Peterson: Jok's NBA path might resemble Jarrod Uthoff's, which isn't bad

The Des Moines Register

CHICAGO — There was a consensus among NBA officials who attended the pre-draft combine in Chicago this week:

Peter Jok’s best path to the next level is likely the same path that a former teammate took.

Scouts, who always request anonymity, said it’s doubtful the former Iowa star will be among the 60 selected in the June 22 draft.

Too little defense. Too much concern whether his body is ready to handle NBA physicality right now.

But remember Jarrod Uthoff at this time last year?

The former Hawkeye star wasn’t drafted. He played in the NBA D-League. He finished last season with the Dallas Mavericks after signing two 10-day contracts with the club, but there’s more:

He’ll play on the Mavs’ summer-league team. He has a decent chance to make the NBA team next season.

“I think over half of the first-round picks last year played in the D-League,” ESPN draft and college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla said. “We used to say the D-League was almost like a curse, but the D-League, especially next year with the plethora of young talent, the D-League is going to become Triple-A baseball.”

Undrafted players have options. They can play overseas. They can join former Iowa State star Royce White in a professional league in Canada — and there’s also the NBA D-League.

“They’ll be making more money in the D-League this year, which is good,” ESPN’s Jeff Goodman said. “I mean, that’s the way it should be. They shouldn’t be making 20 grand, which is what a lot of them were making over the last few years.

“Now they can make $75,000-to-$100,000.”

Jok led the Big Ten with a 19.1 scoring average. He’s a 44 percent career shooter.

MORE: It's all about defense for NBA hopeful Jok

“Peter has a skill that’s so sought-after in the NBA right now,” said his agent, Ron Shade. “He’s an amazing shooter. Peter can shoot the ball. That a premium in the NBA.

“Some teams that have the lowest 3-point percentages in the league have been talking to me about Peter.”

The shooting guard missed all six of his shots during 23 scoreless minutes on Thursday. Friday, he scored six points on 2-for-7 shooting in 22 minutes. He made one of his three 3-point attempts.

“I feel like my game is going to translate to the NBA better than to college, because there’s so much spacing,” Jok said. “My basketball potential hasn’t peaked yet.

“I can be a knockdown shooter — be a 3-point shooter,” Jok said.

But where initially is the question.

“He’ll be playing professionally someplace,” a scout said. “Whether it’s in the NBA or the D-League; it’s a matter of who he signs with and how he plays this summer.

“He knows the game. He fits that shooting role that every NBA team is looking for. Someplace, he’ll play.”

The 6-foot-6 guard will play because of his skill from long range.

“The NBA always is looking for shooters,” Fraschilla told The Register this week. “Is Peter Jok that guy?

“There’s no doubting that he can shoot. He can shoot it deep, too.”