Official Jamir Watkins thread

[AFM]

The GoGo will not be fun to watch.

[doclinkin]

The GoGo will not be fun to watch.

Watch on YouTube

[payitforward]

We need more Jamir content. I have a feeling this kid is going to be quite good.
Here he is at the Combine:

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[payitforward]

I have a sneaking suspicion this kid's going to be very good!

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5 steals

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8 steals!

SL highlights:

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[payitforward]

https://www.tiktok.com/@cbrick603/video/7542970141861104951

[doclinkin]

We need more Jamir content. I have a feeling this kid is going to be quite good.
Here he is at the Combine:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah I've been following him on social media and he is in the gym all day every day. Focused. An older rookie so we might not expect the same development out of him, but I bet he quickly shows in G League that he needs an opportunity at the back end of the bench.

[payitforward]

Kid looks like a solid contributor -- high bball iq, good athleticism, & solid numbers. Looks like he can be a very reliable guy off the bench -- not necessarily all the way at the back of the bench either. We'll see....

[DCZards]

If Jamir dominates on D the way he did in that combine video and during summer league it's going to be hard to deny him PT.

I like that Dawkins & Winger didn't have a problem drafting Jamir despite the fact that he was turning 24 shortly after the draft.

[payitforward]

i.e. *be hard to* deny him PT.... Agrreed.

[DCZards]

PIF, thanks for the correction. I sense this won’t be the last time we’re going to bumping up the Jamir Watkins thread.

[doclinkin]

I like Watkins as a hint to the future of the type of players they will hunt for when they are no longer scouting for upside and developmental talent.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Kid looks like a solid contributor -- high bball iq, good athleticism, & solid numbers. Looks like he can be a very reliable guy off the bench -- not necessarily all the way at the back of the bench either. We'll see....

I hope he gets a real opportunity this season. He reminds me of Ron Artest.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[nate33]

I want to like Watkins, and I'm very impressed with all the steals he accumulated in Summer League, but I'm not yet convinced he is an elite defender in the Lou Dort/Ron Artest mold. Most of the steals I saw him get were in passing lanes or in scrums where his extremely strong hands seemed to always allow him to come up with the ball. But I haven't really seen a lot of footage of him locking up his man in single coverage by staying in front of him with quick feet and good reaction time. I'd like to see some of that before I start projecting him as an NBA rotation player.

[payitforward]

You're right, of course, that we can't know how good Watkins will or won't be, but he does seem to have a lot going for him -- above all for a kid taken at #43 in the draft.

Not just defense: take note of the fact that Watkins got to the line over 9.3 times per 40 minutes his junior & senior years! That's kind of extraordinary for college ball.

Still... who knows? But I'm going to be interested to watch him, that's for sure.

[doclinkin]

Right, I said in the offseason thread I think Watkins could excel if he dialed in on borrowing from Khris Middletons game. Middleton's game is like an alpha role player in this league. Tough, smart, no mistake, reliable. Committed on defense, makes you pay if ignored on offense. Watkins and Champagnie remind me of Middleton in their demeanor and BBIQ. Naturally quietly competitive. Playing bigger than their size.

If Watkins doesn't play himself into the regular roster in training camp and pre-season I get the feeling he will be tough to ignore from his play with the GoGo and will get called up as JC did.

The GoGo figure to be fun.

Sharife
Riley
Watkins
Dillon Jones

All have shown an ability to handle the ball. Watkins and Jones play large for their position. I'm curious who they field at 4 & 5 but I like our chances to have a flashy uptempo attack with ball movers that can initiate fast breaks as soon as they get the ball.