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What do you guys think?

In order to elaborate what is more important in basketball: natural talent or work ethic?

Work ethic... But I don't know if you mean it only in NBA basketball terms or just wide in general.

Well for NBA terms it's talent. Neither alone will take you all the way, but let me ask you this: How many big, athletic, lazy wastes of space are in the NBA? And how many short, slow, can't jump kinda guys are in the NBA?

I'd have to say work ethic trumps natural talent, how many athletic guys in the league have you seen over the years seem to have all the tools to put it all together get kicked out the NBA after a few short years? (e.g. Gerald Green). While some who are LESS talented, but puts in effort in their game and work hard seems to have a prolonged stay in the league doing the scrappy work.

Natural talent. I'll take a Derrick Coleman every day over a Mark Madsen, who's pretty talented, just not by NBA standards.

The problem is that most people in the NBA are talented and willing to work hard. Some go beyond that and have legendary work ethics.

Talent is obviously infinitely more important. Everyone in the NBA is in the 99th %ile in talent, and many are probably in the top few most talented in the world. On the other hand, there are many NBA players below the 50th %ile in work ethic, and probably none of the people in the world with the greatest work ethic (people working 90 hours a week in the coal mines to raise their children etc.).

Talent. As hard as someone can work, they've gotta have something to work with.

It depends.To play college and high school ball i think its work ethic but to play in the NBA it has to be natural talent.And to play overseas i really cant tell you because i havent watched any games.

Talent

Over time you can attain work ethic through maturation, motivational techniques, new coach, etc

but you can't really work hard and attain talent, you can make yourself better with your existing skills, but cant get more raw talent

It's hands down natural talent.

There are maybe a handful of players who have worked themselves into NBA career despite not being ultra talented. There are far more guys who are super talented who rarely bust their ass in the NBA.

No matter how hard i work i am not ever making the NBA. Talent is more important

Didn't Kwame have "Talent" though?

ForeveRaptorFan wrote:I'd have to say work ethic trumps natural talent, how many athletic guys in the league have you seen over the years seem to have all the tools to put it all together get kicked out the NBA after a few short years? (e.g. Gerald Green). While some who are LESS talented, but puts in effort in their game and work hard seems to have a prolonged stay in the league doing the scrappy work.

sure but those guys your talking about still have a lot of talent even if it is less than a gerald green type

Soul wrote:Didn't Kwame have "Talent" though?

yup and guess what.....he's in the NBA

Duncan: mr. 4 championships say: work ethic.

Alex_De_Large wrote:Duncan: mr. 4 championships say: work ethic.

lol you dont think tim duncan is one of the most talented players in the league? talent is more than raw athletic ability

Work ethic... you won't do anything without it, talented, or not so talented.

Kwame's a bust, but he's still stuck around and been an effective NBA player, because he's developed into a notable defensive player, his size and athleticism contributing to that also. Along with being a presence on the boards. Scoring-wise, he's inconsistent at best, showing things at times.

I'm not quite sure but I will say that there are a lot of talented knuckleheads out there that can't get far because their work ethic sucks.

When J.R. Smith was a Hornet, he was a talent whose work ethic pretty much sucked. I mean the guy thought shoot-a-round was "optional".

Duncan is very talented, but as talented as other players in the league with no success in the playoffs.

Chuck Hayes (who I love), is a terrific example of a guy who lacks talent, physical gifts (except for his quick feet and I guess strength), but really gets by on effort and smarts. Which of course is how he's made it in this league.