With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching, everyone is focusing on several potential young guns, and one of the hype-makers in the build-up is Cedric Coward.
Who is Cedric Coward?
The 21-year-old guard/forward from Washington State has become a hot topic among NBA insiders, despite playing only six games this past college season due to a shoulder injury. Even with limited playing time, Coward made a strong impression on scouts, putting up impressive numbers: 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 55.7% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
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“Multiple lottery teams have expressed interest in Cedric Coward. Keep an eye on the Oklahoma City Thunder being a destination for Coward, should they actually use this pick on a non-international prospect,” NBA insider Brett Siegel posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“He has drawn interest as high as the [New Orleans] Pelicans with the seventh pick, as well as Houston.”
Thunder & Spurs are reportedly jockeying for Cedric
{{/usCountry}}“He has drawn interest as high as the [New Orleans] Pelicans with the seventh pick, as well as Houston.”
Thunder & Spurs are reportedly jockeying for Cedric
{{/usCountry}}Two franchises in particular, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, are believed to be in the mix. Both teams have young rosters and are building toward long-term playoff contention. “While he did not play much this season due to a shoulder injury, teams have been enamoured with Coward’s fitness, athleticism, and high IQ throughout the pre-draft process,” Siegel noted.
“There are not many limitations to his game, and Coward is viewed as a wing who can contribute to a playoff team right away, much like how Jaylen Wells impacted the [Memphis] Grizzlies this past season.”
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While Coward might not be a top pick in the draft, his name is quickly rising on the big boards, and if Spurs or Thunder are keen to follow through with getting a pro-ready weapon in their rotation, do not be surprised when they see his name being called sooner than he has been ranked.