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Kris Dunn – 6’4” Point Guard, Providence College, 22 Years Old
In his first two years at Providence College, point guard Kris Dunn had some disappointing lows, playing just 29 games for the Friars. But the next two years are when Dunn and the whole country would realise his true potential. Dunn averaged 17.4 points, 6.9 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 3.2 steals. Dunn is a floor general and was key to any success Providence had in his final season. Dunn reeled in many prestigious awards in his time at Providence. Dunn is a 2x winner of the Big East Defensive Player Of The Year (2015, 2016) to go along with the Big East Player Of The Year Award, an award Dunn has claimed twice. Dunn was a natural leader for this Providence team, helping the Friars go 10-8 in the Big East Conference and 24-11 overall. The Providence junior enters the NBA Draft as a prospective top 10 pick.
Strengths – Dunn has an exceptional physical profile, standing 6’4” in shoes, with a 6’9” wingspan and elite speed. Dunn also posses a leaping ability that not too many NBA points guards can match. Some may say Dunn is too reliant on his ability to use his speed to his advantage, but in the modern NBA, Dunn’s speed will be vital. Just think of the likes of Russell Westbrook and John Wall, two prolific pace pushers. Dunn was definitely known for his “pace pushing” in college, making up for 25 percent of his possessions, according to Synergy Sports Technology. Dunn is explosive; he possesses the ability to not only explode past his defender, but to also change direction, which will be key in the pick and roll game. So Dunn doesn’t play with the label of a one man wrecking ball, but having such physical gifts will be huge at the next level. However in the NBA you cant survive on offense alone, you also need defense. This is something Dunn wont have to worry about, as he is elite defensively. Defensive point guards are a need for a few teams in the top 10 of this years NBA Draft, with the New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings all looking for defense minded guards. Dunn looks like a very good fit for all three teams.
Weaknesses – One word that seems to always follow Dunn around is turnovers. Dunn has been labeled turnover prone, and despite having reduced his turnover numbers from years three to four, Dunn is still seen as a point guard who seems to lose focus in games and has also been criticised for too often trying to force the offensive flow in games. Whether it be a wild alley-oop to the basket with nobody on the other end or just flat out poor decision making, turnovers remain an issue with Dunn’s game. He averaged 3.6 turnovers per game during the 2015/16 season. If Dunn is drafted by your favourite team, then you should remain optimistic on this area of Dunn’s game. He should have it sorted out as he goes forward, and remember he’s not the only point guard coming out of college with turnover issues.
NBA Potential – Having had an excellent career at Providence, Dunn heads into the NBA Draft as the number one rated point guard. And if drafted into the right situation, Dunn will be a game one starter or at least a large contributor off the bench. With his offensive traits and defensive potential, Dunn should have a successful NBA career. He has only the little parts of his game to sharpen up to achieve great things in the NBA.
NBA Player Comparison – Dunn’s physical tools are on par with the like of Washington Wizards point guard John Wall. Wall and Dunn also share a similar playing style, as they both like to turn up the pace and can dominate opposing guards with their athleticism. But just like Wall, Dunn is not perfect. The turnovers early on will be a problem but should improve over time. Wall has now been in the league for five years and has a much more polished game. Wall turns the ball over less and takes smarter shots. That has all come with experience and learning from his mistakes, and Dunn will have to go through the same process.
Keep a look out for Kris Dunn on Draft Night, and be sure to keep yourself updated with our complete coverage of the 2016 NBA Draft.
