Walker Kessler vs Jalen Duren
Posted: Sat May 6, 2023 5:02 pm
How do they compare? Who will have the better career? Kessler is better now but a couple of years older. Does Duren have that potential?
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Walker Kessler vs Jalen Duren
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2287781
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Re: Walker Kessler vs Jalen Duren
Posted: Sat May 6, 2023 5:07 pm
Mark Williams
Re: Walker Kessler vs Jalen Duren
Posted: Mon May 8, 2023 9:49 pm
Their stats other than blocks weren't too far apart. RPM greatly favored Kessler.
Kessler has the height.
I got my money on Kessler.
Kessler has the height.
I got my money on Kessler.
Re: Walker Kessler vs Jalen Duren
Posted: Mon May 8, 2023 10:11 pm
Kessler [obviously] has a higher floor. He is older and showed great poise in his limited role on both ends of the court in his rookie season. He has strong instincts defensively, understands positioning exceptionally well for both help-side defense and rebounding.
His offensive upside is limited--though maybe he adds a Brook Lopez-esque shot, but I wouldn't bet on it given his horrific shooting from the FT Line [often the best indicator for future shooting].
He isnt mobile enough to not get cooked on the perimeter in the playoffs. In fact, he projects to be less mobile than even Peak Gobert, though he could end up a hair sturdier/thicker which could counteract some of that weakness [though not in a meaningful way].
As for Duren, extremely young, raw and explosive player. Doesn't necessarily have the same instincts as Kessler but is over 2 years younger--yes, 2 full years + 20 some days younger.
Duren is an exceptional athlete--a more athletic Bam Adebayo in terms of body type. He is a skilled finisher right around the hoop [think restricted area or closer] but doesn't have much offensive game outside this.
I really liked what I saw from Duren in terms of passing/playmaking, at times. He can make simple passer for today's NBA standards and does have the potential to be a smaller offensive hub [More Plumlee than Bam] but that serves a feather in his hat for potential.
Defensively though is where the real potential lies. He is in the mold of Draymond/Bam/Giannis versus Lopez/Gobert [Elite Drop vs Elite Versatile] which doesn't put an artificial cap on his ceiling defensively, even though his floor is still somewhat low [though I would be surprised if he if out of the league after his rookie contract like someone like Wiseman].
Overall, Kessler has a much higher floor and realistic outcome but Duren has a higher theoretical ceiling with all his tools.
I will say Duren, given his rookie season, has me higher on him reaching an All-star+ level than prior to his rookie season.
His offensive upside is limited--though maybe he adds a Brook Lopez-esque shot, but I wouldn't bet on it given his horrific shooting from the FT Line [often the best indicator for future shooting].
He isnt mobile enough to not get cooked on the perimeter in the playoffs. In fact, he projects to be less mobile than even Peak Gobert, though he could end up a hair sturdier/thicker which could counteract some of that weakness [though not in a meaningful way].
As for Duren, extremely young, raw and explosive player. Doesn't necessarily have the same instincts as Kessler but is over 2 years younger--yes, 2 full years + 20 some days younger.
Duren is an exceptional athlete--a more athletic Bam Adebayo in terms of body type. He is a skilled finisher right around the hoop [think restricted area or closer] but doesn't have much offensive game outside this.
I really liked what I saw from Duren in terms of passing/playmaking, at times. He can make simple passer for today's NBA standards and does have the potential to be a smaller offensive hub [More Plumlee than Bam] but that serves a feather in his hat for potential.
Defensively though is where the real potential lies. He is in the mold of Draymond/Bam/Giannis versus Lopez/Gobert [Elite Drop vs Elite Versatile] which doesn't put an artificial cap on his ceiling defensively, even though his floor is still somewhat low [though I would be surprised if he if out of the league after his rookie contract like someone like Wiseman].
Overall, Kessler has a much higher floor and realistic outcome but Duren has a higher theoretical ceiling with all his tools.
I will say Duren, given his rookie season, has me higher on him reaching an All-star+ level than prior to his rookie season.