NBA Draft Mix Day 1 Recap: Tahaad Pettiford Steals the Present with 23-Level Masterclass
Chicago, IL – Might 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 health club full of NBA personnel. The Auburn freshman racked up 23 factors, 8 assists, and simply 1 turnover — asserting himself as essentially the most dynamic guard on the ground and one of many day’s greatest inventory risers.
Pettiford’s quickness, stay dribble creativity, and decision-making stood out from the soar. He dissected defenses in pick-and-roll, received downhill at will, and constantly created clear seems for teammates. His aggressive edge and polish have been on full show, and in a subject the place many prospects sat out, he seized the chance.
Yaxel Lendeborg had a powerful exhibiting with 13 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds, answering among the questions on how his recreation would translate towards NBA Draft-level competitors. He introduced power and physicality on the glass, stayed lively defensively, and confirmed extra management than in previous outings. He continues to construct his case as a possible first-rounder — he faces a troublesome determination with a profitable return to varsity at Michigan nonetheless on the desk.
Hunter Sallis scored 14 factors on 6-of-9 taking pictures and grabbed 10 rebounds. He was efficient within the midrange, ran the ground effectively, and rebounded outdoors his space. Whereas scouts nonetheless query his energy and physicality on the subsequent degree, 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 clean launch, together with some off-ball motion and a transition dunk. Byrd’s fluidity and measurement proceed to make him an intriguing ground spacer, however energy 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 energy to carve house inside, and stepped out confidently as a stretch possibility. Issues about his skill to complete over size and swap 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 only 1 turnover. He performed with management, made good selections out of pick-and-roll, and delivered well timed passes. His skill to handle tempo and facilitate with out forcing photographs was a transparent optimistic.
Otega Oweh scored 10 factors and confirmed strong physicality and athleticism. He attacked downhill with pressure, absorbed contact, and gave constant effort on the defensive finish. Whereas nonetheless growing as a shooter, his body, toughness, and power proceed to provide him worth as a two-way wing prospect.
Mackenzie Mgbako led his workforce with 14 factors and went 3-of-7 from three. He seemed assured taking pictures off the catch and dealt with contact effectively inside. Defensive lapses and shot choice nonetheless linger, however the offensive instruments have been evident.
Hansen Yang scored 12 factors and confirmed intriguing really feel at 7 toes tall. He made fast passes, positioned effectively inside, and flashed gentle contact. His mix of measurement and composure makes him a possible long-term improvement large.
Alijah Martin scored 10 factors, hitting 2-of-5 from three. He discovered clear seems in rhythm, attacked closeouts, and performed inside himself offensively. His energy 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 selections, and defensive effort.
Alex Toohey turned in one of many day’s best taking pictures shows, ending with 15 factors on 5-of-7 from the sphere and 3-of-5 from three. He moved effectively off the ball, discovered house throughout the circulate of the offense, and knocked down photographs when open. Questions stay about his skill to create towards size and defend in house, however his polish and taking pictures really feel stood out in a structured setting.
Sport 2 Standouts: Reynaud, Haggerty, and Peavy Impress
Among the many most notable Sport 2 performers was Maxime Reynaud, who capitalized on sturdy measurements to ship one of the crucial polished outings of the day. Measuring simply over 7’1” with fluid mobility and a gentle taking pictures contact, the Stanford large man backed it up with 20 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures in simply over 24 minutes. Reynaud completed across the rim with composure, knocked down quick jumpers, and constantly discovered house as a pick-and-pop or duck-in possibility. His skill to perform as a stretch large with really feel and offensive talent helped set him aside from the remainder of the frontcourt group.
Although not a shot-blocker by nature, Reynaud confirmed respectable timing defensively and rotated successfully in drop protection. What impressed most was his steadiness and management — he by no means seemed rushed or overmatched, even in visitors. With measurement, contact, and a excessive basketball IQ, Reynaud’s inventory is trending upward as groups seek for trendy 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 taking pictures, together with 1-of-2 from three. He attacked downhill with confidence, used his physique effectively to create angles, and absorbed contact within the paint. Haggerty’s physicality as a scorer popped — he constantly 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 skill 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 have been noticeable, and his skill to toggle between lead guard and off-ball roles will enchantment to groups in search of 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 every single place — 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 have been all on show. He scored off backdoor cuts, offensive rebounds, and decisive drives, maximizing every possession.
Although his outdoors shot stays unproven, Peavy continues to fill the gaps as a glue-guy wing — competing on the glass, staying lively off-ball, and rotating effectively defensively. His athletic instruments, defensive switchability, and motor give him an outlined lane to an NBA function, particularly for groups seeking to spherical out wing depth with power 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, strong mobility, and a knack for locating gentle spots within the protection as a finisher. He performed with power across the rim, rebounded effectively in visitors, and moved with out the ball to create clear seems. 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 ground recreation that’s outlined his school profession. He managed tempo, ran pick-and-rolls easily, and made clear reads underneath strain. His contact across the rim and midrange floater recreation have been each on show, and he seemed comfy managing the offense.
However measurement stays an actual hurdle. At barely 6 toes tall with out elite size or athleticism, Nembhard faces a troublesome path to stay in an NBA backcourt. He’ll possible be focused defensively and should battle to create separation towards longer athletes on the subsequent degree. 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 might give Ryan an identical probability as a late-draft or two-way possibility. The margin for error is skinny, however he helped himself with a powerful exhibiting that strengthened his identification as a cultured recreation supervisor.
Mark Sears didn’t have his finest taking pictures day — ending simply 4-of-13 from the sphere — however impressed together with his command of the offense and talent to set the desk. He handed out 7 assists and saved the ball shifting 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 taking pictures struggles have an effect on his composure. For groups evaluating him extra as a lead facilitator than a score-first guard, this exhibiting helped construct confidence in his ground common potential.
Collectively, Reynaud, Haggerty, Peavy, Olbrich, Nembhard, and Sears stood out by showcasing translatable traits in a structured, aggressive setting. Reynaud’s measurement and taking pictures 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 gradual offensive organizer; and Olbrich made his presence felt as a productive, high-motor frontcourt piece.
