Indiana Pacers draft prospect breakdown: Jalen Brunson

The Pacers have the 23rd and 50th picks in the upcoming NBA draft. Let’s look at a guy they could select 23rd in Jalen Brunson.

Go to google right now. Perform a search for me. Type in “2018 NCAA basketball player of the year”. The answer, you will discover, is Jalen Brunson.

This award means little in determining who will be a good player in the NBA. Frank Mason III won it last year. Former Pacers Tyler Hansbrough, TJ Ford, and Evan Turner all won the award. None of those guys were particularly special. But some studs also won the trophy. Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Anthony Davis highlight this list. So the question for Jalen Brunson is: which group is he in?

Brunson led his Villanova Wildcats to a title this past season, and in 2016 as well. His championship pedigree combined with his trophy case makes him a tantalizing prospect. Let’s take a closer look at Brunson and how he could fit with the Pacers long term.

Strengths

Jalen Brunson can do a lot of great things with the ball in his hands. He made Villanova’s motion offense flow and click. His shots went in from everywhere. When he put the ball on the floor, it was usually productive. He does so many things well.

Over the course of his collegiate career, he proved he could score from any area of the court thanks to excellent touch and crafty finishing moves:

Beyond making the tough runner, Brunson also navigated that dribble handoff superbly, showcasing his ability to get to the rim despite his lack of speed.

His outside shot and ability to navigate screens are excellent too:

His sweet stroke bled right onto the stat sheet. In his most recent season with the Wildcats, Brunson shot 52.1 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from deep, and 80.2 percent from the free-throw line. He could hit the net from anywhere on the court.

But Brunson isn’t one dimensional as a scorer. He is also a solid passer. He has great court vision and awareness, and with his methodical ability to break down the D, he always knows where his open teammates are when the opponents are scrambling:

Brunson dished out 4.6 assists per game his final season at Nova, and that led to a staggering 26.6 assists percentage. Combine that with a low 10.7 turnover percentage, and Brunson’s offensive leadership is quantified. He is an adequate passer who takes care of the ball.

If you’re into anecdotal stuff, Brunson checks a box few guys check: he’s a winner. A two-time champion and three-year starter, Brunson has experience leading high powered teams and he sure as hell knows how to win. That gives him a mental edge over some similarly talented players.

Weaknesses

Notice how I haven’t mentioned anything about Brunson’s defense yet? Well, that isn’t because it is horrible. But that is because it isn’t good.

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds

He isn’t the fastest guy ever, and that causes him to fall behind at the point of attack. If his closeout isn’t executed perfectly, Brunson can be easy to beat off the dribble.

Off-ball, Brunson can get lost on D. He has an appetite for ball watching, and it gets him killed off-ball when his man cuts by him or runs around a screen. For such a smart player like Brunson, if he could just keep his focus he could tidy up this problem with ease.

Also, remember that whole “not the fastest guy ever” thing? That is concerning. Being slow isn’t a death wish for point guards. But it will be even more obvious how little burst Jalen Brunson has on the pro level. He will have to perform dang near perfect footwork and ball handling to get by anyone in the NBA. He’s capable, but it is an uphill battle.

The final knock on Brunson is that despite only playing three collegiate seasons, he will be 22 years old when 2018 opening night rolls around. He’s only five months younger than Myles Turner, who already has three seasons under his belt. Brunson lacks growth potential because of his age, and that really hurts his stock.

Can the Pacers get him?

The answer is: probably. If the front office wants him at 23, he will likely be available to them. Most mock drafts have Brunson in the late 20s to early 30s, so it is only a bit of a perceived stretch for Indiana to grab him with their late first round pick.

At pick 50 he will be gone. So the options are to take him at 23 or trade for another middling pick and get him then.

Next: Pacers Draft Options: Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo

If you ask me, it is more than worth it to pick Brunson. He is crafty, he can finish, he can score from anywhere, and he knows the game better than most prospects. You can teach a smart guy like Jalen Brunson how to play better defense. Once that happens, he’s going to be awesome. The Pacers should seriously consider drafting him.

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