Tamin Lipsey is a right-handed point guard who plays harder than most do. Lipsey averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game at Iowa State. His 77 total steals led the Big 12 in 34 games, and he was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. At 6'2" with a 6'2" wingspan and 200 pounds, Lipsey is a small guard, but he is strong and tough. He hustles his behind off. Lipsey is routinely the first guy to the floor for a loose ball, and Iowa State fans refer to those hustle plays as “Tamin plays.” We love his intangibles and his motor. Lipsey is super alert defensively. He seems to be a step ahead in reading what the opponent wants to do, and then he takes it away. He finished third in career steals in the Big 12. His DDiff was minus 1.0, but the steals, pressure, anticipation, and second-effort competitiveness are all real. Offensively, Lipsey posted an excellent 3.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The shooting remains the swing issue. He made 33.5% from three-point range for his career and 71.0% from the free throw line. Lipsey jumped a 35.5" max vertical and posted the fastest time in the Pro Lane Drill at the NBA G League Elite Camp, showing exceptionally quick change-of-direction ability. Lipsey is on the bubble as far as being drafted. The lack of length and shooting questions make the projection more complicated, but the toughness, defensive anticipation, ball security, and motor are hard to ignore. We think he could potentially return mid-tier reserve point guard value in the NBA.
