2016 NBA Draft Prospects: Breaking Down the Future of Denzel Valentine

It took three seasons and two games for Denzel Valentine to generate any real NBA draft buzz. Despite playing a key role in Michigan State’s 2015 Final Four run, it was his November triple-double against Kansas that pinged the radar for the first time. 

Valentine’s 29-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist outing kicked off a National Player of the Year campaign that’s now expected to result in interested lottery teams. 

He has potentially positioned himself to follow Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield as the second senior taken in June’s draft. 

Relevant Stats

You won’t find many stat lines more appealing than Valentine’s. He’s the only player since 1993-94 to average at least 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, according to Sports-Reference.com. 

He also converted over 100 three-pointers for the second straight year and shot a scorching 44.4 percent from deep. 

The advanced stats back up the basic ones—Valentine registered a 60.8 percent true shooting percentage and a 29.7 player efficiency rating, while his 45.8 percent assist percentage ranked second in the country.

His rebounding numbers were also easily the best of any first-round-caliber guard.

Strengths

Valentine will likely start his career as a 2-guard, where he has adequate 6’5″ size, a sturdy 220-pound frame and a lengthy 6’10” wingspan. Those measurements become a lot more advantageous if he’s able to give teams minutes at the point. 

Valentine has a strong handle and did most of the playmaking at Michigan State. He’s a terrific passer with natural setup ability and vision on the move, whether it’s off ball screens or in transition, where he racked up 89 of his 240 assists, per Hoop-Math.com.

He does a nice job surveying the floor and locating his shooters, divers, cutters and finishers. Even as a stationary ball-mover around the perimeter, Valentine can find and hit the open …

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