Johnny Furphy NBA Draft slide: Why Kansas Jayhawks' projected 1st-round pick wasn’t drafted on Day 1, explored

The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft has concluded, and Kansas' Johnny Furphy remains on the board after being projected to go on Day 1. Furphy's availability as the second round begins is a shock to many experts who predicted he would be selected near the second half of Round 1.

Furphy's draft slide has left many fans puzzled. This article will take a look at why the former Jayhawk wasn't selected on Day 1 of this year's NBA Draft.

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Why Johnny Furphy wasn't drafted in the 1st round

The biggest reason for Furphy's fall out of the first round is likely his lack of ability as a playmaker with the ball. He is more efficient as a spot-up shooter who relies on getting open with his movement off the ball.

The lack of ability to play one-on-one offensively with the ball can be a major red flag for NBA teams. He connected on 36.4% of his 118 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts but shot just seven 3-pointers off the dribble during his freshman season at Kansas.

His biggest strength on the court is easily his shooting ability, but he's proved he can be efficient when he gets to the rim. He'll likely need to diversify his game to be effective in the NBA and work on being more of a playmaker off the dribble.

He may not be among the top prospects with the most athleticism, which hurts his draft stock. He needs to prove that he can create his own shot and not strictly rely on getting open off the ball, forcing his teammates to get him involved.

One of the teams Furphy reportedly held an individual workout with was the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have the 39th overall pick and the ninth pick of the second round. If Furphy is still on the board, Memphis could get a great spot-up shooter who would allow Ja Morant to control the offense.

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Johnny Furphy's career stats

Samford vs. Kansas

Furphy was a one-and-done player for Kansas and started in 19 of the 33 games he appeared in during his freshman season. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, and is 6-foot-9, which is an ideal size for a spot-up shooter on the wing in the NBA.

Furphy averaged 9.0 points per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. He also collected 4.9 rebounds per game and shot a steady 76.5% from the free-throw line on his way to earning Big 12 All-Freshman honors.

He scored his career-high of 23 points last season in a 74-69 win over Cincinnati on January 22. He knocked down seven of his eight field-goal attempts and connected on six of his nine free throws. He also collected 11 rebounds, making this game the first and only double-double of his collegiate career.

Furphy also played three seasons of semi-professional basketball in Australia before committing to Kansas as a four-star recruit in 2023. After considering offers from Ole Miss, Marquette, Charleston, Providence and other schools, he finally chose to play for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks.

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Where do you think Johnny Furphy will be playing next season? Let us know in the comment section.