Why did Drew Timme withdraw from NBA Draft in 2022?
Drew Timme is eligible for the 2023 NBA draft and will likely enter the professional basketball league in a few months. The Gonzaga Bulldogs forward had another great season, but his college career has come to an end.
Timme has been eligible for the draft since 2020 and he decided to declare for it in 2022. However, the 6-foot-10 forward ended up withdrawing from the draft and staying with the Bulldogs for another year.
Unsurprisingly, the big man had the best season of his college career with the Bulldogs. He posted impressive stats, but his team was eliminated by UConn in the Elite Eight, putting an end to his collegiate career.
Drew Timme withdrew from the 2022 NBA draft because of his projection
Drew Timme makes approximately half a million dollars from his NIL deals. He is also one of the most popular college players and there is no doubt that his skills at this level are impressive.
While the forward is capable of dominating his college opponents, it's unlikely that his skills will transition into the NBA. Due to this, he decided to withdraw from the 2022 NBA draft.
Timme was 21 at the time of his withdrawal and would have turned 22 before the regular season even started. The Bulldogs forward is still young, but he's relatively old for the NBA, at least as a rookie.
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Last year, Drew Timme was projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick and there was a chance of him not getting drafted at all. Due to this, the talented big man decided to return to Gonzaga for the final year and try to win it all.
Timme ended up having the best season of his career, averaging a career-high 21.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He was also very efficient, converting 61.6% of his shots.
Timme's 36-point, 13-rebound performance against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 was incredible, but he couldn't do much against UConn in the Elite Eight, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a blowout loss.
With the Bulldogs' season coming to an end, it's time for Drew Timme to go to the pros.
While the forward had several great performances during March Madness 2023, his draft stock hasn't improved. However, it may have decreased due to his age.
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There is no doubt that Timme is a fantastic player. Unfortunately for him, his playing style does not fit the NBA. He is a traditional forward who loves posting players and he has no 3-point shot. Due to this, he may go undrafted in 2023.