Watching Devonte’ Graham play basketball triggers memories of other marquee Bill Self players.
The chemistry between Graham and Frank Mason borders on telepathy, each knowing where the other is at all times and knowing just when to either get him the ball or make himself available to receive it. Watching that can conjure memories of identical twins Marcus and Markieff Morris, front-court versions this season’s best backcourt in the nation.
But most of all, Graham reminds me of Mario Chalmers, another KU guard who excelled at both ends of the floor and especially in transition. Both combo guards play with a great deal of confidence, which comes in handy when taking clutch shots.
Sure, they have plenty of differences. Graham is an inch taller, Chalmers blessed with longer arms. Chalmers, great at stepping into passing lanes for steals, was an even better off-the-ball defender than Graham, who might be even better on the ball than Chalmers.
Graham is more of an extrovert, lighting up an arena with his smile, Chalmers a cooler customer. Chalmers finishes with more explosiveness.
But they have plenty in common as well, including extremely deep shooting range.
Statistically, Chalmers during his KU career and Graham are more alike than different. Chalmers had a career .419 3-point accuracy rate, Graham’s is .414. Chalmers shot .545 inside the arc, Graham .470. Chalmers made at least one 3-pointer in each of the six NCAA tournament games in 2008, shooting at the same .419 percentage as his career mark by making 13 of 31 3-pointers.
Chalmers scored 12.2 points per game during his Kansas career. Since becoming a full-time starter as a sophomore, Graham has averaged 12.3 points. Chalmers averaged 4.3 assists as a junior, as does Graham in this, his junior season.
Graham’s confidence appears to be at an all-time high and he’s on a tear. He has made four 3-pointers in four of the past five games, the exception being in the Big 12 tournament loss to TCU, when he was 2 of 10 without Josh Jackson in the lineup. In the four games excluding that one, Graham has made 12 of 21, a .571 percentage.
Wisconsin’s Bronson Koenig (11 made 3-pointers) is the only Sweet 16 players who has hit more 3-pointers in the tournament than Graham’s eight.