TheGeneral99 wrote:zero rings wrote:TheGeneral99 wrote:
You are seriously trying to tell me that back in 2011/2012 or so you could have predicted that Steph Curry would be a top 10-15 player of all time?
You are trying to tell me that it was easy to predict Jimmy would have been a superstar level player that could carry a team as the alpha to 2 finals appearances? That's why he went 35th overall? In year 3, Jimmy was playing 39 minutes a night but only averaged 13ppg on 39% from the field and 28% form 3. You could have predicted that he would become a guy who could average 23ppg on elite efficiency?
Get that BS out of here.
And I'm not disagreeing with you that some players are under-utilized and when they get that opportunity they thrive. So why are you assuming there are currently no players who just need more opportunity, and if they get that opportunity, they will shine as great players?
I am telling you that the talent and skill was there from the beginning, and there were strong statistical indicators of what was to come. It wasn't hard to see that Steph was the GOAT shooter and had all-time potential before he actually won MVP. He was a special player even at Davidson. Jimmy is a weird one because he was under the radar and miscast as a defensive specialist his first few years, hence why I referenced his play at Marquette. He popped on offense the first year they really gave him the ball in the NBA. I admit to not knowing much of anything about him at the time, but looking back it's not hard to see that he was an undervalued player in need of opportunity.
My broader point is that skill development is overrated by scouts and fans alike. Most of a player's skill development occurs long before they ever play in the NBA. What actually separates the wheat from the chaff at this level is rare talent, and rare talent does not take years and years to show itself.
And the reason I'm not optimistic about this next wave of American "stars" is that they are all top draft picks who have been given plenty of opportunity, and none of them have done much with it. I'm not impressed by guys like Banchero, Green, and Cunningham putting up volume numbers on terrible efficiency. Barnes and Mobley look like good defenders, but offensively they will be lucky to ever be above average. Even someone like Edwards doesn't have a single elite skill after three years, which is not a good sign for his superstar potential.
There will be some good players from this crop, maybe a few low level all stars, but superstars? I'm not seeing it.
Dude, you can't just say that you knew what would happen.
Jimmer Fredette for instance posted very similar College numbers as Steph Curry and failed in the NBA despite having many opportunities.
Jimmer senior year - 29ppg on 45%fg and 40%3fg.
Curry junior year - 29ppg on 45%fg and 39%3fg.
Both had similar percentages on almost the same volume.
According to your logic, Jimmer should have also been an all-time great scorer.
Many people initially were unsure if Curry's offensive prowess could translate to the NBA level given his lack of athleticism, size and speed. To say that it was obvious Curry was not just turn into a great player but arguably a top 10 player of all-time is ludicrous.
I didn't say it was obvious that Curry was going to be a top 10 player of all time. That's an impossible prediction for any prospect. I said it was obvious that he was going to be a superstar after his first few years in the league when he already looked like the best shooter ever. His immediate success in the league proved that his play at Davidson was not a college fluke, like Fredette.
Who in this group of young Americans has shown that kind of elite ability, at any one thing? You're saying that any of these players could pop and become the next great NBA player. I'm saying if that were true we would already see the signs.
So who's it going to be? I've made my predictions (no superstars), it's time for you to do the same. Pretending like it's impossible to know anything is a cop out.
