NBA Draft Blog – Page 24 – NBA Blog

2013 NBA Draft prospects: Victor Oladipo a legit talent

Not many were calling Victor Oladipo a potential top-10 draft pick when he was a freshman defensive specialist at Indiana.

The general consensus was that he had to improve offensively to be considered an NBA prospect.

Guess NBA teams already have an idea of Oladipo’s work ethic.

Flash-forward two basketball seasons. It will stun analysts if Oladipo doesn’t hear his name called among the top-10 players during the NBA draft June 27.

Oladipo talked about his meteoric rise over the past two days at the NBA predraft combine and even he has a hard time believing his good fortune.

“I remember back a couple of months ago I wasn’t getting any attention, a couple of years ago I wasn’t getting any attention so it’s all kind of surreal for me every time,” Oladipo said at the Attack Athletics gym. “It just drives me. I know what it feels like to be at the bottom and be overlooked and every thing like that. I’m just going to use the experience to keep working hard and staying in the gym.”

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

NBA Draft: C.J. McCollum would like to play for 76ers

C.J. McCollum remains intrigued with the 76ers even though they didn’t request to interview him at the NBA draft combine.

“I was [attending college] pretty close to Philadelphia, out in Bethlehem,” the Lehigh senior guard said. “So I will be interested to see if they are taking a guard or a post player in this draft.”

The organization’s biggest needs are a post player and a backup point guard. However, one could argue that McCollum could be a solid addition to a team planning to make offseason moves via trades and free agency.

“I’m a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers,” McCollum said. “So it will be interesting to see what happens.”

— Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer

NBA Draft: Big man Rudy Gobert talks with Sixers

Rudy Gobert was the biggest prospect at the NBA draft combine.

The center from France stands 7 foot 1/2 in his socks and 7-2 in his sneakers. He has an incredible 7-81/2 wingspan and massive hands.

Yet the 20-year-old is a raw talent. He needs to get stronger and polish up his post game in order to contribute in the NBA.

However, his athleticism and size are why he’s projected to be a mid-first-round pick in June’s draft. The 76ers, who are likely to get the 11th pick, interviewed Gobert here on Friday.

— Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer