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Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham could not get in the starting lineup at Kentucky and the Wildcats also did not win a postseason game last year. However, NBA executives certainly knew how talented both players were.
Sheppard went No. 3 in the NBA Draft Wednesday night in Brooklyn before Dillingham went No. 8 to San Antonio and was then traded to Minnesota for first round picks in 2030 and 2031. Minnesota had the third-best record in the Western Conference last season and beat reigning champion Denver in the playoffs to make the conference finals.
While Sheppard was the national freshman of the year, Dillingham also had a brilliant freshman season. He averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range.
He will give Minnesota backcourt scoring punch alongside All-Star Anthony Edwards and help space the floor for all-star center Karl-Anthony Towns, a former UK player.
“He can get to the rim and create for himself,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said Wednesday night. “At times he lost his focus on defense but this guy is good. He is an air-fryer scorer who can score from anywhere. When he gets on a roll he can put points up in a hurry. He is elusive and also is a great passer.”
Before the draft, ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony wrote that Dillingham’s “jittery handle, burst and explosive change of gear” made it hard for opponents to guard him.
“He has a wide array of elusive moves at his disposal, including herky-jerky crossovers, double crossovers, in-and-out dribbles, behind-the-back dribbles and more, which he combines with sharp changes of speed, accelerating from slow to fast with either hand to take the paint and finish with touch around the rim,” Givony wrote.
“The threat of his pull-up jumper, as well as his ability to probe, use or reject ball screens gives Dillingham great potential manipulating opposing defenses. He will be even more of a threat with the plethora of space he’ll enjoy in the NBA.”
4 Responses
Looks like Dillingham got a good result by going #8 and then being traded to a contender. Happy he can take care of himself and his family now. I read he had it rough growing up.
He landed in the perfect situation. Playing for a team that could go to the finals next year. I would much rather be in Minnesota than in Houston. Houston always hovers around .500 but never can win the big ones. Karl Anthony Town and Rob will be great together.
Minnesota is Anthony Edward’s team with Conley and Towns as the supporting cast. Conley is getting a little long in the tooth, so Dillingham will get his chance to show he can run the show in a year or two if he can cut down on his turnovers and improve his defense a little. It’s definitely a good team for him to grow with. His chances of getting a ring are better here than with the Spurs. He and Edwards would make a potent backcourt for sure in a couple of years. Hopefully, Towns will hang on long enough to pick up a ring with them.
TRIVIA QUESTIONS for sports bar trivia games:
* How many players were not regular starters in the season they were drafted in the Top 10?
* Name the teams
* Name the players
* How many coaches have had a Top 10 draft pick on their team but did not start the player(s) regularly?
* Name those coaches