Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today Sports
Denver Nuggets Select Penn State's Jalen Pickett in NBA Draft
Jalen Pickett, who produced one of the finest individual seasons in Penn State basketball history, became the program's highest-drafted NBA player since 1965. And a former Penn State star made the pick.
The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets selected Pickett in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft with the 32nd overall pick. Pickett is Penn State's highest-drafted player since Bob Weiss went to Philadelphia in 1965 as the 22nd overall pick. Fittingly, former Penn State star Calvin Booth (a second-round pick himself in 1999) found a way to bring Pickett to Denver as the team's general manager. Even more fittingly, Booth and Pickett are the only Penn State players to record triple-doubles. Pickett (15 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) recorded his against Butler in November; Booth (19-10-10) had his against Dayton in the 1998 NIT Tournament.
Pickett concluded an epic season for the Lions as the program's first player to be named a first-team All-American since 1955. He was the first Penn State player named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and made three other All-America teams. Pickett led Penn State to the Big Ten championship game, its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2011 and its first tournament win since 2001. Pickett was the nation's only player to average 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game.
ON ESPN's draft broadcast, analyst Jay Bilas called Pickett a "facilitator" who can make an NBA impact.
"He's got a great knowledge of how to play," Bilas said. "... He makes other people around him better, scores and rebounds, but I think the best attribute he has is as a passer."
Sports Illustrated's scouting report of Pickett emphasizes his experience (which includes three seasons at Siena) and team-building skill. However, Pickett needed to find the right system in which to thrive, according to SI.
"Pickett is one of those unorthodox players that actually makes it quite difficult to project his fit at the next level," SI writes. "He has plenty of translatable skills, but it will be interesting to see how exactly he impacts the NBA game. His natural feel for the game is impressive, so he should find his place as a role player in the right system. It will take a team that’s really willing to use his unorthodox strengths."
Pickett is the 14th player in Penn State history to be selected in the NBA Draft.
Penn State NBA Draft History
1947: John Rusinko (Round 3, Baltimore)
1953: Herman Slezdik (Round 7, Baltimore)
1955: Jesse Arnelle (Round 2, Fort Wayne Pistons)
1961: Peter Baltic (Round 9, Detroit)
1965: Bob Weiss (Round 3, Philadelphia)
1966: Carver Clinton (Round 11, Philadelphia)
1967: Paul Mickey (Round 14, Washington)
1974: Ron Brown (Round 7, Boston)
1981: Frank Brickowski (Round 3, New York)
1983: Mike Lang (Round 8, New York)
1984: Dick Mumma (Round 10, San Diego)
1999: Calvin Booth (Washington, Round 2)
2018: Tony Carr (New Orleans, Round 2)
2023: Jalen Pickett (Denver, Round 2)
More on Penn State
Penn State Basketball on SI.com
Penn State schedules basketball bonding trip to the Bahamas
Penn State basketball lands ninth transfer and second from North Carolina
Penn State vs. VCU at Thanksgiving? A tempting basketball matchup awaits
For Penn State, a hospital visits lifts players from their 'football bubble'
Penn State commit Ethan Grunkemeyer shines at Elite 11
How Penn State handles college football's busiest recruiting month
Why Penn State having no Big Ten rivalry games might be a good thing for the Lions
Penn State's future football schedules will include no protected rivals
Why Penn State going unrivaled in the Big Ten is good for the program
Penn State's top two collectives merge to form Happy Valley United
Penn State announces four more kickoff times, including one on the Peacock streaming service
A future Penn State receiver is Pennsylvania's fastest sprinter
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
