If any NBA executives had questions about whether Peyton Siva could handle the pressure of playing at the next level, he answered them in March.
Siva was the driving force behind Louisville’s run to a national title, including finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals in 36 minutes in the Cardinals’ 82-76 win over Michigan in the national championship.
“It helped me a lot,” Siva said after participating in the draft combine at the Nets practice facility Thursday, “because I was able to play against a lot of different guards, and especially against some of the top-tier point guards.
“Obviously winning helped a lot.”
One of those top-tier point guards was Trey Burke, the Michigan floor general who is considered the top point guard in the draft and a potential top-five pick. Though Burke finished with 24 points in the title game, Siva’s performance showed, in his mind, he’s more than capable of holding his own.
“I think because I played against one of the top point guards in Trey Burke, I was able to perform and win the game,” he said. “I think that really helped me out a lot.”
Siva said he already has 10 workouts scheduled, including one in Boston along with fellow Nets combine attendee Pierre Jackson of Baylor and others. After the two-day combine wrapped up Thursday, Nets director of player personnel Gregg Polinsky said he was impressed with the way Siva performed.
“He’s real competitive, [has] great speed,” Polinsky said. “What do you say? [He comes from a] winning culture, he’s been coached, can take all you can give him … he’s going to get some looks.”
Regardless of how things turn out, Siva — projected to be a late second-round pick at the moment by DraftExpress — said he is hopeful the draft process will end with his name being called next month inside the Nets’ home, Barclays Center, where the draft is set to be held.
“Man, that’d be awesome,” he said. “It’d be a dream come true, and I’m just looking forward to it all.
“I always have envisioned myself as an NBA player, and I’m just trying to make it a reality now.”