CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Russ Smith

There are a couple pro players who remind me of Russ Smith, including Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings.  However, the comparison that I think is most accurate is Nuggets guard Nate Robinson. Both Smith and Robinson are very small, at 6'0'' and 5'9'' respectively, but make up for it with their incredible acceleration, quickness, and jumping ability.  Also, they have a unique talent in creating shots for themselves (and knocking these shots down) as well as making creative plays around rim amongst players that often have a full foot on them.  Additionally, despite their poor size, Smith and Robinson both manage to chip in on the boards, and they are also fairly good passers and dribblers at the point guard position.  Perhaps what is most similar between these two players is their knack for converting in clutch situations and their undeniable swagger.  People will say that because of his short frame, Russ Smith does not have a whole lot of potential as a NBA player, but players of this mold have actually been fairly successful in the NBA, with the pinnacle of short-player success in the NBA having been reached by Allen Iverson in the early 2000's.  It will certainly enthuse Russ Smith that scouts have recently been pointing out this interesting similarity that Smith shares with Iverson, but I'm going to stick with the Nate Robinson comparison until I see a little bit more.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Casey Prather

Casey Prather might be the most humble, hard-working player in all of college basketball this year, not to mention that he is an extremely talented player at the small forward position.  These characteristics alone suggest to me that Prather is very similar to Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.  Neither Prather nor Leonard make any noise off the court, with press conferences that are so perfectly unexciting due to their quiet natures.  However, on the court, the story is different, as both players are game changers on offense and defense.  In terms of offense, both rely on their incredible slashing ability to put points up on the board, but they are also no stranger to knocking down outside shots. Defensively, they are extremely hard workers and have very quick hands, which leads to tons of fast break points. Coming out of college, Leonard was drafted with the 15th overall pick, with the expectation being that he would develop into a solid role player.  Leonard has far surpassed that mark, and is now perhaps the most important player on the Spurs.  Likewise, last year for the Gators, Casey Prather averaged just 6.2 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game, but this season he has emerged as the star player for a talented Florida team, averaging 14.8 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game.  These drastic improvements in Leonard and Prather's game speak to their unrivaled work ethic and dedication.  Any team that takes a chance on Prather will certainly be getting a hard worker who could eventually develop into a star.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson is a superb college player but he projects as a fairly average player at the pro level because he is severely undersized at the shooting guard position, but does not have the necessary skill set to play point guard either.  Thus, I think Johnson's most relevant NBA comparison is Celtics combo-guard Avery Bradley.  Bradley's deficiencies are very similar to those of Johnson, as they both are shorter than 6'3'' (most shooting guards tend to be around 6'5'' or taller) and neither are effective enough at managing the game or passing to play the point guard position.  Despite these downfalls, they both have incredible defensive work rates and can knock down jump shots with relative consistency. Also, they tend to be fantastically exciting and powerful finishers around the rim, regardless of their short stature.  Though he probably won't turn into a star at the next level, any team that drafts Johnson will be getting an intense role player with the characteristics of a lesser Avery Bradley.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Gary Harris

Gary Harris is a polished scorer who can light up the basket from every spot on the court.  This simultaneous ability to knock down threes and finish around the rim reminds me of Suns shooting guard Gerald Green.  Both Green and Harris have great strokes from outside and midrange, while they also have the athleticism to make highlight-reel plays when they are slashing to the hoop.  Outside of this offensive production, though, neither of them really dominate in other parts of the game.  They both are mediocre rebounders and passers, while they play average defense.  They are, however, solid locker room leaders with high basketball IQ's.  Thus, though any team that drafts Harris won't be investing in a guy who will impact every aspect of the game, they will be getting a guy who can but the ball in the basket with consistency, make dynamic plays around the rim, and be a solid locker room presence. Those characteristics are exactly what Gerald Green has brought to every NBA team that he has played for.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Aaron Gordon

