Ja'Kobi Gillespie took the road less traveled to college basketball stardom. After originally being a prized football recruit, he chose basketball and went to Belmont, where he broke out. From there, he transferred to Maryland and proved he could play at the power conference level before finishing his career in Knoxville with the Tennessee Vols, where he earned First Team All-SEC honors under Rick Barnes.
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Now, Gillespie is right on the edge of reaching the NBA. The biggest concern for teams is his age. At 22 years old, he’s viewed more as a second-round prospect since he doesn’t have the size or elite athletic traits that most lottery guards possess. But that definitely doesn’t mean he can’t carve out a really good NBA career.
What stands out most about Ja'Kobi Gillespie is that he’s a two-way guard with a reliable jump shot. During his junior season, he shot over 40% from three on 5.9 attempts per game, though that percentage dipped slightly as his volume increased during his senior year. He can score at all three levels and also averaged two steals per game last season. While not an elite decision maker, Gillespie improved his passing and IQ mightily over the course of last season, which surely makes him worth a chance for NBA teams.
Here are the three best fits for the veteran guard.
1. LA Clippers
The starting point guard spot is already locked up for the Los Angeles Clippers, but with picks No. 36 or No. 52, they could take a chance on Ja'Kobi Gillespie. The Clippers don’t really have a true backup point guard, and Gillespie would be a low-risk option who fills a need on the roster. Los Angeles ranked 20th in the NBA in three-pointers made last season, so adding another shooter wouldn’t hurt either. It’s a win-win scenario.
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets finished dead last in the NBA in three-point percentage last season, and right now they really don’t have much of an identity as a franchise. Brooklyn is a team without clear direction, and it needs to start building a legitimate core. Ja'Kobi Gillespie would bring the shooting Brooklyn needs and should be solid enough defensively to hold his own, too. If Gillespie performs well there, he could either become a long-term piece for the future or a valuable trade chip at the deadline to help bring in more assets. With three picks in this year’s draft, the Nets need a mix of high-ceiling prospects and high-floor players.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks desperately need point guard help, and Gillespie is a low-risk option. What I like most about the firm is the fact that Giannis can stretch the floor since Giannis offers almost no floor space. Gillespie has proved he's capable of being a catch-and-shoot option, something many primary ball handlers struggle with. The one issue here is that the Milwaukee Bucks don’t actually own a second-round pick right now. Still, trading into the second round is usually pretty easy in today’s NBA since those picks get tossed around all the time. Honestly, I think it would be a really smart gamble for Milwaukee to take a shot on him.
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