Nick Boyd was one of the two Wisconsin Badgers to represent themselves at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and walked away from it as one of the biggest winners. Boyd came into the combine with a lot to prove, as his age and lack of sustained high-end production left many scouts skeptical as for how he was going to translate up.
It also didn't help that he isn't the most naturally gifted player, measuring in at just 6-foot-1 barefoot and recording the second-lowest wingspan at the combine, at 6-foot-2.5 inches. This combination of circumstances put the pressure on Boyd to perform well in both the drills and the scrimmages if he wanted any chance at hearing his name called on draft night, and he did just that.
Nick Boyd spot up shooting drill! pic.twitter.com/wCieM6Ejsl
— Finn Kuehl (@finleykuehl) May 12, 2026
Standout Performance
Boyd kicked off the combine with an impressive athletic testing round, showcasing the speed and athletic gifts that made him so potent last season. He recorded the second-fastest three-quarter sprint time at 3.07 seconds, and a solid max vertical of 36 inches. Those athletic gifts mean nothing however if he couldn't translate them to on-court play, something he had no problem doing.
Boyd played very solid in both of his combine scrimmages, particularly in his first game where he scored 23 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 8 assists. He wasn't quite able to replicate that same all-around dominance in the second scrimmage, but was still very impactful, dishing out a team-high 5 assists and a team-best minus-1 plus/minus. Overall, Boyd had the week he needed to have, likely boosting his draft stock.
Stock Up
Although intel is still for the most part under wraps at this point in time, it does appear that Boyd is trending in the right direction. His solid showing paired with a year's worth of solid on-court tape should be enough to push him toward being drafted in the second round.
Boyd still has a ways to go in the pre-draft process, as his workouts and interviews with teams will likely be more impactful than any other thing he did over the past week. Nonetheless, his week at the combine should prove to be a huge step in the right direction for the former standout Wisconsin guard.
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