Here are The Game Day’s 2021 NBA Draft Top Prospects Ranked 1-60. As we head into the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29, see our rankings of college, foreign, and NBA G League players who are eligible to be selected. See where they stand among the 2021 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings.
The 2021 NBA Draft is producing plenty of excitement and debate. since the valuations of players are all over the board. It appears Cade Cunningham as the top overall prospect is the only thing essentially everyone agrees on, and for good reason.
While the gap between Cunningham and the group in the next paragraph is closer than you’d think, he clearly looks like the best of the 2021 NBA Draft Top Prospects. He is an unbelievable scorer in isolation, hits the three-point shot at a high clip, and makes terrific passes. Simply, Cunningham looks more built to succeed in the NBA than college basketball.
Following the first pick, the next several are very much about the team selecting and what role they need filled. Evan Mobley is a big rim protector who is also capable of knocking down shots. Jalen Suggs already resembles an experienced guard, and he will kill teams in transition.
Following these two, we have two players from the NBA G League, in Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green, who are great athletes that fill different roles as well. NBA teams should also have more insight into these NBA G League players entering the draft, which will be something interesting to watch over the next couple of years.
This is a deep NBA Draft, with gems to be found in the late second round. Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza is expected to be sitting there. Offensively, he is one of the best big men in the draft.
However, his defense is suspect. This is a trend with these later players. Many excel in one or two categories but really struggle in another. It means these NBA prospects could fill specific roles, as long as they develop in the NBA G League and NBA Summer League.
Evan Mobley is one of the best 2021 NBA Draft top prospects heading into the July 29 draft night. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 NBA Draft Top 60 Prospects
| Rk | NBA Draft Prospect | POS | School/Country | Scouting Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cade Cunningham | G | Oklahoma State | The 6-foot-8 ball-handler is a terrfic athlete. Cunningham also has the ability to cover multiple positions and create his own offense. |
| 2 | Evan Mobley | F/C | USC | While he needs to put on some weight, Mobley has the tools to be an elite rim protector in today's NBA. He also is an explosive leaper and can knock down jump shots. |
| 3 | Jalen Green | G | NBA G League | Green has the speed, explosiveness and finishing skills necessary to destroy teams in transition. While he could use more size, he is more of a shooting guard than a true point. |
| 4 | Jalen Suggs | G | Gonzaga | Suggs already looks like a mature guard who can be trusted in big moments. He needs to improve his shooting, but he is a strong athlete who can be dangerous in transition. |
| 5 | Jonathan Kuminga | F | NBA G League | With a 7-foot wingspan, athletic build and solid quickness, Kuminga can become an elite defender. He also has great mechanics and is capable of knocking down the open shot. |
| 6 | Keon Johnson | G | Tennessee | Johnson is an unbelievable athlete, and he shows it on both ends of the floor. He is a versatile defender and possesses great playmaking instincts. |
| 7 | Davion Mitchell | G | Baylor | Mitchell is an elite scorer, knocking down shots from anywhere. He is also one of the best on-ball defenders in the draft and was the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. |
| 8 | Scottie Barnes | G | Florida St. | Barnes has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, strong frame and a high motor. He has the ability to switch onto any position and win his battle. What he lacks on offense, he makes up for on defense. |
| 9 | Alperen Şengün | C | Turkey | Şengün is a big-bodied post who has a soft touch around the rim. However, he isn't a great athlete and could struggle defending the pick-and-roll. |
| 10 | Franz Wagner | F | Michigan | While he isn't a great athlete, Wagner is a solid shooter and versatile defender who is NBA-ready. |
| 11 | Jalen Johnson | F | Duke | Johnson has the size and skills to play any position on the floor. He needs to work on his shooting and overall scoring, but his versatility on both ends of the floor makes him an interesting prospect. |
