Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss will forever be linked by an unsuccessful 2016 NBA Draft for the Phoenix Suns. But Bender’s career thus far is reminiscent of another top five pick from the previous draft in Jahlil Okafor.
They started off differently, and they’ll be treated differently because of that. Jahlil Okafor led Duke to a national championship his only season in college, while Bender came in as a raw prospect from overseas. Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7 boards his rookie season, while Bender averaged 3.4 and 2.4.
But ever since, both have struggled.