The Combine Is About Positioning — Not Just Performance
The NBA draft buzz begins Saturday in Chicago, but the real story goes far beyond the hardwood. While Cooper Flagg looms as the consensus No. 1, most prospects in town are chasing leverage — not just draft slots.
For 120 players, the NBA Combine and G League Elite Camp aren’t just tryouts. They’re negotiations. And with NIL money on the table and college pathways still open, each decision — to play, to test, to withdraw — is strategic.
Monday’s draft lottery will shape the top of the board, but this weekend, the real games are being played off it.
The Combine Scrimmages: Risk or Reward?
At Wintrust Arena, some prospects will skip scrimmages altogether. Why? A single off night can tank a prospect’s stock, especially for fringe first-rounders. Agents increasingly advise against participation unless absolutely necessary.
Teams want real film. Agents want illusion. The tension between the two is reshaping how scouts view the combine — especially when players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Boogie Fland, and Darrion Williams could just as easily return to college for big NIL paydays.
Stay or Go? The NIL Equation
This isn’t just a draft showcase. It’s a chance to gather leverage. Players like Labaron Philon and Miles Byrd will weigh draft feedback against college promises. Even international talent like Rocco Zikarsky must decide whether this is the right time to make the leap.
In truth, most prospects will use the combine as a measuring stick — and return to school stronger, richer, and better positioned in 2026.
Five Prospects on the Leverage Line
Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan): A breakout UAB star now at Michigan, but he may skip school entirely if a team guarantees a deal.
Boogie Fland (Arkansas): Injuries and size questions linger, but a strong scrimmage could reignite first-round buzz.
Darrion Williams (Transfer Portal): A versatile forward balancing real NBA interest with suitors in the portal.
Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets): A 7-foot-3 project with intrigue — but rawness. Scouts want to see growth, not just size.
Miles Byrd (San Diego State): Elite defender who needs to show enough offensive growth to warrant a long-term investment.
The Fade of Agency Pro Days
Once essential, agency-run pro days are increasingly performative. Lottery picks often sit out, leaving only mid-tier talent for scouts to evaluate. With the NBA now grouping these sessions in Chicago and L.A., they’re easier to manage — and easier to skip.
Well-executed workouts can still sway opinions, but most execs now see them as bonus footage, not defining moments.
G League Elite Camp: Where Dreams Begin
Before the main event, 45 players compete in the G League Elite Camp — the underdog showcase. And every year, someone crashes the main combine, then the draft board. This year, names like Caleb Love and Malique Lewis are early favorites to rise.
For many, this is the true start of the NBA journey — or the beginning of a college comeback tour with even more leverage.
What the NBA Combine Really Means
This year’s combine is not just a talent evaluation tool. It’s a decision matrix.
For Cooper Flagg, the lottery will decide where he goes. For everyone else, the combine is where options are created, decisions are weighed, and futures are shaped.
In 2025, the NBA Draft Combine is less about who you are — and more about what you’re worth.
