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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Bruce Brown Jr., rough around the edges

By Philip Rossman-Reich

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown Jr. (11) drives to the basket during the men's college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and NC State Wolfpack on January 21, 2018, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown Jr. (11) drives to the basket during the men's college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and NC State Wolfpack on January 21, 2018, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Good

It is really rare to fire up a highlight reel for a player and see defensive plays at the forefront. The highlight is ready-made for feats of athleticism and offensive prowess. The cynical might even say highlight culture has ruined fundamental play.

But watch the highlight tape above. Most of the initial clips are of Brown making a defensive play to spark a fast break. Or him leaking out anticipating a defensive play from his teammates to get out in transition.

Undoubtedly, Brown’s big NBA skill is his defensive acumen. He produced on that end with 1.3 steals per game and 0.8 blocks per game. Pretty impressive for a player who is listed at 6-foot-5.

Brown measured at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He uses it well to harass opposing players and force them in the direction he wants. His hands remain very active and he can dart in for steals as much as he can keep a player in front of him or block their shot.

Reminder, this is all coming from a smallish guard. A combo point guard at that.

Questions of position for Brown are warranted. He was a combo guard for Miami and was one of the team’s primary playmakers. He performed fine there too, even if that was not his most natural fit.

Brown averaged 4.0 assists per game. He was extremely unselfish when he drove to the basket. He showed he was capable of finishing at the rim, but was just as adept and happy to dump the ball off or kick it out to the next man.

In that way, Brown is an ultimate team player. And teams always want players who are willing to sacrifice their own production to help the team improve and get better.

But Brown’s greatest skill is his rebounding from the guard position. He averaged 7.1 rebounds per game (and 6.2 rebounds per game for his two-year career). Brown posted a 20.0 percent defensive rebound rate. For reference, only 31 guards in all of college basketball this year had such a high defensive rebound rate.

It all points to a player that has a lot of intangible skills and is not afraid to fight and do the dirty work for his team. That is always something a team is looking for as they fill roles off the bench.