76ciology wrote:UcanUwill wrote:76ciology wrote:
Somebody mentioned it here and I don’t get it back then. It may not look the same aesthetically, but I get the KJ-Hali comparison.
They’d thrive in an uptempo system, where defenses aren’t set, they can find open teammates in transition, have high IQ and feel to process executions faster than the opponent, and operate primarily through 2 man actions. They’re capable of isolation scoring, especially to exploit mismatches, but ideally, they play alongside a scoring forward like Siakam who can handle those mismatches more efficiently.
And then you check the isolation numbers, they’re putting up elite points per possession.. and you start to wonder why they don’t do it more often. But that’s part of their strength.. they’re smart enough to pick their spots and keep the offense balanced and efficient.
KOC compared him to Haliburton. I said this, but one huge gripe with that comp is that Hali does not turn the ball at all, where KJ does it a lot. But then again, no comp is that good, like I can see D'Angelo comp, but then again, most limiting part about D'Angelos game is inability to draw fouls, and KJ draws a lot of fouls from my knowledge. So we could nick pick every comp I think. His scoring is a bit Guduric esque, if you know that player, but KJ is more of a true point, Guduric is just a too guard who can playmake just a bit.
I’m not familiar with Guduric, but I know Aleksa Avramović well.. I watched almost all the FIBA World Cup games in 2023, and he really stood out. His game is simple, but he plays with a relentless motor, like Pat Beverley, and he actually knocks down his shots.
D’Lo is a solid comp too, but he’s notoriously averse to attacking the rim or drawing fouls, he prefers floaters and pull-ups. Both KJ and D’Lo struggle with ball pressure (DLo’s kryptonite was TJ McConnel), but I think KJ can clean that up with the right player development, better scheme, and improved roster around him.
Aleksa Avramovic is amazing defender, but he usually shoots below 30% from 3. If he shot better, he would be NBA player without question, he is basically Caruso esque in a lot of ways, just minus the shot, which is huge. I do not like him tho, not as player, but just who he is, guy signs with Moscow team when most players fled and boycotted whole country for obvious reason. But it is Seribian thing, most Serbs not only do not see the problem with that, but support Russia even, which is disgusting and very sad IMO. Avramovic will be back in Euroleague with debuting Dubai team next season tho, so he is very well travelled at this point, from Belgrade to Moscow to Dubai, guy will see all terrible regimes in the world at this rate. But yeah, as a player, his motor and defense makes you wonder why he is not in the NBA, but then again, you said he hit shots, but in greater sample size, he doesn't really. As I said, if he shot better, he would probably be most NBA material player in Europe. Not best player in Europe, but most NBA material. He already is in that conversation, when we talk who out of Europe could play in the NBA no problem, I think Avramovic needs to be mentioned.
His countryman Guduric played one season in the NBA for Memohis, few years ago, but it didn't work out with him. After Luka left Europe, Guduric had best step back game in Europe, I said in the past that I thought his step back is better than Lukas even. He attracted NBA attention and got a contract that one year, but as I said, didn't work out, his percentages in the NBA were terrible, but again, it was just single rookie season, if he stayed, he might have worked out in a long run. But he was older rookie and upside for NBA team to develop guy like that is just not there. Still tho, one of the better SG's currently in Europe. 6'5, strong body, step back game, decent handle, good shot, just not explosive, so I see a lot of similarities in him and KJ.
