Brandon Knight Likes The Pistons
The NBA Draft Combine in Chicago gives players and teams an early objective look at many of the players who can expect to hear their names called at the NBA Draft on Thursday June 23. HOOPSWORLD caught up with draft lottery hopeful Brandon Knight as he made the rounds.
"They asked me a variety of questions starting with sports and academics," said Knight to no one’s surprise.
Knight comes across as a quiet, polite young man who when asked a question by a Pistons reporter told the collected media, "I like the Pistons. They seem like a great organization, a younger team. I wouldn’t mind going to Detroit. It seems like a great place to be."
The Pistons would be ecstatic to be able to draft Knight at eight as the young man is as high as third on some mock draft boards. The 6′ 3" freshman point guard helped take Kentucky to the Final Four this year by averaging 17.3 points on 42.3 percent shooting with 4.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The only knock on Knight’s game was his 3.2 turnovers per game. However, this very young 18-year-old improved over the college season and has a strong upside.
A top high school, college, and now NBA prospect, Knight has been going through the evaluation process for years. The 2008 top 10 Rivals.com and Scout.com prospect has developed a lot of confidence.
"I am not nervous," said Knight. "There is nothing you can really do to change the outcome. I am not nervous; I am just trying to be myself. I am a calm type of guy. I am just making sure that I take the process serious and am doing the best that I can do.
"I get excited, enthusiastic about basketball games but for the most part I am a calmer guy."
When asked if there are any misconceptions about his game, Knight replied, "Not I can think of."
{AUTHOR_BOX}Knight shows little concern about the likelihood of an NBA lockout and has his summer and fall plans made in case he isn’t playing basketball.
"Not really. It is out of my hands, out of my control, something I can’t do anything about," said Knight. "Hopefully I can go back (to school) this summer and do a little bit and pick up a couple of credits depending on how the lockout goes and if there is one hopefully I can get a couple credits this fall also."
Knight gives the impression that he will get through the draft combine process with his draft stock intact and high on the draft boards of a lot of teams.
Utah picking third needs a backup and possible successor to Devin Harris. If Toronto decides to trade Jose Calderon (again) this summer and isn’t sold on Jerryd Bayless as his successor, Knight would make a solid addition with the fifth pick. Sacramento could move the 6′ 6" Tyreke Evans to off guard and make room for a true point like Knight with the seventh pick. Detroit picks eighth and is a logical destination for Knight if he is still around, and in Charlotte, D.J. Augustin may have opened the door for a point guard addition because of his poor shooting.
The NBA has become a point guard dominated league and Knight is one of the top three point guards available in this draft. His early success at Kentucky and his high upside should ensure this young man will not have to wait long to hear his name called on draft night.
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