2021 NBA Draft: Jaden Springer, The Smooth Operator
By Evan Wheeler
NBA Draft prospect Jaden Springer’s shot creation
Jaden Springer’s shot creation and polish as a scorer at 18ye ars old is one of the most impressive traits he possesses. He’s a three-level scorer and can beat the defense in a number of ways, having a smooth handle to effortlessly create shot opportunities for himself. I get that his scoring and shooting might not jump off the screen like guards such as Steph Curry, Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, or Damian Lillard.
He’s not necessarily the flamethrower heater of a scorer that those guys are, with the way they explode off of one shot. Springer is more of a campfire in the sense that he steadily builds up and burns the defense over the course of a game with his offensive attack.
He’s methodical with how he scores the basketball and is a smooth operator when breaking down a defender. Springer’s scoring approach and offensive skills remind me of former Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Brandon Roy. Both are similar in size at around six-foot-five, six-foot-six, and weighing around 200 pounds or so, but it’s how Springer scores that mirror Roy.
His athleticism is adequate and he has the quickness to beat defenders off the dribble, but Springer’s craftiness as a scorer is what stands out for me. When his athleticism or quickness can’t get the job done, Springer doesn’t just crumble and shell up because his scoring arsenal is vast. He has tremendous footwork combined with a deceptive handle that he’s great at manipulating speeds with to get a defender off balance and throws in fakes to keep them constantly guessing.
Springer is not just a straight-line driver with one or two moves, he’s got multiple counters in his back pocket to fluster a defender. You see the full gamut of this on the possession below as Springer uses a shot fake to initially beat the defender off the dribble, then stops on a dime before utilizing a ball fake to once again give the defender something to react to before hitting a Roy-esque fadeaway.
Springer’s mid-range game is a rare sight to see from a guard in an era where the game is only becoming more obsessed with the three-point shot, but his shooting fits in with that modern approach as well. He’s only improving as a shooter and has shot 47 percent from beyond the arc this season for the Volunteers, providing evidence and encouragement that he will become a knockdown shooter in the NBA.
He’s found a way to blend a modern skill with something that is considered outdated and has made it effective for how he scores. Springer hasn’t gotten caught up with the trend of shooting threes from outer space, rather opting for the higher quality shots that aren’t nearly as flashy. He’s making what’s old new again, while still maintaining the 3-point efficiency and range you’d want from a starting combo guard in 2021. It’s also another layer of his game that makes him so similar to Roy in my eyes.
Even though he’s not the bounciest athlete and what you’d view as an above-the-rim finisher, Springer completes his scoring repertoire with his ability to finish at the cup, he’s finished 68.6 percent of his shots at the rim this season according to Hoop-Math. He’s an ambidextrous finisher who’s got great touch around the rim, plus the strength and body control to finish through defenders on a consistent basis.
His smooth footwork allows him to weave through the lane with grace, taking measured steps instead of sloppily tripping over his own feet when attacking into the paint. I think Springer can no question be a lead scoring option in an NBA offense, if not a tremendous secondary scorer at the next level.