UcanUwill wrote: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