The latter stages of the draft can be hit or miss for teams.
Sometimes there's a player like Nikola Jokic who's drafted during the second round while the TV broadcast shows a commercial for a popular taco chain. Other times, an organization will take a chance on an emerging talent with question marks who's only chance of seeing an NBA court is as a spectator.
Here's a look at five potential difference makers at the NBA level to look for ahead of the second round of the draft:
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 217 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: 39.5 inches
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 52.6 | 41.3 | 81 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 8.6 |
James spent four years at Tulane before playing his final collegiate campaign at Duke. Despite being a five-year player, the big guard is still only 22 years old.
James is a defense-first prospect, possessing the size to guard three, and maybe even four, positions. James has a build similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder's Lu Dort, and the big wing uses his strength and anticipation to navigate screens and cause havoc. The Blue Devils had the nation's sixth-best defensive rating, per KenPom, thanks in large part to James's ability to shut down opposing perimeter scorers on a nightly basis. Duke was 7.6 points per 100 possessions better on defense with James on the court, per Synergy, and he averaged over 1.5 steals in three of his five college seasons. James' performance on defense earned an ACC All-Defense nomination in his senior season.
On offense, James is a safe bet to be a high-level 3-and-D wing and play within a winning system; James rarely turns the ball over (1.2 for three consecutive seasons), and he made 46.9% of his catch-and-shoot triples at Duke, per Synergy. He doesn't offer much off the dribble, but his intelligent cutting does offer some rim pressure.
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 176 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-2
Max vertical: 32.5 inches
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 44.6 | 40.4 | 77.0 | 3.0 | 9.8 | 10.5 |
Like older brother Andrew of the Indiana Pacers, Ryan Nembhard played the final two of four collegiate seasons at Gonzaga, where he really fleshed out his skillset as a facilitator. He led all of Division I as a senior with a personal-best 9.8 assists per game and posted an impeccable four-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. The talented playmaker earned an invite to the NBA combine after impressing at the two-day G League Elite Camp.
There are, however, key differences between Nembhard and his older brother, whom Indiana took with the first pick of the second round in 2022. The most notable contrast is that the younger Nembhard is one of the shortest and lightest players available in this year's draft; he was one of two prospects at the combine to measure under 6-feet tall without shoes (the other being consensus All-American guard Mark Sears), while the elder Nembhard clocked in three years ago at 6-foot-3. With 7-footers in the NBA more nimble and skilled than ever, taking a shot on a sub-6-foot point guard may be less palatable now than it traditionally has been.
All that said, Nembhard is still one of the more intriguing plug-and-play options that will likely still be available by the late first round. A savvy but simple passer with great reads off screens, the Canadian guard would be an ideal fit for a team that needs a reliable ball-handler on a second unit, especially any that already feature an efficient roll man and at least one strong perimeter defender.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: 31.5 inches
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 48.3 | 31.1 | 64.8 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 19.2 |
Jones was among college basketball's top players last season, earning consensus All-American second-team honors and an All-Big East first-team nod. The 23-year-old is one of the older prospects in this year's draft class, but that shouldn't dissuade teams from taking a flyer on him.
Jones could be a plug-and-play option with his diverse skill set. He excelled in his first season as Marquette's full-time floor general, posting the seventh-best assist-to-turnover ratio (3.17) and placing 16th in assists (200). He dropped more dimes in 2024-25 than his first three campaigns combined. Jones can operate out of the pick-and-pop, throw over-the-shoulder passes to shooters off the drive-and-kick, and whip live-dribble passes upcourt in transition.
Jones can manufacture his own offense as well, often using step-backs to create separation from defenders. He can play off the ball as a career 36.6% 3-point shooter and finished 64% of his attempts at the rim last season, per Hoop-Explorer.com. Jones was a defensive factor, too, with his on-ball pressure frequently leading to turnovers.
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 218 lbs
Wingspan: 7-feet
Max vertical: N/A
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 54.5 | 25.6 | 68.6 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 15.1 |
There might not be a better athlete in the draft than Thiero. His combination of power and speed on straight-line drives overwhelms defenders. Thiero frequently drew fouls whenever he attacked the rim, where he finished 66.9% of his attempts, per Hoop-Explorer.com. Thiero displayed a physical brand of play on the offensive glass, too, tallying nearly two offensive rebounds per contest during his final year at Arkansas.
Thiero's athleticism also allowed him to wreck havoc on the defensive end. The 21-year-old has the lateral quickness to contain guards as well as the strength to match up against forwards. He uses his length to force turnovers and reject shots at the rim. Thiero ranked sixth in the SEC in block percentage (5.3%) during his sophomore year and 10th in steal percentage (3.4%) last season.
The swing factor for Thiero will be his jumper as he made only 21 threes over three collegiate campaigns. Even if Thiero's shooting doesn't develop, there are many avenues for him to affect the game.
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 250 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-1
Max vertical: 31.5 inches
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 46.7 | 34.7 | 77 | 10.6 | 1.7 | 20.2 |
Raynaud followed a sensational senior year at Stanford with an eye-opening showing in the combine. The Frenchman was one of eight players (and the only 7-footer) who went a perfect 10-for-10 on free throws while hitting at least 16 of 25 shots in the 3-point star shooting drill, showcasing the rare blend of size and shooting mechanics that helped earn him All-ACC first-team this season.
The 22-year-old isn't the kind of stretch five who simply lives at the 3-point line, either. His smart slips and timely cuts behind the defense allowed him to capitalize on downhill opportunities, but he's also a crafty post player; he seldom beats defenders 1-on-1 but compensated by developing a strong face-up game with both hands thanks to his frequent height advantage. He's also a solid passer from the elbow, which could unlock plenty of creative offensive sets if that translates to the NBA.
What may hurt his draft stock - aside from his age - is a lack of agility as a rim-protector. His towering frame helps bail him out if mispositioned but he may not have the foot-speed necessary to recover when quicker, smarter NBA players pull him away from the basket.
