Former Illinois star Keaton Wagler has compared himself to Tyrese Haliburton ahead of the June 23 and 24, 2026, NBA draft. Wagler, a projected lottery pick, believes he can pass and shoot like the Indiana Pacers star, who went on to become a max player in the league after signing a $244.6 million contract.
“I’d definitely say I watch a lot of Tyrese Haliburton,” Wagler said on Tuesday on SportsCenter. “I think I can play a little bit like him just off of, you know, my passing ability, my shooting ability and just making the right read all the time.”
Like Haliburton, Wagler would be considered one of the bigger guards in the NBA. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 with a standing reach of 8-foot-4 inches. In his lone college season, Wagler averaged a team-high 17.9 points and 4.2 assists, shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range.
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For comparison, Haliburton averaged 15.2 ppg and 6.5 apg in his second and final season at Iowa State. He shot 50.4% from the field, including 41.9% from three-point range. Wagler nearly matches Haliburton’s passing and three-point shooting stats in his first and only college season, despite being a combo guard, which speaks volumes about his ceiling.
If given the opportunity, Keaton Wagler might flourish as a point guard with decent on-ball reps. He’s expected to be seventh or eighth in most mock drafts. The Kings would be an ideal destination at No. 7, given the team’s need for a long-term solution at the one.
Keaton Wagler Rejects Concerns About His Athleticism
Keaton Wagler rejected concerns about his athleticism during Tuesday’s interview on SportsCenter. Several scouting reports indicate that while his floor game could translate well into the NBA, his high-end athleticism could be a limitation. Wagler didn’t dunk the ball during his college season, but has done it in practice. During his SportsCenter sitdown, Wagler rejected the notion that he can’t do it in-game, saying:
“I didn’t really have that many opportunities to (dunk). But also, I think for me it’s just, two points is two points. I’d rather get the easy layup than you know, try to, go for a dunk and maybe miss it. … I definitely can dunk, just ’cause I didn’t dunk this year, doesn’t mean I can’t.”
Keaton Wagler’s skill set and ability to score in other ways are impressive enough that he doesn’t have to push himself to be more explosive and leave his comfort zone. He has flair to his game away from the rim, and he can get to the cup just as efficiently. Wagler still has work to do on his finishing, but with enough reps and added size over time, he can improve.
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