by Alan Stein 06-16-2009 09:36 PM
This is part two of a two-part series examining the overall draft process; more specifically, putting the NBA draft combine tests under the microscope of logic. My last post discussed several reasons why those tests should not be used to measure success on the court.
I also want to make note that how well a player does on the combine tests usually has very little to do with their pre-draft training regimen. Now, obviously, if a player is not working out at all nor doing anything productive, he will invariably not test particularly well. However, even participating in a top notch pre-draft program doesn’t guarantee success. I know the best guys in the pre-draft business like Tim Grover and Joe Abunassar, along with many of the top college strength coaches like Todd Wright (Texas) and Jonas Sahratian (UNC). All of these guys do a tremendous job at preparing their players for the draft and have my utmost respect. Yet, all of them have had players who have not tested particularly well at the combine. So trust me, it ain’t the training. Poor combine scores are primarily a result of some individualized differences. This year I worked with Stephen Curry, Tywon Lawson, and Greivis Vasquez for several weeks leading up to the combine. All three where on a very similar strength training program, especially regarding the bench press, yet Greivis (1 rep) didn’t do nearly as well as Steph (10 reps) or Ty (14 reps). Why? Because of individualized genetic differences; not the training protocol.
Another example is Austin Daye from Gonzaga. He did his pre-draft training at Impact under the tutelage of the brilliant Joe Abunassar and his staff, and yet, he did very poorly at the combine. But Austin is extremely talented, is in great basketball shape, is doing well at his individual team workouts, and I am guessing will still go fairly high in the draft.
Another example? Prior to the combine, most of the folks polled thought Gerald Henderson from Duke was going to rank as one of the highest rated athletes at the combine and his scores were marginal at best. Did you watch Gerald play last year? He is the definition of athletic! Regardless of what the tests revealed, he was one of the most explosive and dynamic players in the ACC!
Bottom line is this: I don’t believe in spending in inordinate amount of time focusing on those tests and spending countless hours practicing them. What a colossal waste of time! The time spent leading up to the draft is at a premium, and I don’t feel it is appropriate using a bunch of it on preparing for those tests. Instead, we spent our time preparing for the rigors of the team workouts because that is what really matters! And the feedback I have been getting on my guys’ individual workouts has been exceptional.
I have one more point to make about the combine, and then I will get off of my soapbox, I promise. This is aimed directly at the hoards of self-proclaimed vertical jump gurus that are showering the internet and claiming they can “give you a 40 inch vertical jump” or “add 8 inches in 8 weeks.” I wrote an entire blog about these con artists last year and stand behind it 100%. These guys are fakes, phonies, and border line crooks. My feelings are not directed at any individual in particular, but the genre as a whole.
Jonny Flynn was the only player with a 40 inch vertical at this year’s NBA combine. And that was his max vertical, which means it was measured from a running start! So once again, if only one player out of the top players in college basketball has a 40 inch vertical, the odds are less than slim anyone off the street can get one by following one of these BS programs. But that is not what they imply. They imply anyone can have a 40 inch vertical if you follow their system. Don’t let these spinsters trick you out of your hard earned money. Always remember, anything that sounds too good to be true always is!
Sorry for the tangent, back to the NBA draft process. I will admit trying to predict a player’s success at the NBA level is not an easy task. NBA personnel are overwhelmingly thorough and leave no stone unturned when weighing all of the pros and cons of a potential draft pick. They use unlimited resources to find out everything they can. They do thorough background checks, scour the internet and social media profiles, conduct psychological tests and interviews, perform medical physicals, watch thousands of hours of game tape, and then of course, have the players come in (sometimes more than once) for an individual workout. There are numerous folks from each NBA organization doing this “homework” and then they all compile their findings and discuss their thoughts on several occasions throughout the draft process. And despite such a meticulous process, mistakes are still made.
Several guys taken really high in the draft never panned out and are no longer in the league. Guys like Courtney Alexander (picked 13th in 2000), Michael Sweetney (picked 9th in 2003), and Rodney White (picked 9th in 2001) are out of basketball completely; not even playing overseas. Heck, the 1st overall pick in 1998 was Michael Olowokandi! Is he still around? I don’t even know? You know who was picked after him? Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce were all chosen after him. Even Rashard Lewis went in the 2nd round that year!
On a more positive note, you have a list of guys who went in the 2nd round and have become very solid NBA players. Guys like Trevor Ariza (44th pick in 2004), Steve Blake (38th pick in 2003), Carlos Boozer (35th pick in 2002), and Michael Redd (43rd pick in 2000). I mean Boozer and Redd just won Olympic Gold Medals! I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
Believe me, the NBA draft process is both an art and a science, as there are no guarantees. Every team must be diligent in their homework, make a researched and educated decision, and then keep their fingers crossed!
Please check back weekly as it is going to be an exciting summer. My next several blogs will give you inside looks and thoughts (and video clips) from the NBA Player’s Association Top 100 Camp along with the Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and LeBron James Skills Academies.
And don’t forget to check it out and subscribe to www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotComand check out the latest exercise of the week. And if you want the inside scoop on the summer training scene, as well as daily inspirational quotes, follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AlanStein.
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein
Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite Montrose Christian Mustangs boy’s basketball program. Alan is a performance consultant for Nike Basketball as well heavily involved with Nike SPARQ Basketball. He is the head conditioning coach for the annual McDonald’s All American game, the Jordan Brand All American Classic, and the Nike Summer Skills Academies. Alan is a Camp Coach at the prestigious NBA Player’s Association’s Top 100 Camp as well as the Chris Paul CP3 Elite Backcourt Camp. Alan has filmed over a dozen DVD’s on improving performance and is a sought after lecturer at basketball camps and clinics across the world. He has been featured in Winning Hoops, Time Out, Dime, SI.com, SLAMonline.com, American Basketball Quarterly, Stack, Men’s Health, and FIBA Assist Magazine.
Published 06-16-2009 © 2026 Access Athletes, LLC
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