-court creator as the season went on. At the beginning of the season, Miller struggled to finish at the rim but he improved greatly throughout the season. Defensively Miller is good not great but it is his offensive ability that will make him a top 3 pick.
How Can He Become a Top Ten Player?
If Miller becomes a top 10 player in the league I would guess that he follows the Paul George mold. The shooting and size are there for Miller to be successful but he will need to continue to develop his finishing and ball handling for him to be that caliber of player. Miller is not a great playmaker but big wings that can score from all 3 levels normally acquire the attention that allows them to be good playmakers. I find Miller’s case the least likely out of the four players in this article but it exists nonetheless.
Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite, Guard
Who is He?
There are not many times the best athlete and playmaker in a draft are the same person but that is the case with Amen Thompson. Amen is not just a great athlete but he potentially may be the best athlete in the NBA the first day he is drafted. Playing in the Overtime Elite league, Amen and his twin Ausar dominated losing just one game all season. Amen has his clear flaws but there are very few times there are prospects that can do something you have never seen before and Amen is that type of player.
How Can He Become a Top Ten Player?
This is an easy answer… develop a jump shot. Amen is a great athlete, a great finisher, a great defender, gets to the lane at ease, and is an amazing playmaker but he can not shoot. Nothing about Amen’s shoot looks good, if anything it looks broken. Amen will be a great NBA player because he is too good at certain things but if he can develop a jump shot he could be one of the best players in the league for a very long time.