Arizona power forward Aaron Gordon holds an eery resemblance to Clippers forward Blake Griffin. First off, they share incredible similarities in terms of look, as they are both ripped and stand around 6'9''.  Outside of that, their play styles are also remarkably similar, as they both have endless arsenals of explosive and powerful moves to the basket that often end up on SportsCenter highlight reels.  Both Griffin and Gordon have tremendous athleticism but are still working on polishing their outside game. They are also fantastic defenders, with long arms and quick feet that allow them to influence shots in the lane and stay with their man on the perimeter.  Gordon has as high a ceiling as anybody in this draft class not named Joel Embiid or Andrew Wiggins, so it would not be surprising to see a lottery team take a chance on him, as he has the tools to become a franchise player like Blake Griffin in the future.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Shabazz Napier

For me, the NBA player most reminiscent of Shabazz Napier is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher.  Napier does not have great athleticism or size (only 6'2'' wingspan), but if there is one thing that he does have, it is the ability to make outside shots, especially when the game is on the line.  Fisher has this same ability, and showcased it most prominently in his years with the Lakers, when he hit clutch shot after clutch shot in the 2009 and 2010 seasons when the Lakers won the title.  Napier is developing as a passer and has actually become a decent rebounder too, while Fisher's passing and rebounding are both solid facets of his game.  Meanwhile, both are below-average defenders due to their smaller frames.  Because of his average athleticism and poor size, Napier has been labeled as a low-ceiling draftee, but if a team is looking for a clutch role player like Derek Fisher late in the draft, Napier might just be their man.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Doug McDermott

Doug McDermott's best pro comparison is without a doubt Dirk Nowitzki.  Both are jump-shooting power forwards, with fantastic range and solid rebounding ability.  The characteristic that they share that sets them both apart from the pack is their unique ability to create shots for themselves.  Their ability to create shots is inspired by their brilliantly inventive array of shot types.  From one-footed fade-aways to leaning floaters, these two never seem to be denied a shooting opportunity and their shots nearly always seem to find the bottom of the net.  Additionally, neither of them have great athleticism, but thy manage to still be productive rebounders with good instincts and technique.  McDermott will go down as one of the best players in college basketball history, and I think that whichever team takes him near the middle or end of the first round may be getting a gem of a player.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Tyler Ennis

Offensively, Ennis is a fantastic leader, great passer, and incredible finisher around the rim, especially for someone his size.  On the defensive end of the court, though, Ennis lacks elite size and may struggle to transition from the Syracuse zone to a NBA man-to-man system.  When taking in all of these characteristics, the pro player that Ennis most reminds me of is Spurs point guard Tony Parker.  First off, both Parker and Ennis are primarily pass first point guards with great attitudes and leadership abilities.  Also, nobody in the college game is able to perform a floater quite like Tyler Ennis, while Parker's floater is thought of as one of the best in the NBA.  In terms of negatives, neither of them are outstanding on-ball defenders and they are both have relatively small frames, even for point guards. Ennis is shooting up draft boards at the moment and it is easy to see why; much like Parker, he has an NBA ready mind and is a bona fide winner.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Marcus Smart

When scouts talk about Marcus Smart, the one thing that they say over and over is that he has got the "x-factor" or the "clutch gene."  The only suitable pro comparison that I see for him is another combo guard who has ice in his veins when the game is on the line - Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade.  Critics will say that Smart's recent altercation with a fan shows bad character and poor intangibles, but the feeling around college basketball is that Smart is actually a good guy with a team attitude, who is a very smart player and a leader on the court.  Wade, too, is renowned for his unselfishness and leadership ability.  Meanwhile, the similarities in position and play style are also abundant, as both Wade and Smart are combo guards with an explosive ability to get to the rim and make clutch outside shots when the game is on the line.  Additionally, they both have fantastic defensive instincts and are solid passers of the ball on offense.  Perhaps Smart is not quit as talented as Dwayne Wade, but he certainly has the attitude and skills to make a fairly solid impact in the pros.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Julius Randle

