NBA Draft

2025 NBA Draft Prospect Dink Pate Impresses at Formula Zero Camp

The former Ignite lead initiator was one of the stars in Arizona this past week.

Keenan Womack

Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Team ELY guard Dink Pate (1) of the G League Ignite shoots the ball defended by Team Strictly forward Darius Bazley (13) of the Delaware Blue Coats during the G-League Next Up game at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Team ELY guard Dink Pate (1) of the G League Ignite shoots the ball defended by Team Strictly forward Darius Bazley (13) of the Delaware Blue Coats during the G-League Next Up game at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard's Formula Zero Camp happened in Arizona last week, playing host to plenty of big-time names, including DeMar Derozan, AJ Johnson, Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, and Keegan Murray, and plenty of other NBA and professional basketball players. 

One of the stars of the camp was former G League Ignite point guard Dink Pate, a 6-foot-8 jumbo creator who showed flashes of productivity as a 17-year-old playing professional basketball last year. Though he was too young to make the cutoff for the 2024 NBA Draft, he has real potential, and could see himself as high as a top-10 pick in an even more loaded class of prospects.

According to a source, Pate, who struggled at times with his shot and efficiency last year in G League play, "shot it at a very high and consistent rate" in multiple facets. He demonstrated the ability to shoot off the bounce in scrimmages, as well as off the catch, hitting 45 shots from deep in the three-minute drill, including 15 made in a row.

Beyond the developing shooting prowess, Pate showed the ability to facilitate, something at which he has always been proficient. With Ignite, he had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.37, and he continued to demonstrate this skill in these live-game situations.

As far as intangibles go, Pate was a vocal leader with his teammates at the camp, something he had not yet shown to the same degree when playing with Ignite. Part of this was his youth, but his newfound willingness to take charge on the offensive end illustrates a development in maturity as well as confidence.

Part of the Formula Zero camp is off-the-court development, the inclusion of which translates to on-court leadership. Pate's role as a lead guard requires this kind of discipline in both aspects, which he has shown in several areas, before and during his week in Arizona.

Several big-name scouts and coaches came away impressed with the now-18-year-old, who will still be one of the younger players in the 2025 NBA Draft when selected. This outing combined with his Drew League performance has Pate as a trending name for a selection in the high lottery in next summer's draft.

Pate will play for Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League for the 2024-25 season.

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Keenan Womack

KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.

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