2022 NBA Draft Profile: Jaden Ivey
Perhaps the most electric player in the 2022 NBA Draft, could Jaden Ivey give the Knicks the explosive guard they’ve sorely missed for decades?
Position: G, Purdue
Age: 20
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 9 in
Weight: 200 lbs
The Sales Pitch: Nuclear first step, explosive vertical jumping, NBA body. The ability to get downhill in a flash. Automatic highlight in transition. Pairs that with the ability to create space using crossovers and step-backs, and solid jump-shooting both off the catch and off the dribble. Can get his own shot from three or at the rim almost at will, barring double and triple teams, and is a very willing passer when the defense hones in on him. Comfortable driving and kicking from his explosive downhill forays, comfortable making basic pick-and-roll reads. Competitor on both ends, with several game winners to his name. In short, the kind of dynamic guard with upside the Knicks haven’t had for a long, long time.
Elite Traits/Skills: First step, vertical explosiveness
The Devil’s Advocate Argument: He didn’t shoot well as a freshmen. He got off to an insanely hot start this year, and was a very mediocre shooter for basically the second half of the season. If he doesn’t shoot, you’re pencilling in a non-shooter into the 2-guard spot, which is risky even with everything Jaden brings to the table athletically. Not only does he have no in-between game, he is a terrible decision maker when defenses wall up his drives. The book in the NBA will be to let him shoot and encourage him to operate in the midrange area. On top of that, he’s great at driving but refuses to drive left or finish left, severely limiting the utility of his biggest strength — getting downhill. He can still be a good player, but when the jumper doesn’t fall it can dramatically alter your perceived ceiling to something lower than expected of a top-4 pick if you are a power player — just ask Isaac Okoro or Jalen Suggs.
The Misconceptions: That he’s like Ja Morant. Sure, he might be able to become a point guard if he continues to work on his handle, his ability to drive left, his in-between decision making and shooting, and his passing… but for now he’s squarely a power scoring guard. Morant as a sophomore had an AST% of near 50, an almost unheard of number. Jaden is still awesome but don’t let the dunks and hair trip you up!
Important Numbers:
46/37/74: His slash line
.47: His free throw rate, a very high number
9.8: His threes attempted per 100 possessions in college, a good number
37.4: Percentage of his shots which came at the rim, a high number
27.5: Percentage of his plays as a pick-and-roll ball handler, a very high number
47%: His FG% on those possessions, a number Synergy rates “excellent” and in the 84th percentile of players
21%: His FG% on midrange jump shots
35%: His FG% on catch-and-shoot jump shots
43.8: His FG% on 32 attempted runners
40%: His 3P% in high school
56%: The percentage of his threes this year which were assisted, a very low number for a shooting guard
Knicks Fit: Exceptional. The Knicks are one of the few teams in the NBA without a franchise player or high-end prospect who can bend defenses by blowing by defenders downhill athletically. Not since Starbury has a Knick suited up who could do that. He also would provide much-needed athleticism, a solid shooting foundation, and would fit extremely well with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and likely can play with (or be traded for) a star too.
