Drake Powell’s Comeback and NBA Journey
Drake Powell has often been highlighted as the most athletic player in this year’s draft class. Now, it seems he’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate that sooner rather than later.
Following a knee injury that sidelined him from playing in the Summer League, Powell also missed out on participating in pickup games with his new teammates. However, he has finally been cleared for full contact practice ahead of Monday’s session.
“He’s been practicing well,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernandez. “He’s looking good and ready to ramp things up, although we need to be cautious. He’s made significant progress, and we believe he’s one of the elite athletes in this draft class. It’s exciting to see him take these steps.”
The label of “best athletes” is, of course, a subjective one. Still, Powell’s performance during the combine supports it—he recorded an impressive maximum vertical of 43 inches and a standing vertical of 37.5 inches.
What’s more stunning is that Powell is managing these feats while dealing with tendinosis in his left knee.
Drafted 22nd overall thanks to a trade involving Tarance Mann, Powell missed the Summer League and was absent during the initial days of training camp. Yet, as of Monday, he’s been given the green light to step up his game.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Powell remarked. “I’m doing my best to be a diligent student, absorbing a variety of concepts in this new system.”
He emphasized that while he’s learned a lot, there’s still more to grasp. “I’ve picked up some valuable insights. Even though I’m on the court now, I know learning is an ongoing process,” he added.
During his time at North Carolina, Powell didn’t get many chances as a designated 3-D wing. Offensively, he’ll need to refine his ability to use his weaker hand, improve his shot selection, and adapt to the challenges of the NBA game.
“I feel like I have a solid understanding of what’s required, especially given my limited mid-range shots in college,” he said. “While we’d like to take those, it’s clear that I should focus on maximizing layups and 3-point attempts.”
