Bruce Pearl evaluates load management for young players

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl could see history tonight for his program and university. If Tiger forward Jabari Smith is selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft, it would be the first such selection in the history of Auburn basketball. He does have competition, though, with Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero.

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd asked Pearl in an appearance on ‘The Herd‘ about differentiating between Smith and the other top prospects. One of the ways he did was his use of load management for his star during the season. Pearl said it wasn’t only a benefit to Smith. He thinks it could be a benefit to the careers of all college athletes moving forward.

“Jabari Smith played 29 minutes a game. Not 40. Not 35. There are only so many miles on that tire. I want him fresh at the end of the game and I wasn’t gonna wear him out,” said Pearl. “(Load management) is not only right for Chet (Holmgren). I think it’s right for all athletes who want to be peaking at the end of a game, at the end of a half, or at the end of a season.”

He went on further to discuss the potential risk in drafting the Bulldogs’ seven-footer. Holmgren’s frame has been a hot topic when it comes to his evaluation at the next level. In Pearl’s words, it’s similar to the risk other NBA teams had with a former NBA blocks leader.

“I think it’s a Shawn Bradley effect. There was nothing wrong with (him). He was a great player but if you go knee to knee with an NBA man? You just don’t know,” said Pearl. “He does, because of the body type, have some risk.”

What it boils down to is the risk vs. reward argument that franchises will have all the way up to the start of the 2022 NBA Draft tonight. For the teams that have multiple selections? They can swing on the combined potential and risk of a prospect like Holmgren. For the teams that don’t, though? It’s Pearl’s belief that they should focus in more on certainties than hypotheticals.

“When you have three or four picks, take a chance on something that could wind up being great. If you’ve only got one or two picks, I think you gotta go with what’s proven.”