C
Clint Nielson
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Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images
Does Ron Holland have all-star potential in a draft lacking top end talent?
The 2024 NBA draft is reported as having limited to no superstar prospects. Despite this, Ron Holland of the G-League Ignite has the playstyle and body of a potential NBA star wing. A year ago, Ron Holland was getting frequent number 1 pick buzz but due to a perceived underperformance in the G-League, Holland’s draft pick positioning is much more fluid than before. The Ignites were embarrassingly bad last season (2-32, the program is being shut down). Playing on such a poor team naturally made Holland look worse. There is still a real chance that Holland can be as good as the scouts were predicting a year ago. Some notable mock NBA drafts have Holland going at 12 (Kevin O’Connor), 5 (Jonathan Wasserman), 6 (Kyle Boone), and 10 (Michael Scotto).
Profile
2023-24 Showcase Cup Stats: 15 games, 30.3 minutes, 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 47.4% FG, 23.9% 3P, 68.2% FT
2023-2024 Regular Season Stats: 14 games, 33.6 minutes, 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 44.5% FG, 24.0% 3P, 75.7% FT
Team: G League Ignite
Year: Professional
Position: Small/Power Forward
Height & Weight: 6-8 | 200 lbs
Born: July 7, 2005
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
High School: Duncanville High School
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Strengths
Holland has the body of an NBA star. He is 6-8 with a 7-1 wingspan and incredibly fast, springy, and strong for his weight. Holland has a 99-percentile NBA body, and that makes him a compelling draft prospect. Holland’s best current skill is his defense. Holland is a high-energy, aggressive, and switchable defender. While he lost several games for the poorly constructed G League Ignite, Holland still was a net-positive defender according to Defensive Rating and Defensive Win Shares (that is hard to accomplish on a team that went 2-32). Holland is good at creating offense for himself and others, particularly through drives to the rim. Holland is elite in the open court.
Weaknesses
Holland is currently not a good shooter. While his form is not the problem, shooting in the mid-20 % from behind the line is. Being a poor shooter in the modern NBA may limit you to a bench role even if you are amazing at every other aspect of basketball. If Holland does not become a decent 3-point shooter, then he cannot become a star. Holland is prone to turnovers. He had more turnovers than assists in his 1 season with the Ignite.
Conclusion
Ron Holland was a clear consensus 5-star recruit out of high school for a good reason. He has genuine star potential. It is worth noting that his G League team was particularly bad, going 2-32 is a red flag for NBA front offices. It is also worth acknowledging that Ron Holland was not the reason the Ignite was losing. Holland could become a player comparable in style and production to Jaylen Brown. In my opinion, unless Sarr is somehow available for the Jazz, Holland is the best pick in the 2024 draft because of the opportunity to draft someone who could become a franchise cornerstone.
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