Indiana Pacers host a 'competitive' first pre-draft workout ahead of 2023 NBA Draft
The Indiana Pacers had their first group of draft prospects in the St Vincent Center on Friday for a pre-draft workout. Six players were brought in to perform in front of Pacers executives, coaches, and staff — including former President of Basketball Operations and current advisor Larry Bird.
The six players who worked out for Indiana on Friday were Kobe Brown, Andre Jackson Jr, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Arthur Kaluma, Liutauras Lelevicius, and Grant Nelson. Five of the six have NCAA experience while Lelevicius most recently played for Zalgiris in Lithuania.
"We played one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three. Shot the ball. We did some drills," Jaquez said of the session. The former UCLA forward is currently slotted at the 28th pick in ESPN's latest NBA mock draft, which is the highest spot of the players who worked out for the Pacers on Friday. He was trying to show off his shooting and defensive abilities at the workout, citing that defense is proving to be important in the NBA postseason once again.
Indiana had several basketball staffers looking on. It was the first time prospects have been in Indianapolis during this draft cycle, and the NBA Draft Combine as well as the lottery are next week. The process is starting to heat up.
The Pacers first pre-draft workout was heating up, too. Brown was dripping sweat during his availability with local media, and Jackson Jr said it was a battle.
"One of the most competitive workouts I've been a part of so far. Really high pace, really high level guys," Jackson Jr, who has worked out for the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets already, said. He singled out Kaluma and Brown as guys who stood out to him.
Jackson Jr was a part of the Connecticut Huskies team that won the NCAA Championship last month. He had three points, three rebounds, and six assists — a game high — in the title game against San Diego State. The 21-year old is working on his jump shot and is focused on competing in front of talent evaluators. ESPN currently projects him to be picked 32nd overall.
Brown was the oldest player of the group, born on the very first day of 2000. He averaged nearly 16 points per game for the Missouri Tigers this past season, and he prides himself on being able to do whatever a team needs.
At 23, Brown is stronger than a lot of other players in this draft class. That should help him throughout the pre-draft process.
"Their versatility," Brown said of what stood out to him about the workout. "I've got to come in and talk," he added when discussing how his older age can help him. He is slated to be picked 43rd in ESPN's most recent mock draft.
Kaluma, Lelevicius, and Nelson did not speak with the media, but all three were taking jumpers after the workout ended. None of them landed on ESPN's latest projections for one of the 58 picks.
The Pacers have five selections in the 2023 draft, though the exact five are not yet known. That will be determined next Tuesday at the NBA Draft lottery, though it is unlikely Indiana makes five selections. They will have plenty of players in for workouts throughout the pre-draft process, and Friday was just day one.
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