The 2024 NBA draft may not be as flashy as previous years, but it has some diamonds hidden beneath the surface. One of them is the Kentucky teammate of another Wildcat projected third pick, Reed Sheppard— Rob Dillingham. While he has only been with the Wildcats for one season, he has heavily damaged the opponents from the backcourt. Let us learn everything that this projected top-5 pick has to offer as the freshman at UK enters the professional leagues soon.

Despite his stature, Rob Dillingham‘s scoring sets him apart on the court, making him a top prospect to watch. Dillingham’s rise from the Kentucky Wildcats’ bench showcases his ability to influence games with his scoring and playmaking skills.

Rob Dillingham: Physical attributes and career before Kentucky

The Wildcat freshman and NBA prospect for the year stand tall at 6-ft-1.5, according to his numbers in Kentucky’s preseason combine. He measures 176 pounds and has a wingspan of 6-ft-2. While these numbers may be acceptable in college basketball, in the professional league, it may be a problem. Rob Dillingham has shown some impressive displays throughout his freshman season under John Calipari. Although he did not start the games, his offensive strengths beat the defense of the opposition.

Moreover, his experience at the Cold Hearts of Overtime Elite will only help his case. Apart from this, the five-star recruit out of Combine Academy, Lincolnton, North Carolina, also has international experience. In the FIBA U-16 Championship held in Mexico in 2021, he led Team USA to a gold medal, winning over Argentina. With his 31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in the Finals, he also swept away the Most Valuable Player honor.

In the NBA draft combine event, he could not stay for the entire camp due to a sore ankle. However, being already projected at a high number and given his impressive numbers, he did not have to prove much for his name. Here is how he has performed in Lexington to build his resume.

Rob Dillingham: A look at his numbers

While he stepped from the bench in the heavily built Kentucky roster, Rob Dillingham proved his worth with every game. In his only season as a Wildcat, he averaged 15.2 points per game. His offensive capabilities were proven by his 47.5% field goal accuracy. The same put him in the 145th spot in the nation in the 2023-24 NCAA season. He is as damaging from beyond the arc as he is from the paint as he popped 44.4% from the three-point line. Moreover, his free throw percentage was also fair coming in at 79.6% per game. Not to mention, all this was in just an average of 23 minutes per game.

Rob Dillingham also played his role as a playmaker, given that he was a point guard. He delivered an average of 3.9 assists per game. However, for the NBA, he will need even better ball-handling skills. His smaller stature also aided him in the form of quickness as he stole at least once in every game. Although not exactly thought to be a defensive player, Rob Dillingham did put up some good numbers in the frontcourt as well. He added 2.9 rebounds per game as a Wildcat. Moreover, his lower turnover number is also an attractive number with just 2 per game.

He recorded 486 points and 124 assists in his lone year in Lexington. The 19-year-old capped the year off with 94 rebounds and 33 steals. With the brilliant numbers, he also swept quite a few personal accolades in the conference. He was selected in the Second-team All-SEC and the SEC All-Freshman Team. For his immaculate work from the bench, he swept away the SEC Sixth Man of the Year award as well.

The Wildcat in the NBA

Many NBA scouts and news agencies have Rob Dillingham in the top-10 lottery picks for the 2024 NBA drafts. However, he has also become one of the most polarizing picks this season. ESPN has placed him at the fourth number, coming right under his fellow Wildcat, Reed Sheppard. As per this ranking, the San Antonio Spurs will draft this talented youngster. The Spurs were not able to make it to the playoffs this season despite having Victor Wembanyama on their roster. Now, they will certainly prepare a group of hoopers that complement the 2023 first-overall pick.

Hence, the shooting capability of Rob Dillingham puts him in the second preference for the Spurs. They are too in great need of a backcourt player, hence their target this season will be on picking up suitable guards. Wemby is surely keeping the team in strides with his defense. Hence, adding a player who has the same listed as his weakness will only add to the team’s total power. Another team that just might be interested in Rob Dillingham would be the Washinton Wizards. The team is also transitioning, and they can utilize the offensive powers of the 6-ft-1 hooper quite nicely.

While he may have quite a few flaws, this Wildcat has proven very useful in times of need. Seeing that Calipari gave him 23 minutes off the bench also adds to his strength in the offense. Whether he comes at the top of the draft list or somewhere in between, there is one surety that any team who is ready to take their chance on him will gain benefits in the long term.

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