Oregon shooting guard Chris Duarte is older than most NBA prospects that will hear their name called during the 2021 NBA Draft. Duarte is going to be among those selected, though, because of his skill set and ability to help an NBA team in the near future as well as in the long term.
Last season with Oregon he averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Duarte helped lead the Ducks to a 21-7 record and a decent March Madness run that saw them make it to the Sweet Sixteen where they were eliminated by USC.
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Player Bio
Name: Chris Duarte
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Oregon
Age: 24
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 190 lbs
Prototype: 3-and-D Guard/Wing
Shooting (22/25)
Duarte brings one skill that is NBA ready and it’s a valuable one. He’s a great shooter, proven by a 42.4 percent success rate from behind the arc this past season at Oregon. Those shots came from a few different looks and the film shows Duarte has a great feel for moving off the ball and is good at getting himself ready for a knockdown shot in catch and shoot situations. Additionally, he can make jump shots off the dribble and has a few moves he uses to create enough space to rise and knock down shots.
Duarte is comfortable getting the ball and rising for a shot. He has good form and his outside shooting will translate to the NBA very quickly.
Finishing (9/15)
Strong finishing ability is displayed when he is attacking with his strong hand but there are questions to be asked about his versatility when going to the basket. Doesn’t go to his left often and when he does tends to struggle to finish. Will need to improve his moves at the rim and his left-hand finishing in order to successfully get buckets at the rim in the NBA.
Shot Creation (11/15)
Duarte shows the ability to create his own shot, primarily jump shots that he is certainly capable of kicking down. Has a few nice moves to create space but needs to add to his repertoire in order to create space consistently at the NBA level.
Perimeter Defense (9.5/15)
Good but not great perimeter defender at this point. He has a solid wingspan that helps him make up for his struggles staying in front of the ball handler at times. Quicker players can get by him as he doesn’t have the best lateral quickness. Duarte has a tendency to over pursue closeouts that make his lateral quickness deficiencies even more noticeable. Needs to be in better control when closing out on perimeter shooters.
Playmaking (5.5/10)
Capable and willing passer that displayed the desire to make the right basketball plays. Doesn’t display the type of playmaking that a team will want to rely on for stretches of the game but he is willing and looking to make the right passes when a teammate is open. Last year with the Ducks nearly averaged as many turnovers as assists.
Off-Ball Defense (7.5/10)
A surprising strength for a player like Duarte is being a plus off-ball defender. Has the awareness to make reads and jump passing lanes that help him and his team get easy points in transition. Also has a surprisingly significant amount of tape recovering as an off-ball defender to either block or contest what briefly looks like easy points.
Athleticism (6.5/10)
Duarte is a good but not great athlete. At times his jumping and explosion come out of nowhere on blocked shots or putback finishes. Still, his lateral quickness and lack of burst in his first step leave him with a low grade for his overall athleticism.
Player Summary
Chris Duarte is NBA-ready in terms of what he can do off-ball as he enters the NBA. Long term the hope is he could improve his defensive awareness and discipline which would allow him to become a good 3-and-D player at the NBA level. Even if his defense doesn’t become a strength Duarte is a good enough shooter and off-ball player, in general, to have a long career contributing in the NBA.
Final Grade (71/100): Mid to Late 1st Round Draft Pick
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