2021 NBA Draft: Jaden Springer, The Smooth Operator

NBA Draft prospect Jaden Springer’s playmaking ability

Outside of his scoring versatility, Springer’s feel for the game offensively stands out next as one of his best skills. He only has 53 assists in 19 games this season, but that doesn’t paint the full picture of his playmaking abilities. His vision and passing are criminally underrated and undervalued in my opinion, its also not something Tennessee really asks him to do super frequently, Springer along with fellow freshman guard Keon Johnson are primarily used as scorers and shot initiators.

He’s not someone who will ever be a lead facilitator of an offense, nor do I think he should be expected to be as he’s not a traditional ball-dominant point guard.

Springer can thrive though as a secondary playmaker and can initiate offense for others as a primary ball-handler, which is something of added value to a player some view as just a scoring guard. He can play a great floor game and given his scoring prowess, catch defenses off guard with the playmaking he provides. While an opposing defender or defense is worried about his ability to score on them from three different levels, Springer is able to use this to his advantage to deceptively create openings for his teammates.

It also plays into his cerebral approach and the way in which his handle seems so controlled. He’s not a Kyrie Irving just throwing countless dribble moves at you with effortless speed or fluidity, but Springer’s handle is more measured and while it appears to be a slower dribble, it once again is just Springer deceiving the defender while he decides what scoring trick to go to or while he patiently waits to create an opening like the one you see below.

In a 2018 piece by Michael McLamb done for USA Today, Springer’s High School coach Jason Moseley talked about his overall game and mentioned how undervalued the Volunteers star freshman’s passing skills are.

"“He’s completely unguardable,” said Jaden’s high school coach Jason Moseley. “He can score at all three levels. He can get to the rack, he’s got a great mid-range and his three is getting better… He can handle it and he’s the most underrated passer in his class for sure.”"

Springer’s vision and feel for the game also seem to show up most, when the game becomes chaotic. As you see in the clip below, Springer can take something as simple as an offensive rebound off of a missed three and turn it into an opportunity to make a play. As the season comes to a close and we head into conference tournament play, I would be interested to see if Tennesee coach Rick Barnes opens up the team’s offense more for Springer to operate as a playmaker. It’s something he’s becoming more and more comfortable with and should flourish further in the NBA.