Arizona's Koa Peat is Trending Towards the 20s in NBA Draft

Arizona’s Koa Peat had a big decision to make during the basketball offseason. He was one of those players who could have benefited from going back to college to play one more year than going for it in the NBA.

In the world of NIL, players can often make more bag if they return to school. It’s not like it was even several years ago. Peat weighed the pros and cons of the situation. But, as the draft came closer, it became clear that he would certainly get drafted in the first round. That’s one reason he decided to go pro instead of return to the Wildcats.

It was a tough call. But, he’s looking strong in mock drafts. Jeremy Woo of ESPN believes Peat will go at No. 26 in the draft to the Denver Nuggets.

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“After opting to stay in the draft rather than return to Arizona, Peat seems to be trending toward the 20s, with teams continuing to express concern about his jump shot,” he says in the piece. “His physicality and defensive versatility might appeal to a team like Denver, which has been able to creatively fit different skill sets around Nikola Jokic and needs to get more athletic along the frontline.”

My Take: Why Koa Peat Could Go Either Way for the Nuggets

This is a tough one. Peat is a bit of a controversial figure in the draft, because of his three-point percentage. In college, he had a 35% three-point percentage, which isn’t bad, but for an NBA prospect, it leaves much to be desired.

There are other aspects of Peat as a player that appeal to the Nuggets and any NBA team. He’s a strong player and has great passing ability. But, the NBA is all about 3s, and having that 35% 3-point stat is a red flag for any team. He also didn’t shoot many 3s last season, which is another red flag to scouts.

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But, the Nuggets should really take the best available player at No. 26, and it will likely be Peat. He’s a versatile 6’7″ player who simply needs some time to grow in the NBA.

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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 1:48 PM.