| 12 | Kai Jones | F/C | Texas | Jones has the tools to be a strong defender in the NBA, and he can run the floor to get easy transition buckets. His overall offense needs polish, but he has good footwork and can do enough on that end to carve out a role. |
| 13 | James Bouknight | G | Connecticut | Bouknight has the athleticism and skills to become a solid defender. He is also among the more talented scorers in the draft, especially when finishing at the rim. |
| 14 | Moses Moody | G | Arkansas | Moody is a good athlete with a 7-foot wingspan. He is a solid all-around player, but he isn't a specialist at anything except free-throw shooting. |
| 15 | Corey Kispert | F | Gonzaga | Kispert may be the best overall shooter in the draft, hitting 44% of his three-point attempts this season. He is incredibly smart and possesses many of the skills to play in the NBA, but his size could prevent him from thriving consistently. |
| 16 | Josh Giddey | F | Australia | Giddey has the rare combination of size, ball-handling and playmaking ability. He isn't the quickest, but he's a strong outside shooter. |
| 17 | Jared Butler | G | Baylor | Butler is a consistent all-around player. He's NBA-ready, can score from all over, and is natural with the ball in his hands, despite not being a pure point guard. |
| 18 | Tre Mann | G | Florida | Mann has a pure shooting stroke and has grown as a playmaker, though his lack of athleticism will keep him from going early in the draft. |
| 19 | Ziaire Williams | F | Stanford | Williams has the tools to contribute on both ends of the floor. His 6-foot-10 wingspan and shotmaking potential makes him a versatile player overall. |
| 20 | Sharife Cooper | G | Auburn | Cooper is undersized, but very quick. While he struggles with his shooting, he is a great passer and ball-handler. |
| 21 | Isaiah Jackson | F | Kentucky | The Kentucky big man has a 9-foot-5 standing reach and is athletic enough to run the floor and thrive. He needs to put on weight, but he is a natural rim protector. |
| 22 | Chris Duarte | G | Oregon | Duarte can be a solid 3-and-D player at the next level. He is a big guard who can shoot and defend along the perimeter. |
| 23 | Cameron Thomas | G | LSU | Thomas is a natural scorer who can put up points in a variety of ways. However, he leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end of the floor. |
| 24 | Usman Garuba | F | Spain | Garuba is a high-energy player and smart defender. The majority of his offensive success comes from dunks and finishes at the rim. |
| 25 | Jaden Springer | G | Tennessee | Springer is a solid scorer at all levels. He also has the ability to get his own shot using his strength, speed and burst. |
| 26 | Ayo Dosunmu | G | Illinois | Dosunmu needs to get stronger, but he is a pure playmaker. He can dictate the pace of the game with the ball and find open teammates. Dosunmu is also a versatile scorer and defender. |
| 27 | Charles Bassey | C | Western Kentucky | Bassey is a defensive-minded player who could benefit from time in the G League to develop further. Still, he has the potential to be a solid rim protector in the NBA. |
| 28 | Nah'Shon Hyland | G | VCU | Hyland is a lanky combo guard who can be a dangerous scorer at the next level. His mindset is to score first, making him an interesting option off the bench. |
| 29 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | F | Villanova | Robinson-Earl is a high-IQ player who seems to always be in the right place on the court. However, he's not a consistent shooter and still has room to grow on defense. |
| 30 | Day'Ron Sharpe | F | North Carolina | Sharpe is a big-bodied bruiser on the inside who can also distribute the ball and set up teammates. |
| 31 | Roko Prkačin | F | Croatia | Prkačin is a solid below-the-rim combo forward. He has a high basketball IQ and has improved on his jumper. Still, he's a better creator than scorer. |
| 32 | Rokas Jokubaitis | G | Lithuania | Jokubaitis is a strong playmaker with the ball in his hands, but he needs to continue extending his range to be viewed as a strong overall offensive player. |
| 33 | Joel Ayayi | G | Gonzaga | Ayayi has good size and strength, and he thrives as the pick-and-roll ball handler. He is also an opportunistic shooter. |
| 34 | Miles McBride | G | West Virginia | McBride is a strong, athletic point guard who can be a terrific defender in the NBA. He also has the ability to knock down the open shot. |
| 35 | Aaron Henry | F | Michigan St. | Henry is a great slasher and defender. He ranks lower down the list because of his inconsistent three-point shooting. |
