Rob Dillingham talks about his shortcomings. And why he thinks he’ll be better in the NBA.

Any Kentucky fan who was paying attention this past season knows that well. When Dillingham — the small, shifty freshman guard — had the ball in his hands, something electric was likely to happen. Often it was positive. A spectacular assist, a deft dribbling move to create space, or a shot that made you laugh out loud as it went into the net.

Sometimes the plays were just mind-bogglingly bad; the kind of ill-advised pass, shot, or dribble that left John Calipari furious on the UK sidelines, debating whether to substitute one of the nation’s most dynamic players for another player who might commit the same error the next time they faced the court.

For any Wildcats fan, Dillingham may be a frustrating sight at times. However, there was never a dull moment while he was on the floor, and the “Rob Dillingham Experience” soon gained popularity among onlookers.

The 19-year-old’s unshakeable confidence—no shot too difficult, no moment too big—fueled his entertaining brand of basketball, so it was strange to hear him criticize his own play this week during an interview at the league’s annual Combine.

Frequently without prompting, Dillingham discussed what he believes he can improve upon as his professional career gets underway and considered some of his faults that he intends to address going forward.

In response to a question concerning his performance, Dillingham mentioned his standing as a competent facilitator, shooter, and overall scorer in addition to his ability to energise his teammates with that electrifying style. However, he also brought up one area of criticism that he frequently receives.

At times, Dillingham admitted, “my defense is lacking.” However, I believe that when I put in the necessary work and understand the strategy, I truly know what to do. Occasionally, I lose track of the strategy and end up halfway through. However, I believe that when I truly understand the game strategy, I excel as a defender when it comes to being on the ball and frightening the ball.

Dillingham did make plays with the ball, finding openings in the perimeter or using his speed to block passes that gave the Wildcats fast-break opportunities, but he was also frequently out of position defensively, which was one of the main reasons UK struggled mightily on that end of the court the entire time.

At the next level, he hopes to demonstrate improvement.

“I think we weren’t completely locked in on defense in college,” Dillingham remarked. As a result, we will all approach it differently because we are all thinking different things. And it would appear as though he isn’t doing his defensive work. However, we truly believe that we are playing the correct defense, you know?

“I feel like I can play defense, so I would just say knowing the game plan and being more locked in on everything.”

Without being asked, Dillingham also talked about his occasionally unruly manner, which was one of the things that made him so interesting to watch as a Wildcat.

“I just feel like I could be better if I slowed it down,” he said. “I feel like sometimes I rush, because I don’t want I aim to make contact and move off the ball more quickly. But I think it will be much simpler if I figure out how to take my time, comprehend, and add my own to the game, much like Jaleen Brunson does.

“Because the NBA is the next step after you get there.” All you really need to learn is how to play basketball the proper way—without rushing or switching directions—because you have to play 82 games.

Sentencing Brunson, the guard for the New York Knicks who has become a true star, raised another frequently questioned concern about Dillingham’s suitability for the next level of play.

He’s not big. At the Combine this week, Dillingham’s measurements were really quite small—he was only 6-1 (without shoes), 164 pounds, and had a 6-3 wingspan.He was the lightest player in attendance, ranking 73rd in height, 74th in wingspan, and 77th in weight out of the 77 NBA aspirants who took those measurements.

The former UK guard grinned and showed confidence when it was mentioned that Dillingham’s detractors had taken solace in his lack of size.

Sincerely, I just see it as incentive,” he remarked. “Players my size have done it before, so I know I can do it too. I believe that I made an effort to put in my labor at every turn. Thus, if you work hard, it’s

“And if it doesn’t, it’s just not on your time, and it’ll come later. That’s how I look at it.”

ROB DILLINGHAM IN THE NBA

Dillingham also talked himself up plenty during his interview session, putting his welcoming smile and infectious personality on display for the reporters — many of them covering teams with lottery picks — in attendance.

