Baddy Chuck wrote:Also, I'm not hung up on this age thing. Great, he's 23. He's 4 seasons into the league, that's what I would look at. Especially 4 seasons into the league with as many minutes as Jennings has played. I mean, just because a guy is young doesn't mean he has a whole lot of potential then he's shown. The only player who was really young that I can think of that broke out after 4 years in the league is Jermaine O'Neal.
To just elaborate on this, here is the list (in my opinion) of guys who became more then role players in the league the past 10 years who were drafted as sophomores or younger so they would be somewhere around 24 or younger at the time their 4 years were over.
I'm bolding the ones who really improved after their fourth season.
Tyson Chandler - Took him until his 6th season and being traded to play with Chris Paul.
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson - His fourth year he showed signs of breaking out and he did in his fifth year. Then when he was traded to Atlanta he took it the next step.
Zach Randolph - Not sure about this one. He was a 20 and 10 guy within the four years but he didn't "click" in the head until about his ninth season. I'd say he shouldn't be bolded.
Gerald Wallace - He was buried on Sacramento's bench until he was drafted by Charlotte in the expansion draft and he hit his stride in his fifth year.
Gilbert Arenas - He was one of the top players in the league his fourth year, but his 5th and 6th years he became pretty much a super star, not sure if he should've been bolded?
Amare Stoudemire
Caron Butler
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Mo Williams
Dwight Howard
Luol Deng
Andre Iguodala
Al Jefferson
Josh Smith
Chris Paul
Andrew Bynum - Took him around 7 years to his his true peak.
Monta Ellis
Lamarcus Aldridge
Rudy Gay
Rajon Rondo
Kevin Durant
Mike Conley
Derrick Rose
OJ Mayo - His first two years he was the guy he is right now, then he got benched for a smaller role and came back slightly better, not sure if he should be bolded? I think his numbers will fall back towards year 1+2 norms.
Russell Westbrook
Kevin Love
Brook Lopez
Eric Gordon
Ryan Anderson
Blake Griffin
James Harden
DeMar DeRozan
Jrue Holiday
Two of them were big men drafted right out of high school and one didn't really play at all until nearly his 4th year.
I'd say the list of young guys who took a step in their games after 4 years in the league in pretty small.