Reuben Chinyelu was a standout starter for the Florida Gators and was instrumental in their recent 2025 NCAA Championship win. He helped the team edge out the Houston Cougars in a tightly contested final. He started in all 40 of the Gators’ games in the program’s run to a national championship, averaging six points, 6.6 rebounds, and nearly one block per game.
Highlights from this season include a 19-point, 13-rebound outing against LSU in the regular season and a 10-point, eight-rebound performance against Maryland in the Sweet 16. Chinyelu declared for the 2025 NBA Draft in April while keeping his collegiate eligibility.
5 Potential Landing Spots for Reuben Chinyelu.
The NBA is currently perceived to lack quality Centers. Some teams need quality starting Centers, while others need adequate backups. While Chinyelu is projected to be a second-round pick, let’s look at his potential destinations.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers currently have the most glaring problem in the NBA—they lack a big man. General manager Rob Pelinka made it clear that they will add a center to the roster next season, and the Lakers currently hold a second-round pick. They could consider Chinyelu as an option.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat could need a backup center after their first-round humiliation by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Heat were swept 4:0 in this year’s playoffs, and their front office could look for depth behind Bam Adebayo.
Charlotte Hornet
The Hornets are a young team in the process of rebuilding. Their starting center, Mark William, is perfect when fit, but he’s been plagued with injury concerns. He was available for just 44 games out of the 82 games played. The Hornets could be looking for depth in that department.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are a lottery team this year, which is very unexpected considering the caliber of stars on their roster. Their underwhelming campaign is largely due to the unavailability of their MVP-winning center, Joel Embiid. Given Embiid’s fitness uncertainty, the 76ers could be looking for new centers.
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Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are a team in dire need to fresh new faces and talents. They are one of the worst teams in the NBA this year and could potentially land the number one spot for this year’s draft. They only have one recognizable center, Walker Kessle, and he averaged 12.9 turnovers last season. They could be interested in Chinyelu as an in-depth option.
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