In light of tonight's 2015 NBA Draft, Niners Daily decided to select our own NBA team from the 49ers roster. With a group of athletes who excelled at multiple sports prior to joining the team, selecting the team was not an easy task.
The 49ers wide receiver played in parts of three seasons at South Carolina, averaging more than 10 points per game.
Point Guard- Bruce Ellington Height: 5-9 NBA Comparison: Isaiah Thomas (BOS)
Ellington excelled during his time at the University of South Carolina on the field and on the court. After playing only basketball his freshman year and earning a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team, the point guard decided to give football a try. At wide receiver and kick returner, Ellington ended up as the top receiver on the squad his sophomore and junior years compiling 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also has some serious hops.
Shooting Guard- NaVorro Bowman Height: 6-0 NBA Comparison- James Harden (HOU)
Bowman played on Kevin Durant's middle school team. Durant once told CSNBayArea.com that Bowman "was the best player on the team." That's all we needed to hear to put Bow in the starting five.
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Small Forward- Colin Kaepernick Height: 6-4 NBA Comparison: LeBron James (CLE)**
Kaepernick was a three-sport athlete at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, Calif. While his accomplishments in football and baseball are much more publicized, Kap was an all-conference forward and once scored 34 points against Number 1-ranked Oak Ridge High School in a near upset. With a nearly unparalleled mix of size, speed and athletic ability, he would be a matchup nightmare for smaller defenders.
Power Forward- Arik Armstead Height: 6-7 NBA Comparison: Derrick Favors (UTAH)
At the University of Oregon, Armstead was a two-sport athlete playing football and basketball. After redshirting on the basketball team his freshmen year, Armstead played in one game during his sophomore campaign, going 1-for-1 from the field. Afterwards, he left the team to focus on football. The 49ers first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has the size and polish to make a difference on the floor.
Impressive video of 6-8, 350lb Trenton Brown dunking pic.twitter.com/UgervvJ8yK — Drew Rosenhaus (@RosenhausSports) March 6, 2015
Center- Trent Brown Height: 6-8 NBA Comparison- Zach Randolph (MEM)
The rookie lineman is one of the biggest players on the 49ers roster, but don't let his size fool you; Brown has some serious moves (see evidence above). Like he says, "who else can do that?"
Reserves:
PG/SG- Anquan Boldin
Boldin usually cleans up at his yearly celebrity basketball game. He can facilitate and drain it from behind the arc.
SG/SF- Eli Harold
Harold, the 49ers third round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft turned some heads in OTAs and 49ers minicamp with his explosiveness. We put Harold on the bench in hopes of seeing this translate to the court. We think it will.
SF/PF- Derek Carrier
The 49ers tight end played two years of college basketball at Beloit College averaging 8.3 points in his 21 games there.
PF/C- Sean Hooey
At 6-9, he's the tallest player on the 49ers roster.
