OT: Any examples of NBA players who had a rough rookie season

Nostrand Ave · Post #1 » by **Nostrand Ave** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 10:22 pm

Any examples of NBA players who had a rough rookie season, but turned out to have a long successful NBA career?

Phish Tank · Post #2 » by **Phish Tank** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 10:27 pm

Jimmy?

Chanel Bomber · Post #3 » by **Chanel Bomber** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 10:37 pm

Jalen Rose *Edit: was thinking of his first year in Indiana
Chauncey Billups
Jermaine O'Neal
Tyson Chandler
Zach Randolph
Joe Johnson
Kyle Lowry
Jimmy Butler
Nikola Vučević
Brandon Ingram

Some of these guys really struggled early. You can go further back in history and find a lot of players who had rough rookie seasons and went on to have great careers.

It's too early for Obi's burial imo.

Post #4 » by **DOT** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 10:51 pm

I mean, define "rough"

Just looking at the All Star game this past year, you have 8 guys who scored less than 10 ppg their rookie years

Some like Gobert and Vuc probably flashed potential but just didn't get the minutes (Gobert in particular averaged almost a block a game in less than 10 mpg)

Some got minutes and produced low raw totals but were efficient enough (Giannis, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, etc) so they were fine

Randle had a rough rookie season I guess, cause he got 14 minutes into his first game before snapping his leg, though I doubt that counts

Sabonis is the only one I'd say was flat out bad his rookie year and got enough minutes to prove it. 6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20 minutes a game on sub-40% from the field, .467 TS is pretty bad.

Nostrand Ave · Post #5 » by **Nostrand Ave** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 11:51 pm

Ok, to clarify, I mean TERRIBLE rookie season. When you factor how high he was drafted it makes you wonder. Butler was drafted 30th so it's not the same. If you're drafted later in the draft you're given a longer leash.

Nyk88 · Post #6 » by **Nyk88** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 12:13 am

Nostrand Ave wrote:Ok, to clarify, I mean TERRIBLE rookie season. When you factor how high he was drafted it makes you wonder. Butler was drafted 30th so it's not the same. If you're drafted later in the draft you're given a longer leash.

Not in NY

Chanel Bomber · Post #7 » by **Chanel Bomber** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 12:18 am

Nostrand Ave wrote:Ok, to clarify, I mean TERRIBLE rookie season. When you factor how high he was drafted it makes you wonder. Butler was drafted 30th so it's not the same. If you're drafted later in the draft you're given a longer leash.

Billups was drafted 3rd overall, averaged 11.2 ppg on 37.4 FG% (and a not so bad 51.6 TS%) as a rookie.

Ingram was drafted 2nd overall, averaged 9.4 ppg on 40.2 FG% (and a terrible 47.4 TS%) as a rookie.

Tyson Chandler was drafted 2nd overall, averaged 6.1 ppg on 49.7 FG% (54.3 TS%), an awful percentage for a rim-runner. One of the posterboys of the too much too soon era for a time, before he became a champion, a DPOY, an All-NBA player, an Olympian and a Knicks disappointment.

aq_ua · Post #8 » by **aq_ua** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 12:27 am

K-DOT wrote:I mean, define "rough"

Just looking at the All Star game this past year, you have 8 guys who scored less than 10 ppg their rookie years

Some like Gobert and Vuc probably flashed potential but just didn't get the minutes (Gobert in particular averaged almost a block a game in less than 10 mpg)

Some got minutes and produced low raw totals but were efficient enough (Giannis, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, etc) so they were fine

Randle had a rough rookie season I guess, cause he got 14 minutes into his first game before snapping his leg, though I doubt that counts

Sabonis is the only one I'd say was flat out bad his rookie year and got enough minutes to prove it. 6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20 minutes a game on sub-40% from the field, .467 TS is pretty bad.

I thought Jaylen Brown looked scrublicious his rookie season, couldn't hit a jumper to save his life. I am shocked he's developed into the shooter that he has.

prophet_of_rage · Post #9 » by **prophet_of_rage** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 12:32 am

Markelle Fultz

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DaGawd · Post #10 » by **DaGawd** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 2:19 am

thebuzzardman · Post #11 » by **thebuzzardman** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 2:25 am

Guys, Obi is still a bust

Guano · Post #12 » by **Guano** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 4:14 am

thebuzzardman wrote:Guys, Obi is still a bust

OP begging for a shred of hope and Buzz is not here for it.

Montmorencie · Post #13 » by **Montmorencie** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 4:18 am

AD was pretty bad his first year given the expectations.

Clyde_Style · Post #14 » by **Clyde_Style** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 4:46 am

thebuzzardman wrote:Guys, Obi is still a bust

We need to bring back the booty thread so you can post "Is This a Bust?" in there once a day

Post #15 » by **NoLayupRule** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 6:57 am

DaGawd wrote:Dirk

that was my thought too

ok he wasnt "terrible" but he was nothing impressive

he got pretty good though

spree2kawhi · Post #16 » by **spree2kawhi** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 8:09 am

Kobe, Dirk, KG, Bam, Frank... list its endless.

spree2kawhi · Post #17 » by **spree2kawhi** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 8:11 am

NoLayupRule wrote:
DaGawd wrote:Dirk

that was my thought too

ok he wasnt "terrible" but he was nothing impressive

he got pretty good though

He says he was overwhelmed and sometimes thought he wouldn't make it.

Jalen Bluntson · Post #18 » by **Jalen Bluntson** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 4:29 pm

JohnStarksTheDunk · Post #19 » by **JohnStarksTheDunk** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 5:29 pm

JJ Redick was a lottery pick and it took him a while to find his niche. Never a star, but has had a fine career.

DaGawd · Post #20 » by **DaGawd** » Fri Apr 9, 2021 5:35 pm

NoLayupRule wrote:
DaGawd wrote:Dirk

that was my thought too

ok he wasnt "terrible" but he was nothing impressive

he got pretty good though

Dirks rookie season was pretty bad