Hannes Steinbach is soaking in every moment of the NBA Draft Combine, calling it “a cool time, very exciting.” The German basketball prospect from Würzburg is among the top prospects invited to the event in Chicago from May 10 to 17, where he and 72 other hopefuls will showcase their skills ahead of the NBA Draft.
Steinbach, who recently played college basketball for the Washington Huskies, is projected as a top-15 pick in various mock drafts. Though he’s aware of the buzz, he tries not to let it affect him. “I’ve tried to look at it very, very little because it creates extra pressure,” Steinbach said recently on the KBJ Podcast. “I made a point to block it out as much as possible.”
Where will he land? Projections range from No. 10 to Milwaukee, No. 13 to Miami, or No. 15 to Chicago. But Steinbach insists he’s not picky. “It’s not that important to me which team I play for,” he said, focusing instead on performing at the Combine.
Two other Germans are on the invite list: Christian Anderson (Texas Tech) and Jack Kayil (Alba Berlin). However, Kayil, who was named the BBL’s Best Young Player, is unlikely to attend. “He won’t go there. He’s under contract with us, and based on how Jack has behaved so far, I’m sure he won’t break it,” Alba sporting director Himar Ojeda told Bild. Alba did not respond to a request about a possible trip to the U.S.
Kayil will definitely leave Alba this summer, even if undrafted. “It’s definitely going to America. The option to go to the NBA is there. If that doesn’t work out, I’ve committed to the University of Gonzaga,” the 20-year-old said in the documentary series ATHLETES.
According to mock drafts, Anderson is a first-round candidate, while Kayil is projected as a late second-round pick. The uncertainty of where he’ll end up is something Steinbach finds “pretty intense. You simply know nothing.” He paused to reflect: “Sometimes I have to realize how crazy it is. Two years ago, I wasn’t even playing regularly in the BBL. Now I’m at the Combine. It’s a cool time, very exciting.”
The NBA Draft will take place on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with 60 players selected over two rounds. Steinbach is eager to see where his journey leads.
