Comparing NBA stars to Kentucky basketball players: PJ Washington

The Kentucky basketball team will lose at least three, and possibly six players to the NBA Draft. It’s time for some NBA comparisons. Up next in the six-part series is PJ Washington.

The Wildcats will lose at least three, and as many as six players to this year’s NBA Draft. Part of what NBA general managers and scouts do, is make comparisons of incoming players to those who are already part of an NBA team. This is Part Six of a six-part series comparing current NBA stars to the Kentucky basketball who’ve declared for the 2018 NBA Draft. The final comparison will be PJ Washington.

PJ Washington declared for the NBA Draft, but did not hire an agent, leaving open the possibility for a return to the Wildcats. Of the three Kentucky players who did not hire an agent, Washington may be the one with the biggest decision to make. PJ may be a borderline first-round pick, but could also drop out of the draft all together. PJ Washington is very similar to Memphis power forward JaMychal Green.

JaMychal Green, a four-year starter for Alabama during his college career, averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Crimson Tide. Green went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft. He latched on with with San Antonio’s D-League team his first year out of college. It wasn’t until 2015, after playing in the D-League and overseas that Green broke though onto an NBA roster. Over the last two seasons, Green has worked his way into the starting lineup for the Memphis Grizzlies.

PJ was a monster down the stretch for the Kentucky basketball team. Washington scored in double figures in 11 of the final 12 games of UK’s season. PJ’s game is predicated on interior post-play. While Washington does not have a great outside shot, that is an element of his game that can be developed.

JaMychal Green is a tireless workhorse, and has fought to where he is in the NBA. PJ Washington appears to have that same type of mentality. Another year at UK would be greatly beneficial to PJ, but he could follow the route that Green took to get to the league. He definitely has the mental fortitude to do it.