2025 NBA Draft Class

[EvanZ]

But I don't think Beringer should be classified as low IQ. He just hasn't learned everything because he is so new to the game.

Do you call your 5 year old stupid because he hasn't picked up difficult trigonometry equations? Or do you give him a break because he's so young and hasn't gotten to that level of understanding yet?

This is the point thought. We've heard this excuse before. They are so "new to the game" so they must have a ton of upside.

The truth is more that the cake is baked very early for athletes, especially elite ones. Not only things like hand-eye coordination and other skills but decision-making especially. Imagine being thrown into a professional league where everyone has been playing their whole lives and it's the elite of the elite in the world. That's not an easy setting to learn. It's like saying, hey you don't know how to program you have a lot to learn, let's give you an internship at Google and see if you can compete with literally the best devs in world history. Talk about being thrown into the fire.

And it's not just that Beringer needs ot catch up and everyone else is standing pat. The Thomas Sorbers of the world who already have elite IQ are also adapting and getting better too. Guys like Beringer are always catching up.

Let me ask you thins. How long did it take JaVale McGee to become playable? Dude had all the tools in the world. But he was just such a dummy. You can't really ever fix that.

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing JaVale McGee had played basketball all his life. And IQ or not, he was good enough to be in the league for 16 years. That's a heckuva career, and I would be thrilled if Beringer plays that long.

Giannis started playing basketball at age 13, 5 years before he was drafted. Half the time, his highlights before being drafted looked like someone who didn't know what he was doing. Do you feel like he was a bad pick for the Bucks and is still playing catch up?

Giannis will never be known for being high IQ. He gets by on taking advantage of the incredible tools he’s been given. He was driving the same way he is now at lower levels. And he continues to dominate with that. There’s no genius here. So to that extent Giannis is a good example of exactly my point. If you think Beringer can dominate with his tools then that’s one thing. But if you are counting on him to develop something else I am skeptical. It’s like Warriors fans telling me for years “Wiseman just needs to figure it out”…cue the “Well we’re waiting” meme.

[Klomp]

Giannis will never be known for being high IQ. He gets by on taking advantage of the incredible tools he’s been given. He was driving the same way he is now at lower levels. And he continues to dominate with that. There’s no genius here. So to that extent Giannis is a good example of exactly my point. If you think Beringer can dominate with his tools then that’s one thing. But if you are counting on him to develop something else I am skeptical. It’s like Warriors fans telling me for years “Wiseman just needs to figure it out”…cue the “Well we’re waiting” meme.

I would argue that playing to your strengths and understanding your abilities and limitations is a form of basketball IQ.

[SeattleJazzFan]

wrong thread.

[EvanZ]

Giannis will never be known for being high IQ. He gets by on taking advantage of the incredible tools he’s been given. He was driving the same way he is now at lower levels. And he continues to dominate with that. There’s no genius here. So to that extent Giannis is a good example of exactly my point. If you think Beringer can dominate with his tools then that’s one thing. But if you are counting on him to develop something else I am skeptical. It’s like Warriors fans telling me for years “Wiseman just needs to figure it out”…cue the “Well we’re waiting” meme.

I would argue that playing to your strengths and understanding your abilities and limitations is a form of basketball IQ.

Is that the form of IQ you think Beringer will develop?

[CptCrunch]

Towns, Giannis and Brown are among the star players with bad feels/low basketball IQ.

[Yallbecrazy]

Watched some Beringer today. So big. Mostly bad. My spidey sense was giving me Wiseman vibes. I know he’s young but like he’s not going to magically become Sorber level IQ at the next level. He’s also slower than I’d like. Very big though. Needs to learn how to control his body better. He seems to fall down a lot. Not sure he’s physical enough. That was one of Wiseman’s biggest problems. For such a big man he was way too gentle.

Would you really expect someone who has only played the sport for 4 years to have an extremely high basketball IQ?

Alex Condon does

[bucknut]

I really believe this is going to be the best class since 2003

Watching guys like Noah penda in the second round.

Gonna have lots of stars amd high level players who are contributors

[Klomp]

Would you really expect someone who has only played the sport for 4 years to have an extremely high basketball IQ?

TBF we have a lot of players get drafted with little basketball experience and they just do not improve enough to be functional in the NBA. I did catch some Beringer games this year and I like his defensive instincts, but I think it is pretty fair to be skeptical.

good instincts ? See, I think his athleticism and on ball defense is all star tantalizing - but his instincts make him borderline undrafteable.

