Johnny Furphy NBA Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Pacers Roster
June 27, 2024
Kansas freshman forward Johnny Furphy is headed to the Indiana Pacers, who sent cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs to move up from No. 36 to No. 35 to select the ex-Jayhawk, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Johnny Furphy
Position: SF
Height: 6'9"
Pro Comparison: Trey Murphy III
Scouting Report: The combination of 6'9" size, shooting, athletic play-finishing and rebounding have Furphy on first-round radars. He's projects as an easy fit with his catch-and-shoot game.
Johnny Furphy, SF: TBD
Tyrese Haliburton, PG: $42.3M (2029)
Myles Turner, C: $19.9M (2025)
Aaron Nesmith, SF: $11M (2027)
T.J. McConnell, PG: $9.3M (2025)
Bennedict Mathurin, SG: $7.2M (2026)
Jarace Walker, PF: $6.4M (2027)
Isaiah Jackson, PF: $4.4M (2025)
Ben Sheppard, SF: $2.7M (2027)
Kendall Brown, SF: $2.1M (2026)
Andrew Nembhard, PG: $2M (2026)
Pascal Siakam, PF: UFA
Doug McDermott, SF: UFA
Obi Toppin, PF: RFA
Jalen Smith, PF: Player option
James Johnson, PF: UFA
Isaiah Wong, PG: RFA
Oscar Tshiebwe, PF: RFA
Quenton Jackson, G: RFA
Rundown
The 19-year-old Australian forward averaged 9.0 points on 46.6 percent shooting (35.2 percent from three), 4.9 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game. He made 33 appearances, starting 19.
Furphy didn't see much playing time at first, but that changed in the back half of the year. His best stretch occurred from Jan. 16 to Feb. 13, when he averaged 15.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He capped that span with 17 points and eight rebounds in a 78-65 win over future No. 1 seed (and Big 12 regular season champion) Houston.
He struggled down the stretch, averaging just 8.3 PPG on 30.4 percent shooting in his final six contests. But the first-year player, at his best, showcased what he can do on the next level.
It's unfair to assume or suggest that Furphy can or should be an immediate contributor. He wasn't even a starter for an entire collegiate season before entering the pros. However, he's got the makings of a solid long-term pro, and his game fits the present-day NBA model.
