2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock – June 18


Jordan Hamilton knows how to score the basketball. Whether it is shooting the rock from downtown, taking players off the bounce, or posting up smaller defenders, Hamilton has a wide arsenal on the offensive end. When it comes to his defense though, there are concerns about him being dialed-in and “on it” all the time, every game.

“I did kind of over-play guys, but I just got to use my length and things like that,” Hamilton said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “Towards the end of the season I played pretty good defense.”

Some members of the basketball cognoscenti believe he just cruises sometimes, and relies on his pure talent rather than hard work to get by.

“I know some guys beat me off the dribble, but I just continue to use my length.” he said.



And it was at this point in the media session that my favorite Q-and-A occurred. A hilarious reporter asked Hamilton “on a scale of athleticism where one equals me and 100 equals Lebron James. where would you rate yourself?”

“I’m probably like an 85, I can jump and do things like that,” Hamilton answered. “But I’ve lost weight since school’s been out and I’ve become really explosive. I’ve been doing yoga and it’s been loosening up my hips.”

That’s right – yoga has been a critical part of his training regimen and a big reason his stock has been increasing lately.

“Once my hips continue to loosen up, most of the time I’ve been doing stretches and I haven’t been having any pain,” Hamilton revealed. “I’ll be more agile like how I was in high school and once I reach the NBA level, shaking people off screens and I just need to keep it up.”



Hamilton measured out taller than expected at 6-8 which gives him great size for a NBA wing player. As a freshman, his shot selection knew no bounds, and he too often settled for jumpers instead of using his size and strength to over power opponents by getting into the paint. Hamilton did improve in those areas as a sophomore and somewhat rid his reputation as being a “chucker.”

Since the 2011 NBA Draft is weak on wing talent, Hamilton has a chance to go as high as No. 9 to Charlotte, a team that is sorely looking for a small forward to replace Gerald Wallace. Hamilton could also slip into the late teens though if teams go in a different direction and prefer guys like Chris Singleton, Klay Thompson or Marshon Brooks.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
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