NBA players who ended being completely different than their original profiles predicted they would be

[kodo]

The majority of this is just taking big men who become more shooters very, very late into their careers as their physicality & athleticism fades. You can put just about every NBA big man in the modern era into that bucket. Brook Lopez didn't shoot above 34% until he was age 30, well past his prime. That's not misreading a prospect, that's a 10 year NBA vet who became a great C&S shooter after that many years in the league. Horford is the same, he didn't average more than 1 three per game & 34%+ until age 30. In the prime of his career he was not a 3P shooter.

An example of an actual misread is probably Jimmy Butler. He was a 20 ppg scorer in his 4th year in the league. His draft profile was an unathletic defender.

Tracy McGrady's was pretty funny...but High School hard to blame scouts IMO.

Defensively, he again has great potential. He does a decent job on defense when he tries, but nothing exceptional, except shot blocking. McGrady has a lot of work to do on the defensive end of the court. He doesn't box out very much, either.

Ballhandling is above average for a high school senior his size. Nothing remarkable, though.

In comparing him to the other recent high school seniors who've made the NBA, McGrady compares most closely to Jermaine O'Neal. Physically, he probably approaches Garnett, but he doesn't have Garnett's size or feel for the game.

[Dan33185]

People will deny it, but a ton of scouts had Anthony Edwards labeled as a low IQ player and questioned his love for the game and dedication to the craft. Potential Ben McLemore was what a lot of people were saying. Didn't take long to realize those were just lazy, probably racist profiles of a player. Maybe Ant was just bored in college, but idk how so many scouts missed the ridiculous motor of this guy. He still went #1, but still.

A lot of us were worried they just drafted the next Andrew Wiggins. Thankfully, we were way off.

[RyderMike]

Pascal Siakam was supposed to be an energy big man out there to grab boards. Became an all-star for his all-around skills

[Capn'O]

Dennis Smith JR being a strong defender with limited offense was not on my bingo card.

[Lockdown504090]

Any examples?

IMO, Isaiah Hartenstein is that. If we go way back, if you remember, IH was often called - next DIrk. He was German center shooting 3s and scoring a lot of points in youth competitions. That was hoe he put himself on NBA radar in the first place. I think it is clear to say that he is not that player in the NBA, he is defensive specialist who moved away from shooting long jumpers at all. By the time he moved to Žalgiris, I watched most of his games there, and by then, one thing I really loved about his game was defensive awareness, he simply knew where to be on the court defensively. Not to pat myself on the back, but he was one of those very rare Euros, who was basically buried at the end of the bench, but I still liked as NBA prospect. He definitely panned out, even tho it took time.

Another one, maybe not as good example as Hartenstein, but another center from my country that I have watched all the time prior to his NBA days, was my own Jonas Valančiūnas. He kind off is what he supposed to be, but also not, IMO. Valančiūnas was far more of defensive prospect that Hartenstein even, but in the NBA now, it is complete opposite, Hart is defense anchor where Jonas is defensive liability most of the time. Young pre draft JV was this - he was very very energetic, constant screen setter, somewhat promising shot blocker and just absolutely dominant pick and roll finisher. He was often compared to Anthony Davis, his length was exiting. TO think of it now, it is laughable almost. Current Jonas is slow, post hub, he is not known for running pick rolls that much, or blocking shots. He always had elite touch and finishing from the post, even when super young, and I thought once he adds weight and strength, it will be over, because he only struggled with getting great post position, when there, he was basically a bucket. But what I did not anticipate, was how much slower and less active he would become with added mileage and weight. He definitely change his identity completely. He never had significant injuries, but when you comparing him before draft to now, it feels like he did have his achilles torn or smth.

I remember being in Germany to visit a friend that was playing there on some team and everyone was talking about this kid and vice did a doc on him, and the guy really looked like he would be the second coming of dirk. Still am awesome player though

[Got Nuffin]

Andrew Bogut was supposed to be a high post, passing hub, mediocre defender. Ended up a DPOY/screener/hustle guy lol

Yeah, as someone who followed Bogut’s career from college, there is just no way you could have predicted that he would base his career on being an offensively limited defensive anchor.. It was the opposite of what he was drafted at number 1 for. He was such a mediocre defender and such a promising high iq offensive talent.

Somehow his jump shot completely abandoned him in the pros, and the Bucks for whatever reason didn’t use him as the high post offensive hub that he made his career on in college, which is really really bizarre. I think that he just never got the ball anyway, so he figured he may as well bulk up and play defence instead

Then he had that horrible injury and he became even less of an offensive threat. Landed with the Warriors at the right time and helped build the foundation for that dynasty with his newfound defensive skill though, and crazily became one of the best in the league at it.

[Saints14]

Towns was lauded for his defensive potential out of Kentucky. We knew he could shoot/score, but not to the level he's shown in the NBA.

Towns was my first thought too. I remember him as more of a defensive prospect, ended up being one of the best offensive and worst defensive centers in the NBA.

Anthony Davis and Embiid were kind of like that too, I mean they are still good defenders but were projected as these DPOY with merely good offense type bigs, both became offensive stars and neither won DPOY. Though since playing with LeBron and taking more of that #2 offensive option role Davis has improved his defense.

Kevon Looney is another that comes to mind, projected as a wing with on-ball scoring potential and turned into a dirty work backup big

[giberish]

Towns and Draymond stand out. As noted, Towns was projected as a defensive stud with good but not elite offense, while Draymond was seen as a versatile offense-first forward with more defensive questions.

A lot of the other options are mostly guys who ended up as the extreme best-case scenario.

[jpengland]

Hasheem Thabeet was supposed to be a basketball player.

[Edrees]

Where's Kawhi leonard? He was supposed to be a defensive specialist with a decent three point shot/hustle guy. Nobody expected him to be the shot creator he became.

[giordunk]

Andrew Wiggins was supposed to be at least what Anthony Edwards is right now, and hate all you want about the All-Star starter thing, but he played a very important role on a championship team.

As others have said - those bigs drafted in the pre-Curry era and adapted to the current game - guys like Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Channing Frye, etc.,