Snidely FC wrote:Watched most of Duke's games this year (wife is an alum) and was smitten with Kon's exceptional feel for the game. It's the kind of thing that doesn't show up in stats. You've all seen on the Hornets, for instance, Grant Williams make a big difference in team play without putting up big stats. That kind of influence on the game is what I'm talking about.
But I am not heedless to the difference between great college players and great pros. Especially watching the IND and OKC defenders whip around the floor these playoffs.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play last year, for me Kon is behind Ace and VJ (and Tre, Fears, Jak, Bryant). But with Ace being a weenie and PHI apparently high on VJ, I just want to address the narrative that Kon can't possibly be a great pro.
Chris Mullin and Wally Szczerbiak are precursors who used advanced feel to overcome slow feet or suspect athleticism for storied careers. (Would point out that they went 7 and 6 in the draft)
But also want to add that Kon's freshman college stats were very similar to movement shooter Klay Thompson (pick #11) freshman college stats. Can you tell who's who?
Player A 6'6 200 lbs
.413 3pt%
.42 fg%
.511 efg%
.90 ft%
12.5 ppg
1.9 apg
1.5 stocks
4.2 rebs
Player B 6'6 217 lbs
.406 3pt%
.479 fg%
.59 efg%
.914 ft%
14.4 ppg
2.7 apg
1.2 stocks
4.0 rebs
(A: Klay B:Kon)
I'm a Kon fan and even though I would not take him at 4 I also see no reason why he can't be an impactful pro. Because of his exceptional feel I think he's a guy who at the very least Hornets fans will enjoy watching.
Yes and Klay was the 11th pick, which is a range that many of us would be okay taking Kon. And yes... I am not saying Klay wasn't worth the pick or I wouldn't take that outcome so please read before you rage post back at me... but if Klay is the best outcome for Kon then there are also many outcomes where he doesn't become Klay such as Joe Harris, Grayson Allen and Joe Ingles, which is why I think 4th is too high for him.
Overall, none of those guys listed at the time of the draft should have been top 5 picks, which is why I don't think it is crazy to assume Kon won't return that type of value when we look back on it in a few years.
