Suns Draft Koa Peat at #30 in 2026 NBA Draft

[Raindog]

Everyone gets sillly around draft time. Koa needs to find a niche like Larry Nance Jr or Kenneth Faried and he will be around a long time and makes lots of money.

Indeed. The problem isn't that so much that Peat is an undersized big with an undersized big's game (at the moment). In another era (1970s to 1990s), that might be fine. The bulk of the league was running lineups that featured guys like that.

Unfortunately, the NBA is in a different era now with an emphasis on shooting and length. Players with skill sets like Peat's just don't fit as well. It doesn't necessarily mean that he absolutely can't develop skills to fit, but that's the obvious reason why his stock plummeted.

 

[Adrian]

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

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koa isn't just from the valley he's a lifelong suns fan like most of us

 

[Adrian]

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[Proximo]

What in the world are you guys talking about... Gordon... Barkley? We're talking about some of the best athletes the NBA has ever seen. This guy AIN'T THAT.

Did you not see his vertical - he is a very good athlete, not quite at Gordons level - but 90% of it.

Size / Measurements

Metric	Aaron Gordon	Koa Peat	Edge
Height	6'8" (listed) / 6'7.5" barefoot (draft)	6'7" barefoot / 6'8" listed	Very similar (Gordon slight edge in shoes)
Weight	235 lbs	245 lbs	Peat (stockier)
Wingspan	6'11.75"	6'11.25"	Gordon (tiny edge)
Standing Reach	~8'9" (draft)	8'8"	Gordon
Frame	Athletic, lean-muscular	Broad-shouldered, thick/strong	Peat (more NFL-tight end build)

Athletic Testing

Drill	Aaron Gordon (2014)	Koa Peat (2026)	Edge
No-Step / Standing Vertical	32.5"	34.5" (T-5th)	Peat
Max Vertical	39.0"	37.5" (T-27th)	Gordon
3/4 Court Sprint	3.27 seconds	3.16 seconds (T-12th)	Peat
Lane Agility	10.81 seconds	Not top-ranked (details limited)	Gordon
Shuttle Run	2.76 seconds (best overall)	3.39 seconds (weaker)	Gordon

Bottom line - they are actually pretty close to the same.

 

[Adrian]

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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I’ll say this, what I love about ish is, right or wrong, he isn’t going to sit around and wait for something to happen. He’s a make something happen guy.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not as far off as you might think actually

Quick comparison to context (Koa Peat):

• Aaron Gordon: 39" max / 32.5" standing
• Koa Peat (2026): 37.5" max / 34.5" standing

There are numbers and there is what happens on the court. If I remember correctly bookers measured vertical was elite. That doesn’t show when he drives to the basket and gets swatted.

As I said, Koa is a good athlete. But I’ve seen him get blocked in the post. I don’t believe I’ve seen much of Gordon getting blocked. I’ve seen a lot him dunking on players.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

I’ll say this, what I love about ish is, right or wrong, he isn’t going to sit around and wait for something to happen. He’s a make something happen guy.

go getter for real

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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lol. Fleming is 6’11? Peat is 6’8?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Let the haters hate. The Suns gave up second-round draft picks for a guy who was projected to go in the first round. If Koa does not work out, no big deal since they only gave up second-round picks, which most don't turn out to do much. If Koa plays well, it's a good trade. It's not like the Suns traded away first-round picks to get the 30th pick of the first round. Don't understand the scrutiny with this trade.

This is a not unimportant aspect. Giving up second round picks doesn’t bother me. Small cost for roll of the dice.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I liked that Koa didn't turtle like Burries did in that championship game versus Michigan

True, he kept gunning. Even in the face of bigger frontcourt players who made him miss a ton of shots.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Jefferson’s comments matter to me because he likely still has connections at Zona and knows about koa behind the games.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jefferson’s comments matter to me because he likely still has connections at Zona and knows about koa behind the games.

I like that Carlos Boozer comparison and he was not that athletic as I recall.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

we had pick what? 47? and ended up with koa peat - and didn't trade any future first round picks to get him - i repeat - kobe peat - khaman man

 

[ProdigalSun]

True, he kept gunning. Even in the face of bigger frontcourt players who made him miss a ton of shots.

Everyone played like ***** that night. But Burries ooof

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[TJ]

Did you not see his vertical - he is a very good athlete, not quite at Gordons level - but 90% of it.

Size / Measurements

Metric	Aaron Gordon	Koa Peat	Edge
Height	6'8" (listed) / 6'7.5" barefoot (draft)	6'7" barefoot / 6'8" listed	Very similar (Gordon slight edge in shoes)
Weight	235 lbs	245 lbs	Peat (stockier)
Wingspan	6'11.75"	6'11.25"	Gordon (tiny edge)
Standing Reach	~8'9" (draft)	8'8"	Gordon
Frame	Athletic, lean-muscular	Broad-shouldered, thick/strong	Peat (more NFL-tight end build)

Athletic Testing

Drill	Aaron Gordon (2014)	Koa Peat (2026)	Edge
No-Step / Standing Vertical	32.5"	34.5" (T-5th)	Peat
Max Vertical	39.0"	37.5" (T-27th)	Gordon
3/4 Court Sprint	3.27 seconds	3.16 seconds (T-12th)	Peat
Lane Agility	10.81 seconds	Not top-ranked (details limited)	Gordon
Shuttle Run	2.76 seconds (best overall)	3.39 seconds (weaker)	Gordon

Bottom line - they are actually pretty close to the same.

Anyone who’s seen both AG and Koa knows that AG is significantly more athletic than Koa. Koa is more below the basket; whereas, AG has no shame getting above the rim. One of my issues either Koa is that he gets lost ball watching on rebound opportunities and lets others dominate him on the glass

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

So we got Isaiah Livers?

Stronger and better athlete than livers.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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He does have what I’d consider high bball IQ. And quick feet.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I just saw Avery Johnson compare him to Larry Johnson.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There are numbers and there is what happens on the court. If I remember correctly bookers measured vertical was elite. That doesn’t show when he drives to the basket and gets swatted.

As I said, Koa is a good athlete. But I’ve seen him get blocked in the post. I don’t believe I’ve seen much of Gordon getting blocked. I’ve seen a lot him dunking on players.

Bookers vertical at the combine wasn’t very special. I think it was 34 or something. His standing was under 30 , I recall. He was really good in the agility test thought. And I think that has panned out in game play.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I didn’t say I agreed. Just communicating what he said.