The more NBA teams see Grayson Allen, the more he impresses them

Hard as it may be to fathom, Grayson Allen appears to have changed opinions about him as Thursday’s NBA Draft draws closer.

This is the same Allen who played four years at Duke with scouts flocking to Blue Devils games to watch him play alongside first-round picks Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones, Brandon Ingram, Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Luke Kennard.

This is the same Allen whose controversial on-court antics (real and imagined) were dissected via social media video clips throughout the last three college seasons.

Yet Allen finds himself on an image upswing as the draft approaches.

Considered to be a second-round pick two months ago, the 22-year-old Allen is thought of more and more as a first-round pick after teams saw him at the NBA Combine, in individual workouts and in one-on-one meetings.

“It’s hard for a player who everyone has seen so much of over four years like Allen to change perceptions or have his pre-draft process impact things,” ESPN NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski said during his podcast, TheWojPod, last Friday. “But I do think in spite of all that, he has helped himself here in his interviews and in his workouts and in his pro day. … I think Allen’s in this first round.”

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas is so bullish on Allen’s pro future, he doesn’t think the 6-4 guard will be available when the Los Angeles Lakers pick at No. 25.

“He can really shoot it,” Bilas said. “I know he had a workout where a lot of NBA teams were there recently where everybody walked out there talking about how well he shot the ball. He’s bigger and stronger than even he was last year. He tested extraordinarily well at the combine athletically.”

Allen worked out for Boston, which has the No 27 overall pick. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors own the No. 28 pick and are also projected a team that could pick Allen late in the first round.

“He’s going to be a really good player in the NBA,” Bilas said. “He’ll play a long time.”

All that said, four mock drafts released on Monday did not have Allen in the first round. Those were authored by David Aldridge of NBA.com, Mike Schmitz of ESPN.com, Ricky O’Donnell of SBNation.com and Broderick Turner of LATimes.com.

Here are some that do have Allen in the first round:

Kevin O’Connor, TheRinger.com

Where and when: Boston( first round, No. 27 overall)

What he said: “A feisty guard with a special knack for shooting, but his defensive limitations could keep him off the floor..”

Gary Parrish, CBSsports.com

Where and when: Philadelphia (first round, No. 26 overall)



What he said:

“The Duke graduate should be equipped to play meaningful minutes as a rookie, even for a playoff team like Philadelphia.”

Tyler Conway, BleacherReport.com

Where and when: Golden State (first round, No. 28 overall)



What he said: No specific comment on Allen.

Sam Vecenie, TheAthletic.com

Where and when: Brooklyn (first round, No. 29 overall)



What he said: “The team generates a lot of spot-up looks out of its pick-and-roll-heavy actions. It’s a situation in which Allen excels.”

Jeremy Woo, SI.com

Where and when: Golden State (first round, No. 28 overall)

What he said: “Allen is the kind of ready made bench guy the Warriors would covet if available, and his shooting ability, toughness and experience level all make sense with their system.”

This story was originally published June 20, 2018 at 10:35 AM.