NBA Draft 2021: 5 observations from the G-League Elite Camp

Banton makes use of late invite

Dalano Banton entered his name into the NBA Draft entry list right before the deadline and was not initially supposed to be invited to the G-League elite camp. After being invited due to a player dropping out with an injury, Banton certainly made the most of his opportunity.

Banton has always had a natural feel for the game and great passing instincts, they just weren’t always showcased at Nebraska with his lesser teammates. Playing alongside players of his caliber allowed Banton to show off those chops, leading the camp in assists. At 6’9, he has the vision to see over the defenses and has more windows to pass through. In the pick-and-roll, he constantly made the right reads. He had a lot of potential assists and hockey assists that led to points.

Scoring the ball is how Banton can elevate his game to the next level and make even more use of his passing by drawing more gravity. Defenses dared him to shoot, and he was just 4-13 from the field and 0-6 from three. He shoots from right in front of his face and struggles to get arc on his shot.

Even with minimal scoring, I would have voted for Banton as one of the five guys to advance to the NBA combine. The passing feel, team defense, and rebounding made him stand out. Banton was not invited up, signaling he won’t get drafted, but he did enough things right to have a shot at a two-way contract, which is positive progress for a guy who wasn’t even supposed to be at the event.