Monte Morris
PG, Iowa State · 2017 NBA Draft, 2nd round, pick #51 (DEN)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Signals in our data that pointed to him being undervalued: pre-draft rankings, length. Details below.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #39 overall (#8 at his position), but he lasted until pick #51: teams let him slide 12 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.
- Length
Wingspan 6' 4" at 6' 3" tall (+1.0 in.), per ESPN's draft profile.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 56.2% of the time (73 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
22.0 years old on draft night (born 1995-06-27).
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 Iowa 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 426 games over 9 NBA seasons (~58% 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 | 9 |
| Games | 426 |
| Minutes / game | 23.2 |
| Points / game | 9.4 |
| Rebounds / game | 2.3 |
| Assists / game | 3.6 |
| Win Shares (career) | 24.7 |
| VORP | 5.6 |
| Box Plus/Minus | 0.2 |
Career Win Shares + VORP (Basketball-Reference, through 2025-26) + 2026-27 estimates from ESPN season stats.
The 2017 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2017 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 | |
| Length Under +2 in. | 56.2% n=73 | |
| 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' 3", 175 lbs |
| Wingspan | 6' 4" |
| Age on draft night | 22.0 |
| Born | 1995-06-27 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #39 overall (#8 PG) |
Picked around him 2017 redraft
| 48 | Sindarius Thornwell | redraft #43 |
| 49 | Vlatko Čančar | redraft #36 |
| 50 | Mathias Lessort | redraft #58 |
| 52 | Edmond Sumner | redraft #30 |
| 53 | Kadeem Allen | redraft #41 |
| 54 | Alec Peters | redraft #50 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.