Rode performed well at the recent Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Kyle Rode, a 6’7, pure-shooting wing, just completed his fifth season at Liberty University. This past season he averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He made 39% of his 8 three-point attempts per game. Rode was also an 80% free-throw shooter for his career.
Rode can flat out shoot the basketball and that, along with his basketball IQ, has garnered interest from NBA teams and enabled him to receive an invite to the recent Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Rode joined me on the Bleav in DMV Hoops podcast to discuss that experience and what it’s like preparing for the pre-draft process.
I spoke to several draft evaluators at Portsmouth who were intrigued by Rode’s size, shooting, and playmaking. I would say he faces an uphill battle to get drafted but would be a welcomed addition to a G League roster and could garner an Exhibit 10 contract from an NBA team.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year deal at the minimum salary. If Rode signed one and then played well in training camp he could have his deal converted to the standard one-year, minimum deal. A team could use this to incentivize Rode to sign with their G League team rather than go overseas, as it would allow him to receive an additional $75,000 bonus.
An Exhibit 10 can also be converted into a two-way contract prior to the start of the regular season. A team could essentially use training camp as an audition to see if they want to use a two-way contact on Rode.
During the episode, I talked to Rode about his potential path and what he could bring to an NBA team or its G League affiliate. He talked a little about the interviews he’s had with NBA teams so far and what it was like competing against the best senior college basketball players at Portsmouth.
Beyond what he can bring on the court, Rode is a high-character guy who would be a great locker room addition, something the Wizards seem to value at all levels of their organization.
During their end-of-season media availability, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said, “I promise this is not BS, we’re gonna draft people first, not players. And they have to have the core characteristics that will work in this building.”
This clearly applies to Rode, who spent a considerable amount of time training a young Liberty fan named Brogan Parsons as he recovered from a devastating illness. It’s a remarkable story worth watching and says a lot about Rode’s character.
I try to remain objective during draft evaluations but it’s hard not to root for someone like that to have a successful professional career. As I said above, I think he’s a longshot to get drafted but 6’7 shooters never go out of style and I’m sure plenty of teams out there will be interested in giving him a thorough look during the pre-draft process.
Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Topics:
0:00 – Intro
1:21 – Rode on his master’s degree & Liberty education
2:07 – Kyle’s takeaways & experience at the Portsmouth Invitational
10:40 – Transitioning from the college 3pt line to the NBA line
12:02 – Communication with NBA scouts and execs
13:12 – What role can Rode play on an NBA team?
14:27 – Developing his passing abilities
15:56 – Kyle’s versatility on the court
17:11 – Targeting the rim when shooting
19:24 – Maintaining loyalty in the transfer portal era
21:06 – Rode talks about Liberty’s Coach McKay
22:11 – Toughness at the college and NBA level
23:36 – Growth & improvement post-college
25:10 – The impact of spacing on shooting
26:17 – Rodes’ relationship with Brogan Parsons
29:04 – Rapid fire questions
33:55 – Social media accounts