This is part final part of a three-part series examining the overall draft process; more specifically putting the NBA draft combine tests under the microscope of logic. My last post discussed several reasons why those tests should not be used to measure success on the court.
I also want to make note that how well a player does on the combine tests usually has very little to do with their pre-draft training regiment. Now, obviously, if a player is not working out at all nor doing anything productive, he invariably is not going to test particularly well. However, even participating in a top-notch pre-draft program doesn’t guarantee success. I know the best guys in the pre-draft business like Tim Grover and Joe Abunassar along with many of the top college strength coaches like Todd Wright (Texas) and Jonas Sahratian (UNC). All of these guys do a tremendous job at preparing their players for the draft and have my utmost respect. Yet all of them have had players who have not tested particularly well at the combine. So trust me, it ain’t the training. Poor combine scores are primarily a result of some individualized differences.
This year I worked with Stephen Curry, Tywon Lawson and Greivis Vasquez for several weeks leading up to the combine. All three where on a very similar strength training program, especially regarding the bench press, yet Greivis (1 rep) didn’t do nearly as well as Steph (10 reps) or Ty (14 reps). Why? Because of individualized genetic differences; not the training protocol.
Another example is Austin Daye from Gonzaga. He did his pre-draft training at Impact under the tutelage of the brilliant Joe Abunassar and his staff and yet he did very poorly at the combine. But Austin is extremely talented, is in great basketball shape, is doing well at his individual team workouts, and I am guessing will still go fairly high in the draft (unless he decides to return to school).
Another example? Prior to the combine, most of the folks polled thought Gerald Henderson from Duke was going to rank as one of the highest rated athletes at the combine and his scores were marginal at best. Did you watch Gerald play last year? He is the definition of athletic! Regardless of what the tests revealed, he was one of the most explosive and dynamic players in the ACC!
Bottom line is this — I don’t believe in spending an inordinate amount of time focusing on those tests and spending countless hours practicing them. Instead we spent our time preparing for the rigors of the team workouts because that is what really matters. And the feedback I have been getting on my guys’ individual workouts as been exceptional.
I have one more point to make about the combine, and then I will get off of my soapbox, I promise. This is aimed directly at the hoards of self-proclaimed vertical-jump gurus that are showering the internet and claiming they can “give you a 40-inch vertical jump” or “add 8 inches in 8 weeks.” I wrote an entire blog about these con artists last year and 100 percent stand behind it. These guys are fakes, phonies and border-line crooks. My feelings are not directed at any individual in particular but the genre as a whole.
Jonny Flynn was the only player with a 40-inch vertical at this year’s NBA combine. And that was his max vertical, which means it was measured from a running start! So once again, if only one player out of the top players in college basketball has a 40-inch vertical; the odds are less than slim anyone off the street can get one by following one of these so-called “programs.”
But that is not what they imply. They imply anyone can have a 40-inch vertical if you follow their system. Don’t let this spinsters trick you out of your hard earned money.
Sorry for the tangent…back to the NBA draft process. I admit it — trying to predict a player’s success at the NBA level is not an easy task. NBA personnel are overwhelmingly thorough and leave no stone unturned when weighing all of the pros and cons of a potential draft pick. They use unlimited resources to find out everything they can.
They do thorough background checks, scour the internet and social media profiles, conduct psychological tests and interviews, perform medical physicals, watch thousands of hours of game tape, and then, of course, have the players come in (sometimes more than once) for an individual workout.
There are numerous folks from each NBA organization doing this “homework” and then they all compile their findings and discuss their thoughts on several occasions throughout the draft process. And despite such a meticulous process, mistakes are still made.
Several guys taken really high in the draft never panned out and are no longer in the league. Guys like Courtney Alexander (picked 13th in 2000), Michael Sweetney (picked 9th in 2003) and Rodney White (picked 9th in 2001) are out of basketball completely; note even playing overseas. Heck the No. 1 overall pick in 1998 was Michael Olowokandi! Is he still around? I don’t even know! You know who was picked after him? Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce. Even Rashard Lewis went in the second round that year!
On a more positive note, you have a list of guys who went in the 2nd round and have become very solid NBA players. Guys like Trevor Ariza (44th pick in 2004), Steve Blake (38th pick in 2003), Carlos Boozer (35th pick in 2002) and Michael Redd (43rd pick in 2000). Boozer and Redd just won an Olympic gold medal! I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
Believe me, the NBA draft process is both an art and a science, as there are no guarantees. Every team must be diligent in their homework, make a researched and educated decision, and then keep their fingers crossed!
Please check back weekly as it is going to be an exciting summer. My next several blogs will give you inside looks and thoughts (and video clips) from the NBA Player’s Association Top 100 Camp along with the Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and LeBron James Skills Academies.
And don’t forget to check it out and subscribe to www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotCom and check out the latest exercise of the week. And if you want the inside scoop on the summer training scene, as well as daily inspirational quotes, follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AlanStein.
Train hard. Train smart.
