Best- and worst-case comparisons for top NBA draft prospects
One way to assess how a future pro might perform at the next level is by comparing his capabilities with those of established NBA players.
Here, we formulate best- and worse-case comparisons for eight of the most-prized prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft, wherein a 'worse-case' outcome amounts to a modest player and not a flash in the pan.
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 221 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max vertical: 35.5 inches
Best-case comparison
Kawhi Leonard: The two-time Finals MVP is an elite two-way player when healthy. Leonard consistently halts opposing stars and scores 25-plus on any given night. He's earned six All-NBA selections, seven All-Defense nods, and two Defensive Players of the Year awards. Flagg has a similar skill set. He's able to score in a variety of ways, is a defensive disruptor, and averaged 2.8 stocks per contest with Duke.
Worst-case comparison
Andrei Kirilenko: AK-47 was never elite on the offensive end of the court but was outstanding defensively. Kirilenko played 13 NBA seasons, during which time he made one All-Star team and three All-Defensive teams. He averaged 3.2 stocks throughout his career and led the league in blocks in 2004-05. He was also a consistent secondary scoring option with a career average of 11.8 points per game. Flagg following in Kirilenko's footsteps is a possibility with their similar builds and shot-blocking capabilities.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 213 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-10
Max vertical: 36.5 inches
Best-case comparison
Cade Cunningham: The Detroit Pistons' floor general didn't put up big assist numbers during his lone collegiate season, but he's developed into one of the NBA's top playmakers. Cunningham's elite size at the point has helped his growth as a passer, and he compensates for a lack of athleticism by changing speeds to get to his spots on the court. Harper boasts a lot of the same qualities and has the potential to be a lead guard that teams can build around.
Worst-case comparison
RJ Barrett: The former No. 3 overall pick hasn't turned out to be a star, but he's been a steady secondary scoring option and playmaker throughout his six NBA seasons. While Harper and Barrett play different positions, they're nearly identical in height and have 6-foot-10 wingspans. They both get a good chunk of their scoring off drives and by drawing fouls from those slashes into the lane.
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 202 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max vertical: 34.5 inches
Best-case comparison
Tracy McGrady: T-Mac took a few years to reach the All-Star level for which he's remembered, and there's a very realistic possibility that Bailey will also need some time. However, when McGrady reached his prime, he was one of the best scorers in recent memory. He averaged no less than 24.4 points per game over a seven-season span and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting in six campaigns. Bailey may start slow, but growing into a McGrady-level threat is a serious possibility.
Worst-case comparison
Terrence Ross: A great high-flyer who never learned how to effectively score the basketball, Ross regularly displayed low basketball IQ and poor shot selection throughout his career. He did last a while in the league, but he was ultimately a 3-and-D guy who wasn't great defensively and erupted for a big game every so often. Bailey admitted that he takes plenty of bad shots, and that could be a worrying sign of what's to come.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 193 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-7
Max vertical: 38.5 inches
Best-case comparison
Victor Oladipo: The former All-Star guard was a two-way force when healthy. Oladipo brought elite athleticism and playmaking ability in an off-guard role. He peaked in the 2017-18 campaign, earning NBA All-Defensive first-team honors and an All-NBA third-team nod to go along with a league-leading 2.4 steals per contest. Edgecombe has a similar downhill attacking style, showed promise as a secondary playmaker, and was a dynamic player in the open court. The Baylor guard was a highly impactful defender, too, posting 2.7 stocks per contest.
Worst-case comparison
Kris Dunn: The Providence product has carved out a role in the NBA as an effective perimeter defender. Dunn creates deflections, contains guards with his lateral movement, and uses his length and instincts to jump passing lanes. He's also averaged 1.5 steals over his nine-year career. If Edgecombe's offensive game doesn't materialize at the next level, he could still have a lengthy career as a specialist on the opposite end of the floor.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 190 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-10
Max vertical: 37.5 inches
Best-case comparison
Tyler Herro: Herro can shoot off movement, pull up from beyond the arc in transition, and burn defenses with his range on dribble-handoffs. Johnson thrived in all the same actions during his lone year at Texas and finished second in the SEC with a 39.7% clip from deep. The 6-foot-6 guard can also create separation from defenders through step-backs and showed good feel as a pick-and-roll playmaker. Those two components are part of Herro's game as well and could elevate Johnson's ceiling even further.
Worst-case comparison
Jordan Clarkson: Clarkson has made a career by providing instant offense as a reserve, averaging 15.4 points over 522 appearances. He won Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2020-21 and finished fourth one season later. His defensive shortcomings also mean he's best used in spurts as a reserve. Johnson's got more than enough moves in his arsenal to at least find a role as a microwave scorer off the bench, and he could find himself in a similar spot if he's unable to improve defensively.
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 248 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max vertical: 28 inches
Best-case comparison
Alperen Sengun: A big man that can create in the paint but can also initiate offensive drives from the perimeter, Sengun is an ideal comparison for Queen. Both big men possess a knack for getting into the paint with ease and using their frames and agility to get by opponents. Just like the Houston Rockets center, Queen spent time operating out of the post as an offensive hub for his Maryland teammates - another role in which he could flourish in the pros.
Worst-case comparison
Greg Monroe: If Queen can't make improvements on the defensive end, his impact will be limited in the Association and he'll likely be played off the floor. That's what happened to Monroe, who entered the league in 2010 as a promising scoring option but saw his minutes cut and was eventually benched due to his lack of defensive success. Queen will need to show some defensive acumen to earn minutes in the NBA.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 219 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: 37 inches
Best-case comparison
JJ Redick: One of the best off-ball shooters of his era, the 3-point marksman is exactly who Knueppel should mould his own game after in the NBA. Redick excelled at breaking down defenses. The threat of him pulling up from deep was so great that the crafty guard consistently had the option to drive to the basket. Knueppel could thrive in that role and has flashed similar skills in his single season at Duke.
Worst-case comparison
Bogdan Bogdanovic: The Clippers wing has proven to be a valuable reserve over his eight-year NBA career, averaging 14.3 points while shooting 38% from three. Standing at the same height as Knueppel, Bogdanovic uses his size well to be a factor from deep, on stop-and-pop mid-range jumpers, and layups. Bogdanovic's shifty offensive game can be a blueprint for Knueppel in the NBA.
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 253 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-7
Max vertical: 30 inches
Best-case comparison
Rudy Gobert: The Frenchman has been arguably the best defensive center in the NBA over the last decade. He's won four Defensive Player of the Year awards and boasts a career average of 2.1 blocks per game. Maluach has the ability to be the same intimidating figure in the paint. The two big men are the same height, and Maluach's standing reach falls just one inch short of Gobert's.
Worst-case comparison
James Wiseman: One of the biggest busts of recent memory, Wiseman was meant to be a star center but never reached his potential. With so many questions surrounding Maluach, he could end up like the former second overall pick. Wiseman struggles to score the ball efficiently and is a below-average rebounder for his height. Maluach was criticized for his slow feet with Duke - a common criticism of Wiseman.