Ben McLemore
SG, Kansas · 2013 NBA Draft, 1st round, pick #7 (SAC)
Why he went too high Patterns
Nothing in our pre-draft data flagged him as a risk: his profile looked like a typical pick in his range. The gap opened after the draft, on the field.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #5 (#2 at his position), close to where he went (#7).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.8% of the time (765 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
20.4 years old on draft night (born 1993-02-12).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 50.4% of the time (246 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Path to the draft
Played college basketball at Kansas.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 53.2% of the time (1,015 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Length
Wingspan 6' 7.75" at 6' 5" tall (+2.8 in.), per ESPN's draft profile.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 50.2% of the time (217 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
SG (ESPN draft listing).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 48.9% of the time (499 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 556 games over 9 NBA seasons (~75% of a full 82-game schedule each year).
Every line comes from data: Basketball-Reference career data; ESPN's draft profile; Wikidata birth dates. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a bust for him.
Career numbers
| Seasons | 9 |
| Games | 556 |
| Minutes / game | 22.5 |
| Points / game | 9.0 |
| Rebounds / game | 2.3 |
| Assists / game | 1.0 |
| Win Shares (career) | 9.0 |
| VORP | -3.4 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -3.1 |
The 2013 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2013 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Pre-draft rankings Within 10 picks of ESPN's rank | 51.8% n=765 | |
| Age 20 | 50.4% n=246 | |
| Path to the draft US college | 53.2% n=1,015 | |
| Length +2 to +5 in. | 50.2% n=217 | |
| Position Guard | 48.9% n=499 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 6' 5", 189 lbs |
| Wingspan | 6' 7.75" |
| Age on draft night | 20.4 |
| Born | St. Louis, MO |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #5 overall (#2 SG) |
Picked around him 2013 redraft
| 4 | Cody Zeller | redraft #13 |
| 5 | Alex Len | redraft #17 |
| 6 | Nerlens Noel | redraft #12 |
| 8 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | redraft #7 |
| 9 | Trey Burke | redraft #21 |
| 10 | CJ McCollum | redraft #3 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.