Winners and Losers From the 2018 NBA Combine

Here’s a look at the winners and losers from the 2018 NBA Combine.

Winners

Mo Bamba, C, Texas: Bamba’s combine started with a record breaking measurement: a 7-foot-10 wingspan. That’s 94 inches of shot-blocking insanity. Bamba may be aggressive on the court, but he’s perfectly agreeable off it. The prospect proved to be the most polished youngster to appear during ESPN’s series of interviews with some of the draft’s top prospects.

Donte DiVincenzo, G, Villanova: If DiVincenzo wants to stick in this year’s draft, he’s set himself up to be a first-rounder. His measurements exceeded the highest expectations with the best standing leap (34.5 inches) and max vertical leap (tied at 42 inches). He was also fifth in the lane agility drill (10.72 seconds). He’s an outstanding athlete, and showed that his 31-point game in the national championship was a tease of what he’s capable.

Grayson Allen, F, Duke: Allen’s measurables were impressive. Allen posted a lane agility time of 10.31 seconds, which is the fifth-best mark in NBA combine database history. He also had the second-best shuttle run time (3.4 seconds). He tied for the fourth-highest in max vertical leap (40.5 inches) and standing vertical (32.5 inches). With Allen, there’s still the question as to whether that athleticism can translate on the court.

Losers

Trae Young, G, Oklahoma: The diminutive guard proved diminutive after all. He was just over 6-foot with the lowest weight (178 pounds) and the smallest wingspan (6-foot-3) at the combine. What’s more, he said he’d gained 10 pounds of muscle since declaring for the draft. So he had to gain 10 pounds to get to 178? Not great.

Brian Bowen, F, South Carolina: Bowen is embroiled in the Louisville scandal, as his father allegedly accepted $19,500 in improper benefits from Adidas. So Bowen, who was a 2017 McDonalds All American, hasn’t played competitive basketball in over a year. And he clearly hasn’t found ways to stay sharp. “He’s in no man’s land,” a veteran NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. “He may not be good enough to play in the G League right now.” So where does Bowen go? Back to the NCAA, which hasn’t ruled on whether he can play next season? Or to the NBA, where he might be deemed a hopeless project?

Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri: He says his back is fine after microdiscectomy spinal surgery in November. But in a draft where he’s entrenched in the top tier of players, that murky injury history painted an unfortunate hue over Porter’s combine experience.

Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Michigan: OK, so he’s probably solidified his spot at third-overall with incredible measurements. My qualms with Jackson are less serious. One NBA team asked Jackson to channel the Wolf of Wall Street — he was asked to sell the front-office on a pen. And frankly, Jackson’s answer needed some work. It’s simple: take the pen away from your potential client, and say, “Write your name down.”