Randle, with his polished offensive game and unstoppable rebounding ability, reminds me of Warriors power forward David Lee.  Randle and Lee both have above-average jump shots for big men, can get it done offensively on the inside, and have strong frames that make them impossible to get around on the boards.  Another similarity is their natural athleticism, which allows them to run in transition and make powerful plays around the rim.  Despite their athleticism, though, they are both sub-par on the defensive end of the floor and their lack of elite wingspans limits their potential at the NBA level.  Randle will likely be a high draft pick because he is one of the more NBA-ready players in this year's class, but it remains to be seen whether his less-than-subtle flaws will be exposed when he makes it to the pros. Lee has been able to succeed without being an incredible defender or having an outstanding wingspan, so maybe Randle will be able to do the same.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Dante Exum

Exum's skill set is perfectly reminiscent of Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams. Both of them, standing at 6'6", create huge mismatches at the point guard position.  What they gain in height, they certainly don't loose in speed, as they are both incredibly quick.  The combination of quickness and size makes both Carter-Williams and Exum unstoppable when driving to the basket. However, when they are forced to sit outside and shoot jumpers, they can both be quite inconsistent. Carter-Williams' jumper was supposed to be horrible when he was drafted by the 76ers, but it has been slightly better than we expected, which can be attributed to MCW's great work ethic.  Exum is also said to have a great work ethic, and teams will hope that he can improve his jumper during the offseason. Additionally, Carter-Williams and Exum are both dynamic on the defensive end of the floor, making steals and disrupting passing lanes with their large frames.  Lastly, the largest part of both Carter-Williams' and Exum's game is their ability to create for teammates.  With incredible court vision and size, Exum, much like MCW, should be able to fill up the box score when he arrives in the NBA.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Andrew Wiggins

For a while now, people have been throwing around the idea that Wiggins is the next Lebron James, but I don't see it.  Wiggins reminds me a lot more of Paul George than Lebron.  It starts with stature; Wiggins and George are wiry and would have difficulty matching up at the center or power forward position.  Both Wiggins and George weigh in at under 220 pounds, while Lebron comes in at 249 pounds.  The added body mass allows Lebron to hold his own at the center or power forward positions, as we have seen him do over the years with the Heat and Cavs.  Additionally, when George came into the league, his jump shot was still a work in progress.  Wiggins jump shot is also a work in progress, but one skill that neither he nor George is lacking is the ability to drive to the basket and make exciting plays around the rim. Certainly, when Wiggins enters the NBA next year, he will be one of the most athletically gifted players in the league, while Paul George has already cemented his status as one of the athletic gems of the NBA.  The potential is through the roof for both of these young superstars.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Jabari Parker

Jabari Parker is a difficult case, because there is nobody in the NBA that is truly a perfect match for his skill set.  Many people have compared him to Carmelo Anthony, as they both do are fantastic at making shots for themselves in one-on-one scenarios.  Not only that, they are both strong enough to play the power forward position as well as the strong forward position.  However, in terms of attitude, Parker is naturally a team player, while Carmelo is notoriously the opposite.  Thus, I think Parker's most accurate comparison in the NBA is Celtics small forward Paul Pierce.  Both Pierce and Parker are fantastic jump shooters and, much like Carmelo, they both excel at creating space for their shots. Additionally, while neither of them are particularly renowned for their athleticism, there is no doubt that they can both take the ball to the basket and finish with force every once and a while.  Lastly, Pierce and Parker's attitudes are similar in that they are both team players that don't need to be directly putting the ball in the basket to feel that they have succeeded.  Every time that Carmelo Anthony receives the ball, everyone else stands still, waiting for him to go one-on-one with his defender.  On the contrary, when Pierce and Parker are on the ball, it is not detrimental to the team, because it is within the flow of the offense.

CBB to NBA Player Comparisons: Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid's stature, footwork, and elegance around the rim all remind me of Pacer's center Roy Hibbert.  Both are looming 7-footers with outrageous wingspans that make them unstoppable on the boards and fantastic at shot-blocking.  Despite only having a few years of basketball experience, Embiid's footwork is incredibly polished, and his ability to perform complex post moves is years ahead of most other college players'.  The most similar aspect of Embiid and Hibbert's game, though, is their outstanding fluidity around the basket.  Most young, 7-foot centers tend to look awkward and stiff when operating underneath, but both Embiid and Hibbert break the mold, with their flawless up-and-unders and silky-smooth hook shots.