NBA Combine 2024: Prospects Who Boosted Their Stock Ahead of Draft
The 2024 NBA draft is, by all accounts, wide open.
That means prospect values are perpetually moving and could continue doing so up until the talent grab gets rolling on June 26.
Some draft stocks saw significant spikes during this week's combine due to anything from measurements and athletic testing to performances in drills and scrimmages. We'll spotlight three of the biggest risers here.
AJ Johnson, Illawarra Hawks
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Originally a Texas recruit, AJ Johnson wound up taking his talents to Australia's NBL instead and seemingly did his draft stock no favors in the process. He hardly saw the floor for the Hawks, averaging just 8.3 minutes per game.
Spotlighted as one of the prospects with the most at stake at the combine, Johnson maximized this opportunity. In fact, he was selected by ESPN's Jonathan Givony as one the standout prospects during scrimmages on both Tuesday and Wednesday:
"Johnson, 19, dished out 10 assists in 48 minutes, showing some real vision and pace finding teammates driving and passing over the top out of pick-and-roll. He had several highlight-reel finishes showing his fluidity and explosiveness, hit a deep 3 and looked much improved defensively relative to where he was a year ago prior to signing in Australia, showing that his apprentice season playing limited minutes in the NBL wasn't for naught. NBA teams are intrigued by the long-term upside the 6-foot-5 1/2 teenage guard possesses, who has moved himself firmly into the guaranteed contract conversation with his play in Chicago this week."
Johnson has good size and great athleticism for the point guard position, and it was encouraging to see him utilize those physical tools on the defensive end. He's been viewed as a first-round prospect before, and he may have just taken a huge step toward regaining that status.
Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
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Scouts surely expected Reed Sheppard to show out in shooting drills, and he certainly didn't disappoint on that front.
What they maybe weren't expecting was to watch the 6'3" combo guard spring his way to a 42-inch max vertical jump, matching the best mark posted by anyone this week.
Sheppard's draft stock didn't necessarily need a big lift. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman slotted Sheppard into the No. 3 spot of his latest mock draft.
Still, for anyone questioning his lack of size or ability to separate against NBA-caliber defenders, this show of explosive athleticism could've quieted them all. If anything, it may have cemented Sheppard, a 52.1 percent three-point shooter during his lone season with the Wildcats, as a top-five selection.
Bronny James, USC
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Bronny James, son of current (and all-time) NBA great LeBron James, will have plenty of eyes on him anytime he takes to the hardwood. He made good use of that attention this week.
While he didn't get his dad's size—Bronny measured 6'1.5" inches without shoes—he routinely displayed the same high-level processing skills. He doesn't have the most off-the-dribble burst you'll see, but he flashed impressive court vision and showed the willingness and ability to make smart, simple reads.
"He made a number of passes that showcased his IQ and ability to play some point guard," Wasserman observed. "... The inability to explode off the dribble makes him easier to guard as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, but he showed he can make the right reads and necessary setup passes."
He looked confident shooting from beyond the arc, made good decisions dribbling into pull-ups and made some flashy passes in ball-screen situations that set up good looks or fouls. James's college numbers certainly won't wow anyone, and he's far from a finished product, but today's showing was a good step in proving to scouts he's closer to being ready for the NBA than many outsiders may have believed.
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