Even on a deep Auburn team with many standout players, freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford stood out. The six-foot-one point guard showed himself to be a fearless scorer who plays hard on every possession and has a deep offensive bag. Not only that, but he has demonstrated multiple flashes of high-level playmaking to add to his scoring prowess. He will certainly attract interest from teams that can use a talented offensive player like him. Let’s dive into an evaluation of Tahaad Pettiford’s skill set in this 2025 NBA Draft profile.

Tahaad Pettiford 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career

Pettiford chose to play his single collegiate season with the Auburn Tigers. He was teammates with standout upperclassmen like Chad Baker-Mazara, Dylan Cardwell, and fellow notable NBA Draft prospect Johni Broome. For the season, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game. Furthermore, he shot 42.1% from the field, 36.6% from three, and 80.4% from the free throw line.

As mentioned before, Pettiford proved himself as a talented scorer and playmaker off the bench for Auburn. Unquestionably, his offensive skill and pace brought a completely different look to Auburn’s offense when the starters went to the bench. Additionally, Pettiford helped his team make the NCAA tournament, going as far as the Final Four before being eliminated by the eventual champion Florida Gators. For his excellent play, Pettiford was selected as a 2024-2025 SEC All-Freshman and for the NCAA Tournament All-Region team.

Strengths

Undoubtedly, Pettiford is first and foremost an athletic scorer with a versatile offensive skill set. He is capable of scoring on all three levels and creating his own shot. In particular, Pettiford has been excellent at using his handle, poise, and changing speed to break down opponents, getting to his spots with ease. He has shown himself to be a crafty finisher when going to the basket. As a shooter, he can knock down shots from deep in various ways, including step-backs, coming off of screens, pull-ups, or spot-ups. He has shown impressive ability in creating separation for his shots, both in the mid-range and from three. Considering his versatile shooting prowess, Pettiford can be an effective off-ball scorer as well. Additionally, Pettiford is a skilled operator in the pick-and-roll, where he can be both an effective scorer and passer.

Speaking of passing, he has shown numerous flashes of great playmaking ability. Pettiford leverages his scoring and ball-handling ability to create open looks for his team by breaking down the defense. Even with the defense targeting him, he can find the open man through the traffic. Most importantly, Pettiford is a fearless and relentless competitor who plays hard on defense despite his size concerns.

Weaknesses

The clearest weakness of Pettiford is that he is undersized at six-foot-one. While he plays hard on both ends of the floor, he will unquestionably be outmatched by taller and stronger players. He will be consistently targeted on defense by opposing teams due to his size. Furthermore, there are questions about whether he can score against NBA-level players because of the size issue, as well as his lighter weight at 168.8 pounds. Ultimately, the big question for Pettiford is whether or not his size will keep him off the floor. Another smaller concern for Pettiford is his shot selection, as he can be trigger-happy at times. Plus, he can be streaky at times as well.

NBA Comparison

Considering his athleticism, speed, handle, and overall offensive package, several names come to mind. One name is Brandon Jennings, whose fearlessness as a scorer mirrors Pettiford quite well. Both can glide into the lane with ease using their speed and ball-handling. Both can shoot off the dribble and possess a deep offensive bag. Furthermore, both are capable playmakers who can find open teammates, even in deep traffic. Plus, they are similar in size as well. Another name is Jeff Teague, as he possesses similar scoring and playmaking prowess.

2025 NBA Draft Projection

Early second-round pick.

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