NBA Confirms Virtual Draft Combine Changes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA is making radical changes to the draft combine in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The league traditionally holds the Chicago draft combine in May but postponed the event while the NBA rescheduled its suspended season. With the draft date now set for November 18, the combine will begin virtually September 28 and continue through mid-November.

“NBA Draft Combine 2020 will give players the opportunity to participate in league and team interviews, both conducted via videoconference from Sept. 28 through Oct. 16.” The league said in a release. “Players will also take part in an individual on-court program consisting of strength and agility testing, anthropometric measurements, shooting drills and a “Pro Day” video, all conducted in October at the NBA team facility nearest to a player’s home or interim residence.  Medical testing and examinations will be performed by NBA-affiliated physicians in the same market.”

The NBA announced today that NBA Draft Combine 2020 has been reformatted to be conducted both in NBA team markets and virtually, taking place in phases beginning Sept. 28 and continuing through early to mid-November.

Full release: https://t.co/DRzrd809VU

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) September 23, 2020

The changes will likely prevent most teams from getting private medical information about players that may make them more or less comfortable drafting certain prospects. During a traditional predraft process, players entering the draft control which teams have access to their medical records. That gives players some leverage in the predraft process of dictating where they land in the draft.  Now, players will lose that control.

Technology Will Assist NBA Draft Combine

The NBA will also utilize new technology during the player workouts to help teams get a more accurate read on the action.

“As part of the event’s innovative format, the NBA will incorporate HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training application that uses advanced machine learning and computer vision, to provide analytics and record the shooting evaluation portion of NBA Combine 2020 and for players to create a unique “Pro Day” video,” The release said. “The video, used to showcase a player’s skills, may feature only the individual player (and either a coach or trainer) and can be up to 45 minutes long.  HomeCourt is developed by NEX Team, Inc., an NBA strategic partner.”

NBA has made official its plan for a draft combine to be conducted in both team markets and virtually, beginning September 28 through early-to-mid November.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2020

Furthermore, the league will utilize a program called Combine HQ to help transmit information gained during the on the court portions of the draft combine.

“The NBA has expanded its use of “Combine HQ,” an online tool developed by Fusion Sport in its software platform Smartabase<” The release stated. “An interactive online platform, Combine HQ provides NBA teams with a one-stop shop for scouting information gathered during the on-court portions of this year’s Combine.  Using Combine HQ, NBA teams and scouts will be able to compare participating players to their peers, past Combine participants and current NBA players, and view detailed shot charts and statistics.”