Cassius Winston
PG, Michigan State · 2020 NBA Draft, 2nd round, pick #53 (OKC)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Signals in our data that pointed to him being undervalued: pre-draft rankings. Details below.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #29 overall (#9 at his position), but he lasted until pick #53: teams let him slide 24 spots past that ranking.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 68.6% of the time (194 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
22.3 years old on draft night (born 1998-02-28).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.9% of the time (339 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Path to the draft
Played college basketball at Michigan State.
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.
- Position
PG (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 29 games over 2 NBA seasons (~18% 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 steal for him.
Career numberslive
| Seasons | 2 |
| Games | 29 |
| Minutes / game | 4.7 |
| Points / game | 1.9 |
| Rebounds / game | 0.3 |
| Assists / game | 0.7 |
| Win Shares (career) | 0.1 |
| VORP | -0.1 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -4.9 |
Career Win Shares + VORP (Basketball-Reference, through 2025-26) + 2026-27 estimates from ESPN season stats.
The 2020 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2020 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 Slid 10+ picks past ESPN's rank | 68.6% n=194 | |
| Age 22 | 51.9% n=339 | |
| Path to the draft US college | 53.2% n=1,015 | |
| 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' 1", 185 lbs |
| Age on draft night | 22.3 |
| Born | 1998-02-28 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #29 overall (#9 PG) |
Picked around him 2020 redraft
| 50 | Skylar Mays | redraft #35 |
| 51 | Justinian Jessup | redraft #60 |
| 52 | KJ Martin | redraft #25 |
| 54 | Cassius Stanley | redraft #47 |
| 55 | Jay Scrubb | redraft #53 |
| 56 | Grant Riller | redraft #46 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.