He looks like a chicken with his head cut off. The awareness and anticipation off ball is lacking. Whe he is in ball you man position he doesn't anticipate the off ball pass and closeout hard - he is still processing where the ball is - then goes only wants the pass is received - and then he half jumps from 4 feet away not even helping with the contest - completely looks like he is playing a different sport.

I don't think that can ever be taught. Instincts are mostly innate.

I could be wrong, but in some ways I wonder if his brain still operates in a soccer mindset. Now granted, I'm no soccer expert, but I see it as a sport where you cannot overreact to one move or you'll be badly out of position two or three steps later where it really matters. I think it's possible this explains part of why it seems like he is processing slow. I think that soccer mindset could fool him into not reacting to an off-ball pass. Where you could say his processing needs to speed up is that he will need to adjust to NBA possessions moving much more quickly than even the Adriatic League moves. We saw glimpses of what is possible in summer league, and I think it can continue to improve with more seasoning. Rudy Gobert will be an excellent mentor for him.

[bucknut]

TBF we have a lot of players get drafted with little basketball experience and they just do not improve enough to be functional in the NBA. I did catch some Beringer games this year and I like his defensive instincts, but I think it is pretty fair to be skeptical.

good instincts ? See, I think his athleticism and on ball defense is all star tantalizing - but his instincts make him borderline undrafteable.

He looks like a chicken with his head cut off. The awareness and anticipation off ball is lacking. Whe he is in ball you man position he doesn't anticipate the off ball pass and closeout hard - he is still processing where the ball is - then goes only wants the pass is received - and then he half jumps from 4 feet away not even helping with the contest - completely looks like he is playing a different sport.

I don't think that can ever be taught. Instincts are mostly innate.

I could be wrong, but in some ways I wonder if his brain still operates in a soccer mindset. Now granted, I'm no soccer expert, but I see it as a sport where you cannot overreact to one move or you'll be badly out of position two or three steps later where it really matters. I think it's possible this explains part of why it seems like he is processing slow. I think that soccer mindset could fool him into not reacting to an off-ball pass. Where you could say his processing needs to speed up is that he will need to adjust to NBA possessions moving much more quickly than even the Adriatic League moves. We saw glimpses of what is possible in summer league, and I think it can continue to improve with more seasoning. Rudy Gobert will be an excellent mentor for him.

I think it matters in the context your watching him ......watching cutups from hardwood hoops central film session of half hour highlights of him jumping in air on late contests on jump shooters ? Something looks off

First thought is how important really is watching clips of that and how much does it matter ?

Watching a full game ? Didnt really notice it. And he clearly has shot blocking instincts and timing instincts where it does matter. which are more difficult then the late closeout and rotations

I think this kid is gonna be a star.

[babyjax13]

good instincts ? See, I think his athleticism and on ball defense is all star tantalizing - but his instincts make him borderline undrafteable.

He looks like a chicken with his head cut off. The awareness and anticipation off ball is lacking. Whe he is in ball you man position he doesn't anticipate the off ball pass and closeout hard - he is still processing where the ball is - then goes only wants the pass is received - and then he half jumps from 4 feet away not even helping with the contest - completely looks like he is playing a different sport.

I don't think that can ever be taught. Instincts are mostly innate.

I could be wrong, but in some ways I wonder if his brain still operates in a soccer mindset. Now granted, I'm no soccer expert, but I see it as a sport where you cannot overreact to one move or you'll be badly out of position two or three steps later where it really matters. I think it's possible this explains part of why it seems like he is processing slow. I think that soccer mindset could fool him into not reacting to an off-ball pass. Where you could say his processing needs to speed up is that he will need to adjust to NBA possessions moving much more quickly than even the Adriatic League moves. We saw glimpses of what is possible in summer league, and I think it can continue to improve with more seasoning. Rudy Gobert will be an excellent mentor for him.

I think it matters in the context your watching him ......watching cutups from hardwood hoops central film session of half hour highlights of him jumping in air on late contests on jump shooters ? Something looks off

First thought is how important really is watching clips of that and how much does it matter ?

Watching a full game ? Didnt really notice it. And he clearly has shot blocking instincts and timing instincts where it does matter. which are more difficult then the late closeout and rotations

I think this kid is gonna be a star.

I watched his pro-games and thought he had impressive instincts for his age. Better than Jaxson Hayes, which I think is decent litmus test for "if you are better than 'x' player you are probably minimally a backup."

[Klomp]

I watched his pro-games and thought he had impressive instincts for his age. Better than Jaxson Hayes, which I think is decent litmus test for "if you are better than 'x' player you are probably minimally a backup."