| 36 | Kessler Edwards | F | Pepperdine | Edwards has shown the ability to be a high-volume scorer in a variety of ways. His consistency throughout his college career should earn him some looks. |
| 37 | Josh Christopher | G | Arizona St. | Christopher is a bit inconsistent with his three-point shooting and shot selection, but he has the tools and skills to succeed in the NBA. |
| 38 | Brandon Boston Jr. | G | Kentucky | Boston really lacks strength, but he does have a near-7-foot wingspan and can score in a variety of ways. |
| 39 | Marcus Bagley | F | Arizona St. | Bagley is athletic and has a pretty jumper, but he lacks the ability to create for himself. |
| 40 | Filip Petrušev | C | Serbia | While not overly athletic, Petrušev is a solid low-post scorer who has potential to stretch his range. He is good at moving in open space and can be effective in transition. |
| 41 | Ariel Hukporti | C | Germany | Hukporti is a solid low-post defender, rebounder, scorer and shot blocker. He struggles when he's forced to move away from the basket on either end of the floor. |
| 42 | Max Abmas | G | Oral Roberts | Abmas is a great offensive playmaker and scorer. However, his size and defensive abilities could scare some teams off. |
| 43 | Austin Reaves | G | Oklahoma | Reaves is a solid playmaker who can create his own shot. However, he has limited upside and is an average athlete. |
| 44 | Johnny Juzang | G | UCLA | Juzang is a natural, pure shooter who can bring energy off the bench for an NBA team. |
| 45 | Terrence Shannon Jr. | G | Texas Tech | Shannon Jr. is a strong, athletic slasher who has improved his shooting, but still needs to work on his range. |
| 46 | JT Thor | F | Auburn | Thor continues to rise up draft boards, showing his length with his ability to shoot and defend. If he can hit shots consistently, he could become the steal of the draft. |
| 47 | RaiQuan Gray | F | Florida St. | Gray is a high-motor, athletic player who can provide solid defense off the bench. However, his offensive skills and shooting need to improve for him to be a reliable 3-and-D player. |
| 48 | Greg Brown | F | Texas | Brown has terrific athleticism and is a great shooter, but he turns the ball over too often and struggles on defense. |
| 49 | David Johnson | G | Louisville | Johnson has all the skills necessary to play in the NBA. He can shoot, defend, rebound and make plays. He simply needs to do it more consistently. |
| 50 | Isaiah Livers | F | Michigan | Livers is a decent all-around player who seems built to be a role player in the NBA. |
| 51 | Herb Jones | F | Alabama | Jones is a solid all-around playmaker on both ends of the floor, and he's a gifted athlete. However, he needs to work on his shooting and be more aggresive overall. |
| 52 | Matthew Hurt | F | Duke | Hurt is an efficient shooter with a soft touch. However, he lacks length for his size and he isn't the strongest defender. |
| 53 | Daishen Nix | G | NBA G League | Nix has incredible court vision and is a true floor general. However, he needs to work on his own scoring. |
| 54 | Juhann Bégarin | G | France | Bégarin can be a bit reckless on offense, but he is an athletic guard with plenty of skills. He can also be a disruptor on the defensive end. |
| 55 | Joe Wieskamp | G | Iowa | Wieskamp is a solid catch-and-shoot player, but he struggles to create his own shot. If his teammates do not find him for open looks, he tends to disappear. |
| 56 | Luka Garza | C | Iowa | The Big Ten Player of the Year has the size and shooting ability for his game to translate to the NBA. However, he is not very mobile and he struggles on defense. |
| 57 | Kofi Cockburn | C | Illinois | Cockburn is a massive, old-school big man. However, this role is always tough to translate to the modern NBA. But if there's a team looking for a bruiser to battle on the boards, there are few in the draft better than him. |
| 58 | Quentin Grimes | G | Houston | Grimes is strong, a good rebounder and has the ability to knock down any shot. However, he is an inconsistent shooter, struggles against quicker guards and can play a bit reckless. |
| 59 | Trey Murphy | F | Virginia | Murphy is a good shooter, but will likely struggle to create his own shots in the NBA. He's not too athletic, and he needs to work on his rebounding to stay on the floor. |
| 60 | Sandro Mamukaleshvili | C | Seton Hall | Given his size, Mamukaleshvili should be a better rebounder than he is. He also struggles to score in traffic and is not an athlete. However, he's a decent defender and can shoot. |
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