Former KU star Devonté Graham sees some virtual reality and some math at NBA Combine
Former Kansas star Devonté Graham has checked all the boxes in his NBA Draft Combine experience.
Aside from doing the usual drills, he’s had a high-tech pop quiz in the middle of an interview and a psychological question to answer.
While meeting with the Detroit Pistons, Graham was asked to put on virtual-reality goggles and proceed to run pick-and-roll plays and read defenses. He scored an 11 out of 12 on the pop quiz. Teammate Svi Mykhailiuk got a perfect score on the same test.
During another interview Graham was given a riddle about a bat and ball costing $1.10 together, but the bat cost a dollar more the ball. His task? How much are both worth?
He answered wrong, and said he over thought it. He then challenged the media to see if they could answer correctly.
Regardless of his math skills, Graham has enjoyed the process despite being the rare four-year player at an event where all eyes are on the one-and-dones.
“Four-year guys don’t get as much credit, but the league is all about potential,” he said. “You can’t go wrong with what you’re getting for four years. No regrets of me staying for four years.”
Graham decided to return to Kansas for his senior season last spring without testing the NBA Draft waters after hearing that teams wanted to see him prove his ability to play point guard.
The 6-foot-1 guard spent the majority of his college career playing shooting guard while Frank Mason, who is now with the Sacramento Kings, ran the point.
And it appears to have paid off.
Graham had an All-American senior season, as he averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 assists and four rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent on three-pointers. Graham said teams haven’t brought up any concerns with his ability to play either guard position during the interview process.
Aside from the Pistons, Graham has also met with the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets.
Graham said Dallas asked him how he’d be able to play alongside point guard Dennis Smith if the situation arose. Graham compared it to playing with Mason. He said he'd tailor his game to Smith’s.
He thought his meeting with the Pistons went especially well after hearing how they’d use him, should they take him.
“They love me,” he said. “They like how I play. Pretty much I just have to go and do my thing in these workouts.”
As Kansas sophomore center Udoka Azubuike ponders whether or not to return to KU for his junior season, Graham said he encouraged his teammate to test the process out in order to get feedback. He added that he hasn’t given Azubuike any advice since Azubuike decided to test the waters.
Current mock drafts have Graham going anywhere from the late first round to the middle of the second round.
Graham had a strong performance in the five-on-five scrimmage on Friday, scoring 16 points on 6-for 9 shooting. Graham hit four threes in the game.
While most first-round picks try to avoid the five-on-five to preserve their draft stock, Graham said he had no interest in skipping it.
He told his agent he was going to play.
“It wasn’t even a question,” Graham said. “I already knew I was going to play. I just like to compete. I just wanted to come out and show the confidence in myself. A lot of guys don’t play because they think they’re going to hurt themselves. I wasn’t going to play out of character."
This story was originally published May 18, 2018 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Former KU star Devonté Graham sees some virtual reality and some math at NBA Combine."