2018 NBA Draft News: Justin Tillman On His Lakers Pre-Draft Workout

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read
Rich Graessle-Icon Sportswire

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the 2018 NBA Draft by bringing in a constant stream of prospects to evaluate. With the 25th and 47th pick in the draft, they have seen a wide variety of talented players, including Justin Tillman of VCA.

Tillman, who is hoping to prove he has more to his game than the interior skills he showed at the college level, currently isn’t projected to hear his name called on draft night. However, a solid showing during the pre-draft process could change that.

In a video posted to the Lakers’ Twitter account, Tillman talked after his workout about what the team was hoping to see.

“It was very competitive. Getting up and down very fast, setting screens, finishing at the rim. We find each other with the pocket pass…I’m trying to show them I can shoot the ball, my athleticism, and show them I can guard.”

Tillman was at VCU for four years, which is sometimes seen as a negative in the draft, where upside is highly valued. However, he believes that his experience has served him well.

“I think it prepares me very well. Also, at my school, I’ve been through three coaches, so having all that experience and then playing with a different group of guys every year, I think that’s to my advantage.”

Working out for the Lakers, Tillman noticed how many people were around for the workout, but the crowd didn’t bother him. If anything, it just gave him even more motivation to show off his skill set.

“It’s pretty fun with more people watching, you’ve got more people to impress.”

Unless something else pops up between now and Thursday’s draft, this workout in Los Angeles was the last one for Tillman. All that’s left to do now is wait to see if his name gets called on draft night.

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Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com