Agree with using Hayes as a litmus test. I think it's a very interesting profile in comparison, especially when you think about the fact Hayes played his Age 18 season at University of Texas and Beringer played his Age 18 season in Slovenia. If Beringer was in the NCAA circuit, I think he might have had a chance to be drafted No. 8 overall as Hayes was. I think they have a lot of similar qualities. Would Hayes have turned out better anywhere but New Orleans?

[babyjax13]

I watched his pro-games and thought he had impressive instincts for his age. Better than Jaxson Hayes, which I think is decent litmus test for "if you are better than 'x' player you are probably minimally a backup."

Agree with using Hayes as a litmus test. I think it's a very interesting profile in comparison, especially when you think about the fact Hayes played his Age 18 season at University of Texas and Beringer played his Age 18 season in Slovenia. If Beringer was in the NCAA circuit, I think he might have had a chance to be drafted No. 8 overall as Hayes was. I think they have a lot of similar qualities. Would Hayes have turned out better anywhere but New Orleans?

I think most people were surprised he went 8, IIRC he was projected late-lottery to mid-first. I don't think his career turns out better elsewhere, he has had plenty of time to learn and just doesn't have great BBIQ, but he is athletic and can do some of the simple things a bubble 2nd/3rd string center needs to do.

[Klomp]

I watched his pro-games and thought he had impressive instincts for his age. Better than Jaxson Hayes, which I think is decent litmus test for "if you are better than 'x' player you are probably minimally a backup."

Agree with using Hayes as a litmus test. I think it's a very interesting profile in comparison, especially when you think about the fact Hayes played his Age 18 season at University of Texas and Beringer played his Age 18 season in Slovenia. If Beringer was in the NCAA circuit, I think he might have had a chance to be drafted No. 8 overall as Hayes was. I think they have a lot of similar qualities. Would Hayes have turned out better anywhere but New Orleans?

I think most people were surprised he went 8, IIRC he was projected late-lottery to mid-first. I don't think his career turns out better elsewhere, he has had plenty of time to learn and just doesn't have great BBIQ, but he is athletic and can do some of the simple things a bubble 2nd/3rd string center needs to do.

That's possible. It might honestly be the weight of expectations too. Sometimes, players are drafted in the lottery and expected to fill NBA roles they just are not meant for. I think of all of the guys drafted by Minnesota from 2009 through 2012, expected to have a chance to be "the guy" because that's what they needed. Wes Johnson, Randy Foye, Wayne Ellington etc. all developed into decent role players in the league for a number of years, but it just didn't work in Minnesota in part because of the expectations on them, I'd say.

Part of why I'm excited about Beringer's potential is that he's not expected to be much for a while. He is free to develop at his own pace. That's honestly why I'm excited about the fit for someone like Kon Knueppel. He wasn't drafted to be the guy. That's LaMelo Ball. He wasn't even drafted to be the second option. That's Brandon Miller. He was drafted to play off of and complement those guys, which is honestly the perfect role for him. He will come in on Day 1 and be great in that role, I have no doubts about that.

It's not foolproof, I will concede. I was one of the people who thought this strategy would work great for the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Oops.

[One_and_Done]

I really believe this is going to be the best class since 2003

Watching guys like Noah penda in the second round.

Gonna have lots of stars amd high level players who are contributors

Yeh, I'm not getting that vibe at all. Flagg looked a bit disappointing in Summer League, as did Kon. VJ and Ace were as expected, for better and worse. I'm not expecting many stars out of this draft, which is what defined the 03 draft.

[basketballRob]

I really believe this is going to be the best class since 2003

Watching guys like Noah penda in the second round.

Gonna have lots of stars amd high level players who are contributors

Yeh, I'm not getting that vibe at all. Flagg looked a bit disappointing in Summer League, as did Kon. VJ and Ace were as expected, for better and worse. I'm not expecting many stars out of this draft, which is what defined the 03 draft.

If Flagg stays healthy for around 12 years, he's going to be a hall of fame player.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[BigGargamel]

I really believe this is going to be the best class since 2003

Watching guys like Noah penda in the second round.

Gonna have lots of stars amd high level players who are contributors

Yeh, I'm not getting that vibe at all. Flagg looked a bit disappointing in Summer League, as did Kon. VJ and Ace were as expected, for better and worse. I'm not expecting many stars out of this draft, which is what defined the 03 draft.

If Flagg stays healthy for around 12 years, he's going to be a hall of fame player.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

But...summer league.

I mean, ignore high school, college, scouting reports, analytics. It's all about that one summer league game he played in.