Report: Rob Dillingham to finish NBA Combine workouts at Lakers practice facility, fulfill draft requirements

Rob Dillingham is one step closer to fulfilling his NBA Draft requirements. The former Kentucky standout is set to finish his NBA Combine workouts at the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice facility as he works his way back from an ankle injury, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported.

The injury disrupted Dillingham’s pre-draft process and the sense was he could come back “mid-month,” Givony reported last week. Now, he’ll knock out the shooting drills and athletic testing portion, meaning he’ll be able to hear his name called at Barclays Center June 26.

In his lone season at Kentucky, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc. For his efforts, he was named the 2024 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and an All-SEC Second Team member.

Despite his injury, Dillingham is still a projected lottery pick and attended the event with former UK teammate Reed Sheppard. While there, he shared his excitement for the next step in his basketball journey.

“Not over just the past few weeks, but the situations I’ve been in have prepared me for this, to just keep going through whatever,” Dillingham said. “How I look at is, I don’t know how this next six months are gonna go, but I’m gonna speak it into existence and try my hardest, give my all, and do what I can do to be in the best position for me and help my teammates.”

Where Rob Dillingham ranks as an NBA prospect

Dillingham also came in at No. 10 in On3’s James Fletcher III’s latest mock draft and the No. 9 overall player on his updated Big Board ahead of the NBA Finals. While he’s starting to fall down boards due to his injuries, he still has the makings of a solid pro player.

“Rob Dillingham is an electric scorer and probably the most NBA-ready offensive weapon in the draft class,” Fletcher wrote. “However, he is also among the least prepared for the nightly challenge of guarding professional guards. The 6-foot-2 guard came off the bench for Kentucky, shooting 44.4% from 3 and 47.5% overall. Whether he remains in a 6th-man role or emerges into a starting lineup, he looks primed to become the next Wildcat in this mold to star as a professional.

“Dillingham has started to fall from the list of potential Top Five names in some conversations as rumors swirl that the point guard needy San Antonio Spurs could seek a ball-handler through trade.”