NBA Draft Profile: SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia

Our next athlete in the NBA Draft Profile series is Virginia wing Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon’s game on both ends of the floor is as consistent as they come, but will the lack of flashiness in his game hold him back from becoming a first round selection?
 

Measurables

  • Class: Senior
  • Age: 23
  • Height: 6’5″
  • Weight: 225 lbs.
  • Wingspan: 6’11”

2015-2016 Statistics

  • 34.1 minutes per game
  • 18.2 points per game
  • 4.1 rebounds per game
  • 3.1 assists per game
  • 45.7% shooting overall (39.1% from three)

Analysis

When Malcolm Brogdon hears his name called on Thursday night, the team that is lucky enough to select him will end up with one of the best perimeter defenders in this year’s class.

Brogdon, a 6’5″ wing with good athleticism, has made life miserable on opposing guards in the ACC over the last four seasons with his hard-nosed defense out on the wing. Brogdon’s length and lateral quickness have made it difficult for opposing offensive players to not only drive past him, but shoot over him. He is as close to a lockdown defender on the perimeter as any team will find in this year’s draft.

Offensively, Brogdon is no slouch either. His offensive game has continued to evolve and improve over his time in Charlottesville, with his mid-range game about as solid as they come. He has proven himself to be extremely effective inside the arc, with his percentages improving incrementally from beyond the three point line as well. Last season, Brogdon knocked down nearly 40% of his three point attempts and nearly 46% of his shots from the field overall, which were both career-highs for him since enrolling at Virginia. He has proven to have a consistent enough offensive game to be effective in the NBA, but his dribbling must improve if he wants to continue to have success getting to the rim at will when he reaches the next level.

One additional asset to Brogdon’s game that makes him as NBA-ready as any prospect in the draft, is the high basketball IQ that he possesses. Brogdon has never been a player to make many mistakes, as he has never averaged more than 1.7 turnovers per game in his career at Virginia. Not only that, but Brogdon seems to always take the right shot without forcing anything that is contested, which has helped lead to efficient shooting percentages each season with the Cavaliers.

Some of the common knocks on Brogdon’s game other than his dribbling seem to boil down to the fact that he is not an elite athlete. While this is true, Brogdon has more than enough athleticism in my estimation to become a solid rotational player in the NBA. He turns 24 in December, which makes him one of the oldest players in the the draft, but since he is NBA-ready right away, I don’t believe that many teams will shy away from taking him based on the age factor alone.

Brogdon isn’t a flashy player, which is why he likely won’t be drafted real early on Thursday night. However, he’s as solid a player as they come, with a pretty complete overall game on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He will likely find his niche in the NBA and will be extremely consistent in whichever role he ends up encompassing over his NBA career. I believe he is slated to be taken late in the first, or at the very worst, early in the second round.
 

NBA Draft ProjectionLate First to Early Second Round Pick
 
 
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