Chris Bell, standout forward for the University of California Bears, is making a critical push to reach the NBA Draft after receiving a last-minute invitation to the NBA G-League Combine in Chicago this weekend. The three-day event, which started Friday and runs through Sunday, puts Bell under the spotlight as he competes against 43 other top prospects before NBA scouts and executives.
This event serves as Bell’s latest chance to impress NBA personnel who are carefully evaluating skills, athleticism, and potential. The most promising performers at the G-League Combine could earn an invitation to the coveted NBA Draft Combine — set to begin this Sunday — where 73 players vie for attention ahead of the two-round NBA Draft on June 23-24, when just 60 players will be selected.
Bell to Showcase Elite Shooting and Athleticism Under Scrutiny
Standing 6-foot-7, Bell enters the Combine with a notable skill set, especially his long-range shooting. Over his senior season with Cal, Bell averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 40 percent from beyond the three-point line. His production surged late in the season, including five games of 20 points or more in Cal’s final nine outings. Most eye-catching were his final three games, where he averaged nearly 24 points and nailed 55.6 percent of his three-point attempts (making 15 of 27).
Players at the Combine are split into four teams of 11, taking part in five-on-five scrimmages with NBA personnel watching every movement. Bell is assigned to Team 4, alongside ACC standouts like SMU’s Boobie Miller and Miami’s Tre Donaldson. The team is led by coaches Will Scott, Billy Donovan III, Marwan Sarhan, and Scott Machado.
Combine Puts Athleticism, Agility, and Measurements to the Test
Beyond game play, the Combine will measure athleticism intensively with timed shuttle runs, three-quarter-court sprints, and vertical jump tests — akin to the NFL Combine measures. Each athlete’s body metrics like height, wingspan, hand size, and standing reach will be recorded in detail.
These data points matter greatly for NBA scouts who analyze potential fit and upside beyond pure scoring. Bell’s ability to blend size and shooting range aims to set him apart in this highly competitive field.
High Stakes for Bell and Fellow Prospects
Besides Bell, the G League Combine features notable NBA hopefuls like Seth Trimble from North Carolina, Florida State’s Robert McCray V, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, and Aidan Mahaney, a former Saint Mary’s guard currently playing at UC Santa Barbara. The combined talent pool underscores the fierce battle to grab NBA attention from this summer’s class.
Veteran sportswriter Jake Curtis, who covered Cal basketball extensively during his long tenure at the San Francisco Chronicle, highlights Bell’s surge late last season as a sign of his readiness to make an impact on the next level.
The crucial final phase of the G-League Combine will conclude just as the NBA Draft Combine kicks off Sunday, where Bell – if invited – could further solidify his draft stock. With the NBA Draft looming on June 23-24, this weekend represents a defining moment for Bell’s professional aspirations.
For Alabama and basketball fans nationwide watching the next wave of emerging talent, Chris Bell’s performance this weekend is a must-follow story — one that could spark the rise of another standout shooting forward primed for the big stage.
