A little over a before until the Golden State Warriors will be picking in the 2021 NBA Draft and we still have no clear indication of who they want the most. We probably won’t know who the Dubs’ have their hearts set on for quite some time — but James Bouknight has just pushed his name into the conversation.
The lanky, high-scoring guard from UConn has been elevating his stock during the offseason. His measurements in the NBA Draft combine and impressive team workouts have all played a role in helping him lunge into top-10 pick discussions.
Most recently, Bouknight met with the Warriors for a pre-draft workout. According to David Borges, the session went great.
Borges, a beat write for UConn, likely doesn’t have the inside intel to let us know if the Warriors are actually planning on taking Bouknight — but he should know enough to report that Bouknight’s workout with the Dubs was impressive.
A strong NBA Draft workout and combine could be enough to push James Bouknight to the Golden State Warriors.
Okay, so what is exactly is all the hype about? Just how good has Bouknight been this summer?
Well, he shot the lights out at NBA Pro Day — showcasing the potentially elite shot creation he can provide to whatever team that drafts him. In addition to this, Bouknight has good size, standing at 6’5″ with a 6’8′ wingspan.
UConn's James Bouknight put on an absolutely incredible shooting display at his NBA Combine Pro Day workout today. Shot the cover off the ball, showing phenomenal footwork, touch and body control. pic.twitter.com/XzHdjwLpRK
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 26, 2021
The Warriors could use a trustworthy scorer on the bench to relieve Stephen Curry from time to time. And, at 20 years old with elite athleticism, Bouknight can develop into a quality defender in the future, as well.
The biggest concern in Bouknight’s game is his lack of playmaking, averaging fewer than two assists per game last season. Still, his offensive skill set is so impressive, it’s easy to find optimism that he’ll become a better passer with time.
It is unclear how the back half of the lottery will shake out — but we can expect Bouknight to be on the Warriors’ radar after this workout.