Oklahoma's Young: 'I'm the best overall player in this draft'
Oklahoma guard Trae Young took things a step further when asked if he's the best scorer in this year's draft at the NBA Draft Combine on Friday.
"I think I'm the best overall player in this draft," Young told reporters. "My main focus isn't necessarily to be the best player in this draft. My focus is to be the best player in the NBA. That's what I'm focusing on each and every day."
Young, the Big 12 freshman of the year, averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists and set the conference scoring record with 811 points in 2017-18. Young is projected to be a top-10 pick in the draft, though he isn't considered among the likely candidates to go first overall.
His statement is nearly identical to the claim Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. made on Thursday despite playing just 53 minutes in three games during his lone year with the Tigers.
"I know without a doubt that I'm the -- I played against all these guys, they're all great players -- but I'm the best player in this draft," Porter said. "I just can't wait to show what I'm capable of."
Due to his shooting prowess, Young has often drawn comparisons to Golden State star Stephen Curry, which he says he enjoys. However, the 19-year-old hopes to carve out his own name once he makes it to the NBA.
"I love the comparison, but I feel like I bring a lot of different things from different players, different players' games to the table," he said. "I'm just trying to be the best version of Trae Young. That's all that matters to me. I'm just getting started in this thing. Hopefully I can achieve some of those things."
--Field Level Media
