How does Caleb Wilson compare to the former MVP?
Projected top-five pick Caleb Wilson showed off his wide range of skills in his shortened freshman season at North Carolina and at the NBA Draft Combine.
Wilson came into the combine standing at 6'9", weighing in at 215 pounds with a 7'0" wingspan. He showed off his length, agility and shooting ability in front of scouts, and confirmed to many that he has a versatile skillset as he enters the pros.
Caleb Wilson revealed to the media after the Draft Combine that his favorite player in the NBA is three-time MVP and Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic. He credits Jokic for his success in the NBA, even though he isn't the most athletic. "I really wasn't that athletic when I was younger, believe it or not," said Wilson.
How Does Wilson Compare to Jokic?
In Wilson's shortened season at North Carolina, he averaged 19.8 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, and led the team in blocks and steals. While he did not record any triple-doubles, Wilson did account for 11 double-doubles, as well as shooting 57 percent from the field.
In a game in which he recorded a season high 24 points against Kansas, he also recorded 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. He also shot 82 percent from the field.
Nikola Jokic's stats before entering the NBA are very similar to Caleb Wilson's. In his final season overseas, Jokic averaged 16.5 points per game, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists. The difference with Jokic is that his lack of athleticism hurt his draft stock, as he was the 41st overall selection by the Denver Nuggets.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena.How Can Caleb Wilson Reach His Ceiling?
There is no question that Caleb Wilson has the upside to reach the potential of a player like Jokic, but some believe there are still some things he has to work on to reach that level. Wilson had 6 games in his freshman season with three or more turnovers. Ball security has been a topic of discussion when you talk about the negatives of Wilson as a prospect, but he also had a 28.5 percent usage rate, showing he was the primary player on that Tar Heel roster.
North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.Wilson will also need to become a more reliable three-point shooter. At UNC, he shot just 25.9 percent from downtown. At the NBA Draft Combine, he shot around 45 percent in both three-point shooting drills.
Whichever team drafts Wilson knows he will take some developing, but the upside he brings convinces teams in the top five to keep a close eye on him.