Isaiah Wong 2023 NBA Draft Profile
Isaiah Wong had some iconic March Madness runs during his time with Miami. Now it’s time for Wong to transition to the NBA level. Some of his former teammates Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker have already done so in recent years. Does Wong have a chance to stick? Let’s review the 2023 NBA Draft profile on the Miami combo guard.
- Height/Weight/Age: 6’4″/178 lbs/22 years old
- Primary Position: Guard
- Senior Season Stats: 16.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 44.5% FG, 38.4% 3PT, 84.5% FT, 1.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.1 TOPG
Strengths: Scoring Ability, Shooting, Shot Creation
Wong is a combo guard that can play point if needed. This guy just puts the ball in the basket in a multitude of ways. The shot hasn’t always been consistent from 3 but it was last year shooting over 38% from deep. Really quick first step with tight handles. Can hit crossovers and create his own shot. Play strength has also gotten better over the years and is able to finish better at the rim because of it.
OMG ISAIAH WONG JUST DROPPED A HAMMER ON JABARI SMITH @CanesHoops pic.twitter.com/aB1AwuS4XS
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2022
Miami's Isaiah Wong really showing his bucket-getting ability at the NBA draft combine scrimmage. Making some nice plays out of pick and roll and showing his shot-making prowess. pic.twitter.com/taoo9ivct4
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 17, 2023
Wong is a really good player and it’s not an accident that he’s a three-time All-ACC player and the ACC Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. The shot making ability is just really advanced. Former four star recruit with plus athletic traits. True three level scoring threat.
This one probably isn’t good enough to make the full strength list but he’s a decent positional rebounder too. Has some leaping ability on him and I wouldn’t say he’s a poor rebounder for his size.
Weaknesses: Playmaking, Shot Selection, Upside
Have we seen the best of Wong? He’s already 22 so teams may be hesitant to pull the trigger in round one despite the scoring upside. Really the only downside is that Wong gets tunnel vision sometimes. Needs to make teammates better and not jack up bad shots. How much of that was a product of having to carry Miami though? I think that’s a fair question to ask.
Also, Wong might not be viewed as a strong defender but he can be a disruptor and is capable of forcing turnovers. I’m just not sure Wong would be viewed as a strong on-ball defender.
NBA Comparison: Gary Trent Jr
I’m an Isaiah Wong believer. I just think he’s too much of a firecracker offensively to fail. Gary Trent Jr. was another guy like this that could hit shots but was viewed as a second rounder entering the league not being much more than a shot maker. Look at Trent now.
Draft Projection: Second Round
Wong played four years of college which means he’s going in the second round.
Best NBA Fit: Celtics, Clippers, Suns
Wong would function best on a good team where he can be an off the bench spark plug. Malcolm Brogdon might be moved and Payton Pritchard requested a trade. Could Wong function as the third guard behind Marcus Smart and Derrick White? I believe so with the offense he brings to the table.
The Clippers need cheap labor and their two stars aren’t reliable. Could Wong be a bench scorer they need?
The Suns need bodies off the bench. Could Wong become the better version of Landry Shamet?
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