While it’s usually true that the NBA Combine is mostly a show for fans rather than an actual fact-finding expedition for NBA evaluators, there are times when the 2 days in Chicago change the trajectory of thought about a prospect. Just look at OMax Prosper last season, who’s phenomenal testing and great play in the first day of scrimmages shot him up draft boards both for media and NBA teams alike.
With that Marquette adjacent example so fresh in the mind, I paid way too much attention to Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro’s time at the Combine. Here’s a quick recap.
Tyler Kolek
Before the fun started on Monday, Kolek’s name didn’t show up in the list of scrimmage participants, meaning he had pulled out of that portion of the Combine, along with some of the higher profile prospects. Usually, this is done when your place in the draft is relatively secured, and in an interview with Andy Katz, Shaka smart confirmed as much.
“He’s in such a good position that he doesn’t have to.“
And in Kolek’s own words to MU beat reporter Ben Steele:”
“We just thought that the brand of basketball that they play here isn’t the style that I play,” he said. “I’m getting people involved, I’m sharing the ball, playing the right way. It felt like a lot of guys are just trying to get their games off here. Not trying to play the right way. It wouldn’t showcase what I can do the best of my ability.”
Kolek was involved in all of the testing though, and proved why you should relish his development and accomplishments at Marquette. He has worse tangibles than most point guards that ever make it to the Combine. Using Nick Kalinowski’s app, which has data going back through 2000, here’s where Kolek graded out.
And if you are a visual person…
There’s nothing about Kolek’s physique or athleticism that says he should be an NBA player, and yet the only question is how high in the first round will he end up going. That’s a testament to his absolutely elite skill at running the point and shooting the ball.
And speaking of shooting…
Overall, I would say that Kolek’s NBA stock remains roughly where it was going into the Combine, as a mid to late first round pick.
Oso Ighodaro
For Oso, with his draft status much less secure, this was a chance for teams to see him up close, despite not being a venue that might fit his intangibles and skillset.
As you can see above, it was a very mixed bag for Oso.
The good: he’s way more agile and athletic than the average center at the Combine in the last 20+ years. He finished in the 90th percentile or better for Lane Agility, Max Vert, Standing Vert and 3/4 Sprint.
The bad: he’s not built like a center. He was in the 10th percentile or lower for standing reach, weight and wingspan.
On the whole, the testing showed that Oso isn’t your average center, in more ways than one.
In the scrimmage portion, Oso came off the bench and did a lot of what has endeared him to fans for the past 3 seasons, being a vocal leader and getting everyone involved, leading his team with 5 assists to go with 8 points.
There hasn’t been a ton of chatter about him from the national media about his on court display, but in yet another example of what a special human he is, he made quite an impact without having to say a word in the media scrum portion.
I don’t think Oso will be a 1st rounder. I am not positive he will even get drafted, as he’s falling across most mocks over the last month.
But what I know without a doubt is whatever team he ends up signing with will fall in love with him, and he will contribute to that team’s success in all sorts of ways.
UPDATE: Oso also participated in Day 2 of the scrimmages and had himself a day, showing up on most pundit’s list of players who saw their stock rise.
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