The Anthony Black Thread

[basketballRob]

What i also like about Black is that basketball was his first choice and he played football as a B option. It was different with Suggs who clearly loves football and even said he chose basketball for money. Its not that he is not giving his all, he is the highest effort player on the team, but he also looks like football player playing basketball. I hope Black will be different and many things point to that.

he was also a soccer player early, his program wanted him to sign a soccer only deal so he stopped playing soccer altogether to focus more on bball/football

Love for the sport clearly runs in his family. If he did everything to play basketball and even refused to take easier money just to follow his dream thats a good sign. I remember listening to Suggs after the draft who spoke more about football and money than basketball. That was a big red flag for me.

Basketball is a lot more money, and you don't have to go to college for 3 years first.

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[Skin]

Well... if you can't see his value... there's not much i can do about it. Looking past everything that has happened to him... and circumstances he has admirably played in.... i still believe there is much more to his game and the fit might be better than people think, beyond the "Well... he can't shoot"

Can't shoot, doesn't get to the free throw line, can't play off ball, and is going to cost 20+M for multiple years. There's a lot more outside of he can't shoot.

I wish he got to the line more... some are cuz he doesn't get the ref calls and a lot has to do with him creating separation with his size, IQ, athleticism, etc. But if you believe that you have seen everything that Fultz is and can be on a returning season from an injury and lack of reps with a new team... an on-court plan to feed the 2 core players.... then so be it.

He doesn't get to the line because he shies from contact and you'll notice he takes a lot of off balanced almost wild looking shots instead of playing through contact. Crazy thing is sometimes they go in. He has to add muscle and develop a more physical game. The good thing is that mentally he plays a tough game. You can see that he is not afraid of being a cocky prick after he makes a shot or dunk. So I do like that.

[yoyojw17]

Can't shoot, doesn't get to the free throw line, can't play off ball, and is going to cost 20+M for multiple years. There's a lot more outside of he can't shoot.

I wish he got to the line more... some are cuz he doesn't get the ref calls and a lot has to do with him creating separation with his size, IQ, athleticism, etc. But if you believe that you have seen everything that Fultz is and can be on a returning season from an injury and lack of reps with a new team... an on-court plan to feed the 2 core players.... then so be it.

He doesn't get to the line because he shies from contact and you'll notice he takes a lot of off balanced almost wild looking shots instead of playing through contact. Crazy thing is sometimes they go in. He has to add muscle and develop a more physical game. The good thing is that mentally he plays a tough game. You can see that he is not afraid of being a cocky prick after he makes a shot or dunk. So I do like that.

Agreed. That to me is something that he himself can help change. With his ability to manipulate the defense... A lil more aggression and style of play switch during the game can help drastically for him. If he's good enough to get away from you ... I'm sure he's good enough to draw the extra contact.

And the three.... It can be currently a work on progress. Even if its just solidifying the corner 3 pnt shot... Which is more comfortable range wise for him already.

[Skin]

I'm not sure if this one was posted. There are two of them.

Read on Twitter

?t=2wG6hizsGMSNYKIRcg0QPg&s=19

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It's very encouraging to see for sure. I don't care about the lift as much because he's already taller than most PGs.

Having taken a step back from the draft for the past couple days has been nice. Ready to support Anthony Black. Seeing the type of person he is off the field and stuff was healing. I enjoyed his documentary.

I may not be ready to crown him starter, but I can easily and happily put him ahead of Cole Anthony. That dude has a screw loose in his head.

[KillMonger]

I think the biggest thing for people to get past is Black's shooting... well guess what?

3rd pick: Needs to improve shooting
4th pick: Needs to improve shooting
5th pick: Needs to improve shooting
6th pick: Needs to improve shooting
7th pick: Shot 45% on VERY low volume in France, shot 60% from the FT line... so guess what? Likely needs to improve shooting

Welcome to the 2023 draft. I hate it too but it is what it is.

You forgot victor because he belongs on that list as well.... Sub 30% on 7 attempts? Yuck

Sent from the phone in my hands

[pepe1991]

I think the biggest thing for people to get past is Black's shooting... well guess what?