He also praised his time at Kentucky and how it helped him be ready to play professional basketball. While it may be hard to recall now, Dillingham was the most unsatisfactory Wildcat on the team’s successful but unremarkable offseason trip to Canada last summer. He found it difficult to navigate around more experienced, larger, and stronger players at the FIBA-affiliated GLOBL Jam.

In the weeks that followed, he spoke about using the experience in Canada as motivation to improve, and this week in Chicago, he continued to think back on it. He described how he regained his confidence before to the start of the real season and how he would use that as a plus going ahead.

“In those three months I had to wait for the season, I told myself, ‘I’m going to work my hardest and give my all and go into it with confidence.’ Because you don’t ever want to go in there and just give half of what you think You’re capable,” he added. “I would simply say that my teammates and I can really benefit from focusing on and realizing that my confidence is what makes a difference.”

During that trip to Canada, Dillingham shot a team-worst 31.0% from the field and went just 1 for 7 from 3-point range. He shot 47.5% from the field and an amazing 44.4% from three throughout the actual season.

When asked why he was such an effective shot, Dillingham grinned once more.

John Welch was his name. That’s John Welch, if you’re all familiar with him. I therefore give John Welch all the credit. I like that man. He’s always in the gym when you call him. He can be questioned because he works out every day.

At the mention of Welch — a longtime NBA assistant coach before joining Calipari’s staff for the 2023-24 season — some of the veteran league reporters surrounding Dillingham nodded. (Welch will be the associate head coach a transfer that was planned even before Calipari departed Kentucky for Arkansas, to Fresno State the following season.)

Outside of practice, Dillingham’s senior teammate Antonio Reeves, who is also commended for having helped him along as a freshman, had the most shots, but he was proud to be ranked second on that list. And in the end, all that labor paid off thanks to Welch’s lessons.

Since my arrival, I have been focusing on my equilibrium. and not fading and twisting,” he remarked. John Welch has been with me from the beginning to the last day ever since I arrived. It was basically just daily repetition of shots that helped me become secure in my shooting during the season.

Dillingham played the fifth-most minutes on the team and came off the bench in 31 of his 32 games, although he was second only to Reeves in scoring (15.2 points per game) in assists (3.9 per game), behind fellow rookie Reed Sheppard.

For a lifetime star like Dillingham, that was a novel experience. It could also work to his advantage when he enters the NBA the next season.

He suggested that the key to succeeding as a reserve was “just keeping your confidence there.” “Because, in the end, it’s basketball.” Regardless of whether you’re just getting started or not, all I want to do is step in, do my part, and give it my all. I can comply with a coach’s request to do so.

“I feel like I can do whatever a coach wants me to do, whether it’s pass, shoot or clap for my teammates.”

Dillingham said he thinks the added spacing at the NBA level will aid his playing style. He brought up his basketball IQ, asserting that he believed it to be higher than it has been acknowledged. He presented himself as a student of the game, narrating the hours he spent observing some of the best point guards in the league, including Steve Nash and Kyrie Irving, in an attempt to pick up strategies and tendencies.

“I’ve watched pretty much every point guard you can imagine,” Dillingham declared with pride.

It’s clear that he believes younger players will view him in a similar light years from now.

He is ranked among the top 10 picks in every NBA mock draft that has been released since the order of selections was announced last weekend.

CBS Sports projects Dillingham as the No. 3 overall pick to the Houston Rockets. The Athletic has him going to the Utah Jazz with the No. 10 selection. Additional mock drafts from ESPN, The Ringer, Bleacher Study and Yahoo Sports initiative Victor Wembanyama, the league’s current Rookie of the Year and the next big star, will likely play with Dillingham for the San Antonio Spurs, who control the No. 4 and No. 8 picks.

Although he made it plain that he’s prepared for whatever result the draft has in store for him, Dillingham expressed joy at the prospect. He will be prepared to play on June 26 for any team decides to select him.

It’s a thrilling and enjoyable moment to savor, fully appreciate, and comprehend your current situation. I’m just trying to get the greatest emotion I can from it and viewing it as a blessing and a teaching opportunity.