Jdub is the best player from the 2022 draft

[basketballRob]

JDub just put up a 22/5/5 on 57% TS with a +3.1 EPM season. Paolo can't hold his jock strap. Neither one is an effective first option, but JDub is a much better second option than Paolo.

Also, J-Dub without Shai:

943 minutes
+5.5 net
114.8 ORTG
Per36: 28-7 on 56TS%

Actually, I wonder what's the argument to have for Banchero being a better 1st option right now.

FGA

Paolo is 1.6 years younger than Jalen. I am glad to see him have a good game because he looked like ass before that.

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[MoneyTalks41890]

Let’s not pretend JDub’s offense has been consistent or spectacular. He’s been pretty inconsistent offensively these playoffs, but luckily not enough to sink the team, and he’s also peaking at the right time/playing some incredible defense.

Paolo is a one man offense. There are some efficiency questions, ability to develop some range on the shot, and on defense.

But what’s not in question is Paolo’s ability to get a bucket as #1. He’s currently much more proven at that.

[OKC2008]

Right now the situation is:

Offensive side:
1 Paolo
2 JDub
3Chet

Defensive side
1 JDub & Chet (hard to tell who is better, they are both elite defenders)
2
3 Paolo

[MrBigShot]

At the moment, JDub is a more effective #2 player than Paolo is as a #1 option. Banchero has higher highs and lower lows. He could put it all together and compete for MVP.

[Lockdown504090]

Let’s not pretend JDub’s offense has been consistent or spectacular. He’s been pretty inconsistent offensively these playoffs, but luckily not enough to sink the team, and he’s also peaking at the right time/playing some incredible defense.

Paolo is a one man offense. There are some efficiency questions, ability to develop some range on the shot, and on defense.

But what’s not in question is Paolo’s ability to get a bucket as #1. He’s currently much more proven at that.

when hes not on, im not sure people fully realize how reliant he is on okc's transition/turnover game for offense.

[Doctor MJ]

Easily. Top-3 in a re-draft would be IMO:

1. JDub
2. Chet
3. Paolo

Chet and Paolo are kind of interchangeable. Chet doesn't give you much on offence while Paolo is a pylon on defence. JDub is much better than both of them.

So I'll step back here.

I believe JDub is the best player right now in the draft, and that he's had the best NBA career to this point.

I also believe that Orlando would still take Paolo #1, and OKC would still take Chet at #2. I think the Magic are all in on Paolo, and Chet remains a higher ceiling guy. On the other hand, I'd expect Houston to gleefully take JDub at 3rd over Jabari given that chance.

[Xatticus]

Let’s not pretend JDub’s offense has been consistent or spectacular. He’s been pretty inconsistent offensively these playoffs, but luckily not enough to sink the team, and he’s also peaking at the right time/playing some incredible defense.

Paolo is a one man offense. There are some efficiency questions, ability to develop some range on the shot, and on defense.

But what’s not in question is Paolo’s ability to get a bucket as #1. He’s currently much more proven at that.

Efficiency questions? He has a career eFG+ of 89.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Let’s not pretend JDub’s offense has been consistent or spectacular. He’s been pretty inconsistent offensively these playoffs, but luckily not enough to sink the team, and he’s also peaking at the right time/playing some incredible defense.

Paolo is a one man offense. There are some efficiency questions, ability to develop some range on the shot, and on defense.

But what’s not in question is Paolo’s ability to get a bucket as #1. He’s currently much more proven at that.

Efficiency questions? He has a career eFG+ of 89.

He has a career true shooting percentage of 54%.

[Profound23]

He's the best Thunder player from the 2022 draft....then again I always thought Chet was overrated for obvious reasons

[knicksfan974]

As a fan, I'm fine with getting two of the three best players from a draft, even if they are #2 and #3, and it looks like the Thunder did just that.

So, no complaints from me.

This draft was the key why the Thunder is close to a championship. They did great with the #2 and #12 picks.

[Viper1500]

I don’t understand some OKC fans obsession with attempting to prove that JDub or Chet are the best players from that draft. You have the best (or at least top 3) player in the NBA on your team, in SGA. Be humble

[basketballRob]

I watched the Finals very closely, and neither Chet nor JDub are better than Paolo. If you replaced Chet with Paolo, his TS would be 50 pts higher in that system. If Orlando can build a 55-60 win team in Orlando with a top 10 offense, Paolo’s will be top 5 in the MVP race.

If you put Aaron Gordon on Utah this season, he doesn't average 53/44/81 with a 650 TS and 607 EFG. You are a product of your environment.