3rd pick: Needs to improve shooting
4th pick: Needs to improve shooting
5th pick: Needs to improve shooting
6th pick: Needs to improve shooting
7th pick: Shot 45% on VERY low volume in France, shot 60% from the FT line... so guess what? Likely needs to improve shooting

Welcome to the 2023 draft. I hate it too but it is what it is.

You forgot victor because he belongs on that list as well.... Sub 30% on 7 attempts? Yuck

Sent from the phone in my hands

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

[drsd]

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

[GelbeWand09]

I think the biggest thing for people to get past is Black's shooting... well guess what?

3rd pick: Needs to improve shooting
4th pick: Needs to improve shooting
5th pick: Needs to improve shooting
6th pick: Needs to improve shooting
7th pick: Shot 45% on VERY low volume in France, shot 60% from the FT line... so guess what? Likely needs to improve shooting

Welcome to the 2023 draft. I hate it too but it is what it is.

You forgot victor because he belongs on that list as well.... Sub 30% on 7 attempts? Yuck

Sent from the phone in my hands

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

I just hope Victor understands that too. I think outside of the Ricky Davis types, i've rarely seen a player take worse shots than him sometimes (like turnaround jumpers from the 3point line). The only fear i have, next to the injury history of 7'2+ players, is his BBIQ compared to almost all the other great european players in history, is not really elite so far.

[Skybox]

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

[eyriq]

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

Ding ding ding ding ding

[MartinsIzAfraud]

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

But but Fultz has intangibles like IQ and the team likes him and he’s not reached his potential in 6 years He can stay but there’s no way I’m extending him with Black here.

[Skybox]

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

But but Fultz has intangibles like IQ and the team likes him and he’s not reached his potential in 6 years He can stay but there’s no way I’m extending him with Black here.

…Fultz is a great dunker

[pinoynurse]

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

Ding ding ding ding ding

the other thing i will say is that black has atleast shown to more willing to take the open 3. it doesnt matter if fultz shoots 36% from 3, teams still wont defend him if hes only taking 0.5 attempts per game

[Blue_and_Whte]

If you look at it holistically, it’s less about which pg is going to lose out. Just because “pg” was stamped next to his name it doesn’t mean he’s only going to play pg. That undermines his versatility to play multiple positions.

He’s probably going to share the court at various times with a pg because having multiple playmakers on the floor at the same time is a luxury especially on team thT likes to “play with the pass”.

It’s good to have competition but to pretend that Fultz and Cole didn’t play well or help this team at all and thus “all they minutes gone yo” is just….we’ll frankly it’s stupid…

[yoyojw17]

If you look at it holistically, it’s less about which pg is going to lose out. Just because “pg” was stamped next to his name it doesn’t mean he’s only going to play pg. That undermines his versatility to play multiple positions.

He’s probably going to share the court at various times with a pg because having multiple playmakers on the floor at the same time is a luxury especially on team thT likes to “play with the pass”.

It’s good to have competition but to pretend that Fultz and Cole didn’t play well or help this team at all and thus “all they minutes gone yo” is just….we’ll frankly it’s stupid…

Exactly my thought. Black being able to guard the other backcourt position is a huge luxury... and will give a player like cole a chance to be more of a scorer too... which he's pretty darn good at. And yup... a full lineup or capable playmakers is definitely a luxury...., especially with those that are unselfish... which is special on it's own.

[jonbob17]

he was also a soccer player early, his program wanted him to sign a soccer only deal so he stopped playing soccer altogether to focus more on bball/football

Love for the sport clearly runs in his family. If he did everything to play basketball and even refused to take easier money just to follow his dream thats a good sign. I remember listening to Suggs after the draft who spoke more about football and money than basketball. That was a big red flag for me.

Basketball is a lot more money, and you don't have to go to college for 3 years first.

