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Miles Byrd 2025 NBA Draft Profile

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Benjamin Yu | Last updated May 22, 2025 6:00 AM ET

There are many impressive defensive prospects in the draft this year, however, none are as unique as San Diego State guard Miles Byrd. The 6-foot-6 wing has been an excellent defensive wing who is easily one of the best defensive playmakers in the class. Additionally, Byrd has upside as a shooter, making him one of the better 3-and-D prospects . Let’s dive into the 2025 NBA Draft profile of Miles Byrd.

Miles Byrd 2025 NBA Draft Profile

College Career

Byrd spent his entire collegiate career with the Aztecs at San Diego State. With each season, Byrd’s minutes and production increased until he became a starter this past season. During the season, Byrd averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. Furthermore, Byrd shot 38.1% from the field, 30.1% from three, and 83.2% from the free throw line. Byrd took a massive jump in terms of production this season, jumping up from 4.0 points to 12.3 points. Throughout the season, Byrd showcased his defensive abilities as well as his upside as a shooter. Due to his efforts this season, Byrd was selected for the 2024-2025 All-MWC 2nd team and the 2024-2025 MWC All-Defense team.

Strengths

Standing at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, the defensive end of the court is where Byrd excels the most. He has the ideal size and athleticism to be a versatile wing defender who can guard multiple positions. Byrd possesses an excellent feel for the game on the defensive end and consistently hustles every possession. His basketball IQ shines as he will make the right reads and rotations to get a crucial stop or turnover. Most importantly, Byrd is easily one of the most impressive defensive playmakers in the draft this year. In particular, Byrd posted an absurd 4.9% block rate and 4.3% steal rate this season, making him a top disruptor in the country.

Offensively, Byrd has a smooth shooting form and good free-throw percentage, which indicates that he has shooting upside. Additionally, Byrd is a capable off-ball mover who demonstrated movement shooting and strong cutting instincts. He is also a solid connective passer who can throw some impressive passes for the type of role he plays. Byrd can make athletic plays in transition, especially off of the blocks and turnovers he creates.

Weaknesses

A clear area of improvement for Byrd is that his smooth shooting form hasn’t produced the results one would expect. He is only shooting 30.1% from three, and he will need to improve as a shooter to become the 3-and-D wing he is capable of being. Furthermore, Byrd isn’t the best at finishing at the rim. He can struggle to finish through contact and needs to add strength to his frame. His strength concerns also translate to the defensive end as he can have difficulty guarding taller and stronger players. Plus, it should be noted that Byrd didn’t face the best competition in college basketball due to his conference. It remains to be seen how he holds up against better players.

NBA Comparison

One clear comparison for Byrd is Portland Trail Blazers wing Matisse Thybulle. Both are excellent defenders on the wings who operate well as defensive playmakers. They are of similar size to one another and possess excellent physical tools. Not only that, but they also have similar concerns on the offensive end, considering both of them are inconsistent shooters.