Why Drew Timme was undrafted?

[Nuntius]

Some tall white people suck at professional basketball.

So do some tall black players

What’s your point ?

OP mentioned Jokic. Jokic and Timme play nothing alike. The only common ground are that they are both tall and white. It's an extremely lazy comparison which is why it got that kind of response.

[NW BBALL]

Zag alumnus here and watched most of the televised games over the last three seasons. Drew Timme was one of best college players to also be the worst NBA prospect. On the plus side, he has just beautiful low post footwork and plays with a ton of heart. He is fun to watch when hot. On the downside, he is slow, a terrible defender (got exposed regularly even in WCC games), and his shooting beyond 14 feet is suspect. Not a good match for the modern NBA and in several games over the last two seasons, not a good match even in the NCAA. His poor free throw shooting and defense were real liabilities for us this last year. I appreciate that he was a part of Gonzaga‘s success during his tenure and it was fun watching a low post master at work sometimes, but I am actually excited for the Bulldogs to move on from Timme.

[wichmae]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2023/06/25/gonzagas-drew-timme-signs-with-milwaukee-bucks-after-going-undrafted/70354766007/

[Michael Jackson]

im confused at what Joker has to do with Timme

They’re both tall and white. Just like if you’re a bald black man you’re basically Michael Jordan.

Get with the times man

You leave Harold Miner out of this.

[DrCoach]

Timme is undersized for a C at 6’8 and he has cinder-blocks for feet. Zero chance he would be able to defend at the next level. Add to that the fact that despite his skilled footwork and nice touch down low, he can’t shoot the 3-ball. He’s just not a pro prospect. Maybe 30 years ago, but not today. He should have a decent career in Europe though.

Guys, Timme is not 6'8. When you measure at near 6'9 in the combine without shoes on then your NBA height is 6'10. Period. Size isn't why Timme won't play at the NBA level. It is all about the way he plays.

For a player of Timme's play style to succeed at the NBA level, he needs to be a freaking outlier at what he does. Domantas Sabonis is successful player at the NBA level because his passing and feel for the game are outlier levels of good (he's also a good interior scorer, great rebounder, has a passable mid-range shot, plays smart on both ends of the court so he is fine defensively, plays hard et cetera). Sengun will be a successful player at the NBA level because, in a similar vein with Sabonis, his passing and feel for the game are outlier levels of good.

Timme is a fine passer. He is a smart and crafty player. But he's nowhere near the levels of Sabonis and Sengun. He is NOT outlier levels of good at it.

Frankly, I believe that Colin Castleton has a better chance of becoming a successful NBA player than Timme does. Castleton is a better ball-handler and passer than Timme is and his live-dribble passing gives him a pathway into having an outlier skill. He's a bit like Mamukelashvlili. Chances are that neither of them will make it at the NBA level but there is a pathway for them to become successful. You can sell yourself that they have a chance to offer you something that you cannot easily find in this league and can help your team out. You just cannot make that sell with Timme.

I like those comparisons.

There is a place for unathletic high IQ non rim protecting Bigs

[Willie Colon]

Luka Garza is a very capable 3pt shooter and he can barely even get any playing time.

No defense, no 3pt shooting, and limited athleticism is a disastrous combo for any big with hopes of playing in the NBA.

Good comparison Luka has many advantages too including measurements:

Luka - 6'11" 248 - a centers body and a shooter
Drew - 6''8" 243 - a small forward body nowadays

Drew has a longer standing reach, same wingspan and slightly larger hands though. He's also more athletic overall. Had the best agility score among centers at the combine. Although he is not the shooter Garza is.

[Nuntius]

Timme is undersized for a C at 6’8 and he has cinder-blocks for feet. Zero chance he would be able to defend at the next level. Add to that the fact that despite his skilled footwork and nice touch down low, he can’t shoot the 3-ball. He’s just not a pro prospect. Maybe 30 years ago, but not today. He should have a decent career in Europe though.

Guys, Timme is not 6'8. When you measure at near 6'9 in the combine without shoes on then your NBA height is 6'10. Period. Size isn't why Timme won't play at the NBA level. It is all about the way he plays.

For a player of Timme's play style to succeed at the NBA level, he needs to be a freaking outlier at what he does. Domantas Sabonis is successful player at the NBA level because his passing and feel for the game are outlier levels of good (he's also a good interior scorer, great rebounder, has a passable mid-range shot, plays smart on both ends of the court so he is fine defensively, plays hard et cetera). Sengun will be a successful player at the NBA level because, in a similar vein with Sabonis, his passing and feel for the game are outlier levels of good.

Timme is a fine passer. He is a smart and crafty player. But he's nowhere near the levels of Sabonis and Sengun. He is NOT outlier levels of good at it.

Frankly, I believe that Colin Castleton has a better chance of becoming a successful NBA player than Timme does. Castleton is a better ball-handler and passer than Timme is and his live-dribble passing gives him a pathway into having an outlier skill. He's a bit like Mamukelashvlili. Chances are that neither of them will make it at the NBA level but there is a pathway for them to become successful. You can sell yourself that they have a chance to offer you something that you cannot easily find in this league and can help your team out. You just cannot make that sell with Timme.

I like those comparisons.

There is a place for unathletic high IQ non rim protecting Bigs

There is. There's absolutely a place for them in the league. They just need to be elite at something that they do. They need to be an outlier at something. They need to be able to be so good at it that they can bend the opposing defense and create advantages. Because that's what playing offense is about. Creating the advantage so you or someone else can score.

The problem with Timme is that he just isn't outlier levels of good in those areas. He's just good at them.

A 3&D guy doesn't need to be outlier levels of good at their skillset to make an NBA roster. It's an archetype that every team wants. The more of those guys they have, the better. Those guys just need to be good in their areas of expertise. Their playstyle fits the NBA to a T. If they're good at their expertise, they have a good chance of sticking around.

But players whose playstyle contradicts what the NBA is about? They need to be outliers in their area of expertise. If they're not, it's not going to work.

[thejigglyroom]

im confused at what Joker has to do with Timme

They’re both tall and white. Just like if you’re a bald black man you’re basically Michael Jordan.

Get with the times man

You leave Harold Miner out of this.

That’s funny because he was legit the first person I thought of. I remember him at USC with the Jordan comparisons because of his dunks and bald head.

Fun times

[AussieCeltic]

They’re both tall and white. Just like if you’re a bald black man you’re basically Michael Jordan.

Get with the times man

You leave Harold Miner out of this.

That’s funny because he was legit the first person I thought of. I remember him at USC with the Jordan comparisons because of his dunks and bald head.

Fun times

His nickname was Baby Jordan….

[andyhop]

He was not very good, I dont feel like he would make a good pro at all from all the games I watched I never understood the amount of "success" he had with Gonzaga

Not taking away anything from them but they obviously play a cupcake schedule. He’s going against Pepperdine and San Francisco twice a year.

Plus they get the automatic wins against the PAC 12 teams they play