NBA Draft: Darion Atkins, Kendall Gray confident they can bolster team’s defense

The two men sounded fully aware that their draft stock has not become fully cemented.

Virginia junior small forward Darion Atkins has learned he needs to prove he can become a more productive scorer. Delaware State power forward Kendall Gray described himself as a “raw talent offensively.” Yet, both players believe they can carve out an NBA future for one simple reason.

They play defense really well.

Atkins earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year and All-ACC Defensive Team honors, his 6-foot-8, 241-pound frame disrupting opposing players at the forward and the center positions.

“I can affect the game in many different ways than just scoring,” said Atkins, who credited his own perimeter and pick-and-roll defense. “My specialty is defense. I’m a big talker, especially on the defensive end. I orchestate what’s going on out there and I let everyone else know what’s happening.”

Gray led the country with 290 defensive rebounds and finished second with 401 total rebounds. His 11.8 rebounds per game average also ranked second behind UCSB’s Alan Williams for most rebounds in a game in the 2014-15 season.

“Just tenaciousness and going after it,” Gray said. “If you go after it nine times out of 10, you’re going to get the rebound or you’re going to tip to one of your teammates to get the rebound. It’s a win-win situation.”

This could become a win-win situation for the Lakers if either Gray or Atkins become available for their 27th or 34th picks.

The Lakers ranked 29th out of 30 NBA teams last season in total defense (105.3), defensive field-goal percentage (46.6) and 26th in fast-break points allowed (15.1). Although they finished 12th in total rebounding (43.9 per game), they finished 27th in defensive rebounds allowed (34.1 per game).

Gray believes he can improve those numbers, likening his rebounding style to Cleveland forward Tristan Thompson.

“He does what I want to do, going in there and doing all the dirty work, grabbing the offensive rebounds and boxing out,” Gray said of Thompson. “Nobody really boxes out anymore. He goes after it. It’s just about bringing my energy. My level of play rises when I get a big block or a big rebound. I’m then good from there. I try to get the team involved and bring up their energy level the same way, just get them going and get them motivated.”

Meanwhile, Atkins plans to bring a more rugged style after the 6-foot-8, 234-pound forward thrived in the rugged ACC.

“That will be a great transition to the NBA because the physicality is going to be great in the NBA,” he said. “It’ll give me a great advantage.”

And the Lakers hope it will give them one, too.

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