NBA Draft Mix Day 1 Recap: Tahaad Pettiford Steals the Present with 23-Level Masterclass
Chicago, IL – Could 15, 2025
The opening day of NBA Draft Mix scrimmages in Chicago, delivered a standout efficiency from Tahaad Pettiford, who managed tempo, made performs for others, and scored with effectivity in entrance of a fitness center filled with NBA personnel. The Auburn freshman racked up 23 factors, 8 assists, and simply 1 turnover — asserting himself as probably the most dynamic guard on the ground and one of many day’s largest inventory risers.
Pettiford’s quickness, reside dribble creativity, and decision-making stood out from the soar. He dissected defenses in pick-and-roll, bought downhill at will, and persistently created clear appears for teammates. His aggressive edge and polish had been on full show, and in a subject the place many prospects sat out, he seized the chance.
Yaxel Lendeborg had a powerful displaying with 13 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds, answering a number of the questions on how his sport would translate towards NBA Draft-level competitors. He introduced vitality and physicality on the glass, stayed energetic defensively, and confirmed extra management than in previous outings. He continues to construct his case as a possible first-rounder — he faces a troublesome choice with a profitable return to school at Michigan nonetheless on the desk.
Hunter Sallis scored 14 factors on 6-of-9 capturing and grabbed 10 rebounds. He was efficient within the midrange, ran the ground nicely, and rebounded exterior his space. Whereas scouts nonetheless query his power and physicality on the subsequent stage, Sallis introduced actual worth together with his size, athleticism, and flexibility on each ends.
Miles Byrd hit 3-of-6 from deep and completed with 11 factors. He confirmed clear mechanics and a easy launch, together with some off-ball motion and a transition dunk. Byrd’s fluidity and dimension proceed to make him an intriguing flooring spacer, however power limitations and defensive considerations nonetheless cloud his projection.
Eric Dixon scored 15 factors and knocked down 3-of-6 from three. He performed with poise, used his power to carve house inside, and stepped out confidently as a stretch choice. Issues about his capability to complete over size and change defensively stay, however his offensive versatility was on show.
Javon Small of West Virginia didn’t rating a lot — ending with 6 factors — however ran the offense successfully and posted a game-high 7 assists to simply 1 turnover. He performed with management, made good choices out of pick-and-roll, and delivered well timed passes. His capability to handle tempo and facilitate with out forcing photographs was a transparent constructive.
Otega Oweh scored 10 factors and confirmed stable physicality and athleticism. He attacked downhill with power, absorbed contact, and gave constant effort on the defensive finish. Whereas nonetheless growing as a shooter, his body, toughness, and vitality proceed to offer him worth as a two-way wing prospect.
Mackenzie Mgbako led his workforce with 14 factors and went 3-of-7 from three. He regarded assured capturing off the catch and dealt with contact nicely inside. Defensive lapses and shot choice nonetheless linger, however the offensive instruments had been evident.
Hansen Yang scored 12 factors and confirmed intriguing really feel at 7 ft tall. He made fast passes, positioned nicely inside, and flashed delicate contact. His mix of dimension and composure makes him a possible long-term improvement massive.
Alijah Martin scored 10 factors, hitting 2-of-5 from three. He discovered clear appears in rhythm, attacked closeouts, and performed inside himself offensively. His power and compact body enable him to compete bodily, although questions on his consistency stay.
Dink Pate scored 11 however confirmed ongoing inconsistency in reads, shot choices, and defensive effort.
Alex Toohey turned in one of many day’s best capturing shows, ending with 15 factors on 5-of-7 from the sector and 3-of-5 from three. He moved nicely off the ball, discovered house inside the move of the offense, and knocked down photographs when open. Questions stay about his capability to create towards size and defend in house, however his polish and capturing really feel stood out in a structured setting.
Recreation 2 Standouts: Reynaud, Haggerty, and Peavy Impress
Among the many most notable Recreation 2 performers was Maxime Reynaud, who capitalized on sturdy measurements to ship some of the polished outings of the day. Measuring simply over 7’1” with fluid mobility and a delicate capturing contact, the Stanford massive man backed it up with 20 factors on 7-of-12 capturing in simply over 24 minutes. Reynaud completed across the rim with composure, knocked down brief jumpers, and persistently discovered house as a pick-and-pop or duck-in choice. His capability to operate as a stretch massive with really feel and offensive ability helped set him other than the remainder of the frontcourt group.
