2013 NBA Draft Combine Winners and Losers
The NBA Draft combine has come and gone. Before the NBA draft lottery, let's take a look at which players helped and hurt their draft stock.
WINNERS
Cody Zeller - Indiana
While Cody Zeller did not participate in workouts, he did take part in the physical tests. Zeller's tests were amongst the best in the entire combine. He measured in at 7 feet even with shoes on while weighing in at 230 pounds and only a 4.5% body fat. Zeller posted the fastest three-quarter court sprint time, (3.15 seconds) faster than any other power forward or center at the combine. A bonus for Zeller was that his wingspan was in fact larger than anticipated registering at 6 foot 10 and 3/4 inches.
Shane Larkin - Miami
Shane Larkin, the point guard for Miami and the son of baseball great Barry Larkin helped himself with a strong NCAA Tournament. Larkin further helped himself at the combine. Larkin was one of the last underclassman to declare for the draft and it looks likes it really paid off. He is ultra athletic and the numbers from the combine were not surprising. He topped all participants in the three-quarter-court sprint (3.08) and the maximum vertical leap (44 inches) and finished tied with Zeller in the standing vertical leap. Teams that want a scoring point guard on their team and not the prototypical pass first oriented point guard will be intrigued with selecting Larkin in the draft.
LOSERS
Rudy Gobert - France
Rudy Gobert really hurt his stock at this year's combine. Gobert is one of the biggest players to participate in the combine measuring in at 7'2". Gobert has a 9'7" standing reach and a hand length of 9.75 inches. Gobert lacks athleticism as shown by his poor standing vertical (25 inch) and max vertical jump (29 inch) measurements at the combine. He has a very thin frame and didn't show much polish in his workouts.
Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA
Before the season, Muhammad was considered the potential first overall selection in the 2013 NBA draft. He is thought to be a one dimensional player who can only score. Muhammad shot poorly at the combine and that was not a huge surprise based on his poor shot mechanics. Teams that interviewed him said that he came across as "arrogant." Muhammad took a risk in performing in all aspects of the combine as a potential lottery pick and may have pushed himself right out of the lottery.
By Steven Spector -5-21-13
