What the experts say
(as of 6/10/18)
ESPN (Jonathan Givony): 31st
The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, Danny Chau): 32nd
Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo): 34th
Sporting News (Chris Stone): 29th
The Athletic (Sam Vecenie): 38th
The Stepien (Composite Rank): 25th, Tier 6
The Step Back (Brandon Kleen): N/A
Quotes:
While noting that NBA executives don’t see him being a starting-caliber point guard over the course of his career, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie writes that it’s easy to envision Brunson succeeding on the next level as a reserve point guard in the years to come:
"“College basketball’s National Player of the Year, it’s difficult to imagine a player with a better feel for the game than Brunson. He’s the most polished player in the draft, possessing terrific footwork, impeccable decision-making and great mechanics. Pair that with his tremendous touch around the basket, ability to knock down 3s, and his pinpoint passing ability, and there’s an awful lot to like about Brunson as a long-time backup point guard in the league. The reason he’s not seen as anything more than that from most executives, though, is that he’s a below-average athlete who does everything gathering off of two feet, which could lead to a decrease in efficiency against higher-level NBA athletes. He’s also a pretty poor defensive player who doesn’t have much in the way of lateral quickness. Still, it’s tough to imagine a world where Brunson doesn’t find a niche in the NBA. There are too many positives that he can bring to a team.”"
Ranking 29th in his most recent Big Board, Jeremy Woo over at Sports Illustrated similarly posits that Brunson’s overall feel for the game as well as his intangibles almost makes it a sure thing for him to enjoy a long and lasting career:
"“Although the critiques of Brunson’s average size and athleticism as they pertain to his upside are fair, the leader of Villanova’s title team checks basically every other box for a lead guard and is a good bet to play in the league for a long time. Brunson has an elite feel for running an offense, a reliable jumper, and a track record of winning everywhere he’s played. He relies on his considerable craft to compensate for a lack of top-flight quickness and understands how to pick his spots, change speeds and score. Defensively he’ll have to work hard to cut it, but his composure and maturity will help him find a way to succeed and stick around the league.”"