2021 NBA Draft: 5 Most Undervalued Prospects
By Evan Wheeler
Josh Christopher, G (Combo Guard), Arizona State
2020-21 Stats: 14.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 APG, 43% FG, 30.5% 3PT, 17.8 PER
Age: 19
Height: 6’3.25″
Weight: 214.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9.25″
Josh Christopher just seems to be a polarizing prospect and one of the more difficult evaluations for some to figure out. I’m confident though in saying he’s one of the best shot-makers in this class, I’d put him up there with Jalen Green, James Bouknight, Cameron Thomas, and Ziaire Williams and what they all can do as shot makers and creators. Christopher has been pigeonholed as just a scorer and maybe that’s all he’ll end up being in the league. I believe he does much more as a defender and playmaker though that should have him in the top ten discussions.
There’s literally nothing from a scoring standpoint that Christopher can’t do. He can create off the dribble and either use his handling ability or explosive first-step quickness to get by defenders. He can finish above the rim and has the strength to get through contact, but Christopher is just also a lethal shooter off of the dribble.
He makes contested mid-range jumpers as if they were lay-ups and even though his three-point shooting needs to become more efficient, Christopher can beat a defense from there too. ISO situations and scoring in the halfcourt are things that I don’t imagine he will have to adjust to, rather something Christopher will gravitate towards. He also scores well off of the ball and shines in the open floor out in transition, showing another layer to his scoring arsenal. Christopher’s got the confidence of a big-time scorer and the dynamic ability to back it up
What Christopher can do as a defender is where I seem to disagree with most others on what his potential could be on that end of the floor. The 104.1 defensive rating he finished with last season playing for the Sun Devils isn’t going to make anyone gasp in awe, and Christopher has defensive lapses at times. I just think he regularly gives adequate effort, hustles in transition, draws charges, and during the scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine, I thought he was one of the best defenders on the floor.
Christopher can just get really low into his defensive stance and he can move laterally well. Plus he’s got the strength to hold up against most wings and the length to at least bother their shot attempts. He’s also really good at reading passing lanes and getting into them to create steal chances. I’m not really willing to buy into the hyperbole of him being awful defensively, I actually think Christopher will be a rather quality NBA defender.
Last season Christopher had an assist percentage under 10 percent and he averaged less than two assists per game, however, his playmaking upside is far greater than those numbers might indicate. He has an underrated feel for the game and his passing really seems to shine off of his slashing ability or in the open floor in transition. I don’t think he’s ready to be a primary shot creator for an offense as I don’t think placing that sort of playmaking responsibility on him initially will lead to much success.
As he develops his skills though, I think Christopher will get more and more comfortable with creating for others and utilizing it as a way to get easier looks for himself at the same time. I just think he needs the right coach and team to allow him to grow into what he can become as a playmaker, rather than never giving him the chance to continue to explore that facet of his game.
He’s a tremendous rebounding guard too, another element to his game that doesn’t get enough praise I feel. I’m willing to take the risk and bet on the kid’s confidence, his elite-shot making, and the other aspects of his game that I think he’s just beginning to tap into. Christopher could be a foundational piece for a franchise and that’s why I would choose him in the top 10.
The same way I felt about Devin Booker ahead of the 2015 NBA Draft is how I feel about Christopher. I just think people are overlooking all the things he can do. He reminds me of former NBA All-Star Latrell Sprewell and I think he could end up being one of the best players to come out of this class.