The Nuggets currently hold the No. 22 pick in the NBA Draft. Over the next month, the DNVR Nuggets crew will examine who Denver may pick with that selection. Make sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 18, the night of the draft and DNVR Nuggets Draft Day LIVE streaming on Periscope and YouTube.
Who is RJ Hampton?
By trading into the second round last summer to draft Bol Bol, the Nuggets bet big on their player development. Denver had good reason to. Over the last several seasons, the Nuggets have signed first and second round, and even undrafted players to contracts, let them season in the G League, and hone their skills within Pepsi Center’s walls. Many of them eventually went on to earn a spot in Denver’s rotation. Monte Morris, Torrey Craig, and Malik Beasley all fit that description.
Thirty teams knew heading into the 2019 draft that Bol needed G League reps and a committed player development program to succeed at the NBA level. Time will tell if he’ll eventually be able to crack the Nuggets’ rotation, but Denver was confident that it could provide him with the right structure and path.
Like Bol, and the previous draft-and-develop players who’ve come up through the Nuggets’ system, RJ Hampton will also need a strong player development program to carve out an NBA career. Hampton, 19, is about as raw as they come. He’s technically a one-and-done, but instead of going to college for one season, Hampton played abroad for the New Zealand Breakers last year after finishing high school as the No. 5 ranked recruit.
He’s one of the more athletic players in the 2020 class and at 6-foot-5 with a 6-7 wingspan, Hampton has good size for a two-guard. His skills need sharpening, but on paper, Hampton looks the part.
Strengths
- Athleticism: Explosive athlete who can turn the corner on drives quicker than maybe any prospect in the draft. Should excel running the floor in transition.
- Crafty finisher around the rim with good body control.
- Good feel for the game: Sees the floor well, has potential as a passer out of pick-and-rolls. He’s raw but the natural instincts are there.
Weaknesses
- Defense needs work. Poor fundamentals on that end of the floor.
- Skinny frame, but it looks like one that can put on muscle and strength.
- Needs to improve his jumper and shot mechanics. Shot under 30% from three last season and under 70% from the free-throw line.
- Still figuring out the game. Forces passes and makes bad reads at times.
NBA Comparison: Zach LaVine
How does Hampton fit with the Nuggets?
Offense
Hampton has one of the quicker first steps in the draft. He’s lighting quick off the bounce and his natural off-the-dribble game gives him a lot of potential as a playmaker. He also has a great feel around the rim and knack for finding the right finishing angles at the basket. Hampton has all the physical tools to be a dynamic threat in the half-court, but his lack of a consistent shot is the biggest knock against him heading into the draft.
If his shot develops, Hampton has all the ingredients to be a multi-faceted two-guard who can thrive in today’s wide open NBA game. He’d be a prime transition target for Nikola Jokic to lob full-court Hail Mary passes to. In the half-court, he’d enter the NBA as more of a secondary or tertiary playmaker, but overtime his role could grow. If everything clicks, Hampton has the potential to eventually be a primary option for an offense.
The Nuggets could use an athlete of Hampton’s caliber in their backcourt. If he eventually became a starter, he’d be a good fit playing off of Jamal Murray. If a bench role is in his future, his athleticism would be appealing next to either Monte Morris or PJ Dozier.
Defense
Hampton played against professionals last season in Australia during what would have been his freshman season of college. It was clear from his play that he has a ways to go to be an impact defender at the pro level. Hampton has quick feet, good reaction time, fluid hips, and great athleticism, but needs to work on his fundamentals. Hampton’s footwork and defensive positioning needs a lot of fine tuning and he’s prone to taking poor angles when converging on his matchup.
NBA defense is especially hard to learn for inexperienced players that don’t enter the league with a strong defensive acumen. That will be Hampton from day 1. Hampton’s defensive learning curve is the main reason why it’s tough to see him contributing on a contending or even playoff-caliber team like the Nuggets during his rookie season.
Hampton could eventually be a passable defender at the guard spot, but he’ll have to get stronger. Maybe he can get on Vlatko Cancar’s workout plan.