Although not a shot-blocker by nature, Reynaud confirmed first rate timing defensively and rotated successfully in drop protection. What impressed most was his stability and management — he by no means regarded rushed or overmatched, even in site visitors. With dimension, contact, and a excessive basketball IQ, Reynaud’s inventory is trending upward as groups seek for fashionable facilities who can house the ground and function inside construction.
Combo guard PJ Haggerty adopted Reynaud with one of many day’s most assertive guard performances. The 6’3” guard poured in 18 factors in 27 minutes on 7-of-13 capturing, together with 1-of-2 from three. He attacked downhill with confidence, used his physique nicely to create angles, and absorbed contact within the paint. Haggerty’s physicality as a scorer popped — he persistently performed by way of defenders, by no means shied from contact, and used his body to carve out house.
Past the scoring, he added 3 assists and seven rebounds, showcasing his capability to influence the sport past simply placing factors on the board. He wasn’t overly ball-dominant however discovered methods to remain aggressive with out disrupting rhythm. Haggerty’s improved pacing, decision-making, and shot self-discipline had been noticeable, and his capability to toggle between lead guard and off-ball roles will enchantment to groups looking for a rotational combo with toughness.
Micah Peavy put collectively a extremely productive and athletic efficiency, ending with 12 factors and eight rebounds in 23 minutes. The 6’7” wing was in all places — slashing, rebounding, defending a number of positions, and bringing a bodily edge all through the scrimmage. Peavy’s explosiveness in house, transition velocity, and vertical pop had been all on show. He scored off backdoor cuts, offensive rebounds, and decisive drives, maximizing every possession.
Although his exterior shot stays unproven, Peavy continues to fill the gaps as a glue-guy wing — competing on the glass, staying energetic off-ball, and rotating nicely defensively. His athletic instruments, defensive switchability, and motor give him an outlined lane to an NBA function, particularly for groups trying to spherical out wing depth with vitality and flexibility.
One other standout was Aussie bigman Lachlan Olbrich, who posted a double-double with 15 factors and 10 rebounds in just below 24 minutes. The 6’10” ahead confirmed good size, stable mobility, and a knack for locating delicate spots within the protection as a finisher. He performed with vitality across the rim, rebounded nicely in site visitors, and moved with out the ball to create clear appears. Whereas Olbrich struggled at instances defending in house and on switches, his motor, exercise, and manufacturing within the paint made him one of many extra quietly efficient bigs of the sport.
Ryan Nembhard delivered a poised and productive efficiency with 13 factors and eight assists, showcasing the identical high-IQ, regular flooring sport that’s outlined his faculty profession. He managed tempo, ran pick-and-rolls easily, and made clear reads beneath strain. His contact across the rim and midrange floater sport had been each on show, and he regarded snug managing the offense.
However dimension stays an actual hurdle. At barely 6 ft tall with out elite size or athleticism, Nembhard faces a troublesome path to stay in an NBA backcourt. He’ll probably be focused defensively and should battle to create separation towards longer athletes on the subsequent stage. Nonetheless, his really feel, maturity, and decision-making can’t be discounted — and together with his older brother Andrew already succeeding as a second-rounder, groups could give Ryan an identical probability as a late-draft or two-way choice. The margin for error is skinny, however he helped himself with a powerful displaying that strengthened his identification as a cultured sport supervisor.
Mark Sears didn’t have his finest capturing day — ending simply 4-of-13 from the sector — however impressed together with his command of the offense and talent to set the desk. He handed out 7 assists and stored the ball transferring with tempo and poise. Sears ran the purpose higher than many anticipated, balancing ball safety with fast reads within the pick-and-roll. He made the fitting performs as a rule and didn’t let his capturing struggles have an effect on his composure. For groups evaluating him extra as a lead facilitator than a score-first guard, this displaying helped construct confidence in his flooring common potential.
Collectively, Reynaud, Haggerty, Peavy, Olbrich, Nembhard, and Sears stood out by showcasing translatable traits in a structured, aggressive setting. Reynaud’s dimension and capturing give him clear stretch-big worth; Haggerty impressed together with his scoring toughness, rebounding, and management; Peavy introduced athleticism and all-around influence; Nembhard confirmed polish and poise regardless of bodily limitations; Sears strengthened his case as a gentle offensive organizer; and Olbrich made his presence felt as a productive, high-motor frontcourt piece.
