Jaxson Robinson is facing an uphill battle ahead of the NBA Draft this week due to a wrist injury sustained late in his season with Kentucky. During his sole season in 2024-25, Robinson made significant strides in his performance, especially against SEC teams, before his season was cut short on March 1 due to a torn sub-sheath to his ECU tendon. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope indicated that Robinson would not be fully ready to compete until late May or early June, a timeline that has proven to be accurate, as he was cleared for contact earlier this month.
In order to catch up, Robinson has been actively participating in pre-draft workouts. Following a session with the Golden State Warriors on June 18, he has additional workouts scheduled with several teams, including the Kings, Suns, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics. On June 19, he worked out in Cleveland alongside former teammate Amari Williams. Expressing his determination, Robinson remarked, “Just trying to take advantage of every opportunity. I started late. I’m kind of playing catch-up as far as just workouts. A lot of guys have already had a lot of workouts.”
Despite the challenges, there is optimism around Robinson’s prospects in the draft. He has been working out with teams that all possess second-round picks. ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas commented that there is a “very good chance” Robinson will get drafted. Meanwhile, Jonathan Givony of ESPN has placed Robinson at the 65th position on his Big Board, indicating that while he is on the edge of being drafted, the two-round draft consists of only 59 picks.
In a recent media call, Givony speculated on Robinson’s potential paths if he goes undrafted, mentioning that he would likely secure a Two-Way contract due to his skills and last year’s performances. He cited the example of Justin Edwards, a former Kentucky player who, after going undrafted, signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and made a significant impact, eventually landing a standard NBA contract.
Robinson aims to follow in Edwards’ footsteps and make a name for himself following the NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The first round will commence on June 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the second round following on June 26 at the same time.
As Robinson continues this pivotal journey, his resilience and the opportunity to showcase his talent might just pave the way for a promising future in the NBA. There is hope that regardless of the draft’s outcome, Robinson can find a suitable role and thrive in his professional basketball career.