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Indiana Basketball: Aljami Durham’s path to the NBA

By Trevor Gersmehl

Al Durham, Indiana Basketball.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Al Durham, Indiana Basketball.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 07, 2020 in New York City. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 07, 2020 in New York City. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

NBA Comparison: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a very similar player to Al Durham, although Gilgeous-Alexander is much more talented. SGA is 6’5,” 180lbs, Durham is 6’4,” 185lbs. Gilgeous-Alexander’s rookie year stats were eerily similar to Durham’s stats at Indiana last year:

Durham: 9.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 49% FG, 38% 3pt

Gilgeous-Alexander: 10.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 48% FG, 37% 3pt.

Like Durham, the Oklahoma City guard can be used as a point guard, but truly thrives as a shooting guard.

Durham should strive to be a poor man’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He has a similar finesse-feel around the rim to pair with a solid catch-and-shoot three-point shot. SGA is a probable All-NBA player down the road, but a world exists where Al Durham can be baby SGA and do some of the same things to a lesser degree while playing 10-15 minutes per game.

Picture-Perfect Scenario

Durham decides this year is his year. He asserts himself from the very first practice as a leader in the locker room and on the court. He gets the gold jersey awarded to the best player in practice the first week. Durham carries this attitude into the season and averages the most shot attempts on the team. When the team’s offense stagnates, he can use his newly-developed shot-creating skills from his offseason work to dig his team out of the rut. He finishes the season with 16/5/5 averages on 48% shooting from two and 37% from three. More importantly, the team’s success follows and they secure a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Next. Indiana Basketball: Lander makes it official and will be a Hoosier in 2020. dark

Teams look at drafting Durham in the late second round, but he ends up going undrafted before very quickly being pursued by multiple teams to play Summer League. He plays well in Summer League and earns himself a two-way contract with a bottom-feeder team in the NBA.

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