Ty Jerome averaged 52/44/87 with a 606 EFG and a 647 TS. Jerome is a mediocre at best, player. The Cavs had the #1 offense, and the Thunder were #3. The Magic were #27.

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[Rainwater]

lol this board is hilarious. Jalen struggled through out the playoffs people questioned if he was better than Chet, if he was really a second option, and there is literally a thread saying he doesn’t pass the eye test lol. Dude drops 40 he is suddenly the best player in the 2022 draft. In the playoffs people love living in the moment.

[lethalizer]

I watched the Finals very closely, and neither Chet nor JDub are better than Paolo. If you replaced Chet with Paolo, his TS would be 50 pts higher in that system. If Orlando can build a 55-60 win team in Orlando with a top 10 offense, Paolo’s will be top 5 in the MVP race.

If you put Aaron Gordon on Utah this season, he doesn't average 53/44/81 with a 650 TS and 607 EFG. You are a product of your environment.

Ty Jerome averaged 52/44/87 with a 606 EFG and a 647 TS. Jerome is a mediocre at best, player. The Cavs had the #1 offense, and the Thunder were #3. The Magic were #27.

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While I absolutely agree with the environment being a huge factor, which is why I'm higher on Paolo than most non-Magic fans, the questions about his Free Throw shooting isn't about the environment at all, and that makes a sizeable dent in his efficiency.

The man is a career 73 percent FT shooter and has basically shown no signs of improving it in his three seasons.

Paolo can draw fouls. He's borderline elite at that. He needs to convert more of his opportunities.

[Onlytimewilltel]

He's the best Thunder player from the 2022 draft....then again I always thought Chet was overrated for obvious reasons

What, pray tell, are the obvious reasons? Lol

[Profound23]

He's the best Thunder player from the 2022 draft....then again I always thought Chet was overrated for obvious reasons

What, pray tell, are the obvious reasons? Lol

Same reasons Shawn Bradley was chosen over Mashburn/Penny in 1993.

[Slimjimzv]

I need another season or two. But JDub, Chet, and Paolo are all absolute studs. Incredible draft.

[The Master]

lol this board is hilarious. Jalen struggled through out the playoffs people questioned if he was better than Chet, if he was really a second option, and there is literally a thread saying he doesn’t pass the eye test lol. Dude drops 40 he is suddenly the best player in the 2022 draft. In the playoffs people love living in the moment.

Considering that besides Nuggets series, J-Dub averages 24-5 on 58TS% in the playoffs with elite defense - maybe the criticism against Williams was 'living in the moment' based on one weak series (which he ended with 24-5-7 on 59%FG in G7)?

J-Dub is the best player of the 2022 draft this season: this should be a consensus.

[Jadoogar]

I need another season or two. But JDub, Chet, and Paolo are all absolute studs. Incredible draft.

Really good top 3. 2 already made All-NBA and i believe Chet is well on his way.
I don't see any other likely allstars tho. Maybe if Ivey or Sharpe pop. Solid role players outside the top 3 tho. Jabari Smith, Dyson Daniels, Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, Agbaji, Mark Williams, Tari Eason, Christian Braun, Keegan Murray, Sochan

[Doctor MJ]

lol this board is hilarious. Jalen struggled through out the playoffs people questioned if he was better than Chet, if he was really a second option, and there is literally a thread saying he doesn’t pass the eye test lol. Dude drops 40 he is suddenly the best player in the 2022 draft. In the playoffs people love living in the moment.

Skipping past all your condescension, you seem confused about "People didn't know if he was the best on the Thunder, and now they think he's the best in his draft class!"

Many of us were clear the entire time that we felt the question was whether JDub or Chet was the best player in the draft class, so JDub having the edge right now gives him the overall nod.

I'd have to imagine you're thinking that Paolo was clearly above both guys and that people are saying he got jumped in the past week, but the reality is that many of us have a deep skepticism about what Paolo has shown so far that really has nothing to do with where we are on JDub or anyone else.

The Magic have positioned Paolo as their heliocentric star...but he's literally never shown the ability to make his shots on the level of a normal NBA players and he's definitely not shown any kind of LeBron-like playmaking that would lead us to conclude you want him to make all the decisions for his team.

Paolo may figure this stuff out, or Paolo may end up evolving to focus on other things he can really do well relative to NBA levels, but as is, he remains a player who isn't currently compatible with playing on a contender, and for many of us, this really knocks him down in a conversation like this one.