David Chao, MD
2 min read • June 20, 2023
Posted in
As our panel of doctors detailed in mid-May, picking a 7-foot, versatile talent does not come without risk.
The French prodigy has had slight durability issues playing in France including a fibula stress fracture, a psoas injury and a fractured finger.
Foot stress fractures have derailed the careers of many top picks, including Bill Walton and Yao Ming.
Wembanyama’s slight frame is also a concern early in his career. The Pro Basketball Docs held similar concerns regarding Gonzaga alum Chet Holmgren when he was drafted.
Wembanyama carries a career SIC score of 86 heading into the season. Holmgren had a SIC score of 71 prior to suffering a Lisfranc injury last offseason.
Houston’s versatile forward dealt with a sore right elbow in late May that caused him to miss WME’s pro day.
Walker doesn’t project as a shooter (he shot 34.7% from 3 last season) thus this elbow issue is unlikely to affect his draft stock.
He reportedly suffered the initial injury during the NCAA tournament and re-aggravated the issue while working out prior to the WME pro day.
At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Walker will have no trouble enticing teams at the top of the draft.
Widely regarded as the number one shooting guard coming out of high school, Smith’s fall to the mid-first round is due to his troublesome right knee injury.
Smith struggled to get healthy during the season, missing games early in the season and late due to “right knee injury management.”
When he did play, he didn’t look right: averaging 12.5 points per game with 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 25.8 minutes. He shot 37.6% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range.
Smith did participate at the NBA scouting combine, but his draft stock has continued to decline in recent mock drafts.
He may still be worth the risk early in the first round, but teams undoubtedly examined his right knee issue thoroughly at the medical portion of the combine.
When healthy, he can light up defenders with his quick moves.
Whitehead’s season at Duke was shortened because of a fifth metatarsal “Jones” fracture he suffered in late August.
He returned with limited effectiveness in mid-November and finished the season with 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from 3 across 28 games.
The 19-year-old had a second procedure in May, likely to remove hardware that had been placed in the foot during the first surgery to promote healing.
Second surgeries to address Jones fractures are common, especially in the NFL, according to our panel of doctors.
Whitehead is unlikely to be fully healthy at the start of the regular season, but teams drafting where he is mocked are not looking for immediate impact players.
The former Blue Devil is unlikely to have his draft stock dip on draft day because of concerns over his foot.
UCLA’s top defender missed the NCAA tournament with a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in early March.
That late injury could drop him out of the draft entirely. He still has a year of eligibility at UCLA and declared for the draft while maintaining that eligibility.
Although a return this upcoming NBA season is unlikely, Clark is still being mocked in the mid-to-late second round.
His on-ball defense is NBA ready and his strength and explosiveness may get him selected.
Written by David Chao, MD
Nick Smith Jr | Floater - Touch • can get into floater using different footwork variations. Read & react • great body control (avoiding charges) going vertical • ability to go quick to slow. To go full speed downhill & stop in a controlled manner to get into floater
