Jamir Watkins is proving he's more than a second-round swing right before our eyes

Jamir Watkins has real upside to be an elite NBA player.
2025 NBA Summer League - Washington Wizards v Phoenix Suns
2025 NBA Summer League - Washington Wizards v Phoenix Suns | Candice Ward/GettyImages

Coming away from draft night, all eyes were on the Washington Wizards two first-round selections in Tre Johnson and Will Riley and understandably so.

Johnson was considered one of the draft's top prospects and many argued that he could be far and away the best scorer in the NBA Draft as a hole.

As for Riley, he was looked at as one of the biggest steals in the first round based off his high-upside as a developmental player after a strong freshman season off the bench at Illinois,

However, the one player that may not be getting talked about enough is the Wizards second-round selection Jamir Watkins.

Watkins was selected with the No. 43 overall pick by the Wizards after the team managed to land a second-round pick in their first-round trade down with the Utah Jazz after originally sending their second-rounder to the New Orleans Pelicans in the deal that swapped Jordan Poole for CJ McCollum.

The Florida State product was a bit of a late entry to the NBA Draft considering he was one of the few prospects who tested the NBA Draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility by entering the transfer portal.

However, after a strong showing at the NBA Combine, Watkins was given enough positive feedback for him and his camp to feel comfortable remaining in the draft.

Ahead of draft day, some mock drafts included the ACC standout as a potential first-round talent.

Entering Summer League, the biggest questions surrounding Watkins' game is his inefficiency on offense.

This past season with the Seminoles, the 6-foot-7 guard averaged 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while shooting 42.7% from field goal range and 32.1% from three.

The one area of his game that allowed for teams to overlook his lapses as an efficient scorer was what he could do on the defensive side of the court.

Watkins is an elite-level perimeter defender and his size allows for him to defend multiple positions on the court with ease. He has great defensive instincts, quick hands and lateral movements that help him stay in front of players.

On Tuesday, the guard got the chance to start for the Wizards summer league team and he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Although he didn't standout offensively finishing with only 10 points on 4/16 shooting, his defensive efforts are hard to overlook.

The 24-year-old ended the game with 7 steals and 3 blocks proving just how impactful he can be as a defender against NBA competition.

While there is definitely still areas of his game that need to be improved, he's showing that he is more than just a second-round swing and has real potential to be an impact player for the Wizards.