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I mean there are also only 450 roster spots in the NBA vs 1,760 in the NFL. The average nfl career is less than 3 years vs 4.5 in the NBA, and the best players in the NBA play until their late 30s, where many great players are washed in the NFL before they turn 30.
The median NBA salary is $4M vs A little over a $1M in the NFL.

I guess what I am saying is it is far easier to make it to the NFL, where half the league is turning over almost constantly, and getting paid close to league minimum. The NBA, its much harder to make, you basically have to be a top 30 draft pick for a real shot, and even then how many first rounders get that 2nd contract or even their 3rd and 4th year options. The NBA probably two thirds of the spots are taken up by guys who are going to play 8 years or more, though I am not sure how that math works, does that mean the other 5 roster spots only play one year.

So I'd say guys that choose the NBA are doing it out of either love or extreme/elite talent.

I'd say guys that choose baseball over the NFL are doing the same, while there are a decent amount of roster spots. Their draft goes still goes 20 rounds, and you have to make it through the minors before you even get a shot at mlb roster.

It's crazy to think that the NBA used to have 21 rounds in their draft. 1984 had 8 rounds. 7 rounds from 1985-89, where eventually it was shortened to 2 rounds

[basketballRob]

Love for the sport clearly runs in his family. If he did everything to play basketball and even refused to take easier money just to follow his dream thats a good sign. I remember listening to Suggs after the draft who spoke more about football and money than basketball. That was a big red flag for me.

Basketball is a lot more money, and you don't have to go to college for 3 years first.

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I mean there are also only 450 roster spots in the NBA vs 1,760 in the NFL. The average nfl career is less than 3 years vs 4.5 in the NBA, and the best players in the NBA play until their late 30s, where many great players are washed in the NFL before they are they turn 30.
The median NBA salary is $4M vs A little over a $1M in the NFL.

I guess what I am saying is it is far easier to make it to the NFL, where half the league is turning over almost constantly, and getting paid close to league minimum. The NBA, its much harder to make, you basically have to be a top 30 draft pick for a real shot, and even then how many first rounders get that 2nd contract or even their 3rd and 4th year options. The NBA probably two thirds of the spots are taken up by guys who are going to play 8 years or more.

So I'd say guys that choose the NBA are doing it out of either love or extreme/elite talent.

I'd say guys that choose baseball over the NFL are doing the same, while there are a decent amount of roster spots. Their draft goes still goes 20 rounds, and you have to make it through the minors before you even get a shot at mlb roster.

It's crazy to think that the NBA used to have 21 rounds in their draft. 1984 had 8 rounds. 7 rounds from 1985-89, where eventually it was shortened to 2 rounds

If you had the choice, it wouldn't be a hard one.

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[basketballRob]

Watch on YouTube

[Orlando Dawg]

This opens up the possibility of Paulo being able to get away with an afro as well, whereas last year it resulted in disaster.

[Audi]

I would argue Victor does not need shooting. Especially not early on. Guy is 7'5. He only needs to focus on adding strenght and keeping agility and mobility at current level and he will dominate defense like few others can. On offense, his monster size alone is good enough for him to average 12-16 ppg as rookie with 0 offensive sets drawn for him.

As for other picks, shooting is needed for everybody BUT it's integral part for guards. So Black is in same boat of problems with twins and Scoot.

The absolve floor for Wembanyama must be Shawn Bradley, a 12/1/8 Center. Realistically Wembanyama will exceed Porziņģis in time as a 20/3/9 player. And it would not be odd if he evolves into a Antetokounmpo-type at Center: 29/6/12. None of that requires distance shooting!

If Black wants to replace Fultz, then not only will he need a better percentage with the long-ball, he will need much higher volume. If Black wants to be the Magic PG starter from 2024/25, a 35% three ball on 3 attempts a gain is a bench mark. Otherwise in my opinion, Fultz starts next year over Black.

..

Black is already a better 3pt shooter…but even if they both shot 10%…Black is a better defender, bigger, younger, cheaper, much better at drawing fouls, arguably a better passer

He hasn’t played a minute in the league to even draw a fair comparison on most of those things, so we probably shouldn’t proclaim them as fact yet.