Could Brittney Griner play in the NBA?

[EtchenBa]

Addressing the original OP...if she COULD, she WOULD. It's as simple as that. Why would she choose not to? She'd be famous for being the first and only female in the NBA, and she'd be getting paid way more. So, the answer is clearly no that SHE can't play in the NBA.

Could a girl EVER play in the NBA? Theoretically, yes, but I doubt it will ever actually happen. You'd quite honestly need a "freak" of a girl in the first place, and have her want to commit most of her life to the NBA. On top of all that, she'd most likely be a 3rd stringer

The chess tangent this thread has taken interests me as well; I'm a competitive player, and I've often wished that the tournaments I go to weren't such sausage fests. Men ARE better at chess, but this is because their brain is better equipped for it. This does NOT make men "smarter" though. Mens' brains are better equipped to succeed in the things that are stereotypically considered "smart," but there's a helluva lot more to intelligence than an IQ score or being good at logical or mathematical sorts of things. There are a quite a few types of intelligence in which I'd say women are better equipped. Just off the top of my head, musical, interpersonal, naturalistic intelligences tend to be with women.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I think someone said (or heavily implied) that men being good at chess or having higher IQs is an indication that men are "smarter" than women...not really true.

[TheAnkh]

Addressing the original OP...if she COULD, she WOULD. It's as simple as that. Why would she choose not to? She'd be famous for being the first and only female in the NBA, and she'd be getting paid way more. So, the answer is clearly no that SHE can't play in the NBA.

Could a girl EVER play in the NBA? Theoretically, yes, but I doubt it will ever actually happen. You'd quite honestly need a "freak" of a girl in the first place, and have her want to commit most of her life to the NBA. On top of all that, she'd most likely be a 3rd stringer

The chess tangent this thread has taken interests me as well; I'm a competitive player, and I've often wished that the tournaments I go to weren't such sausage fests. Men ARE better at chess, but this is because their brain is better equipped for it. This does NOT make men "smarter" though. Mens' brains are better equipped to succeed in the things that are stereotypically considered "smart," but there's a helluva lot more to intelligence than an IQ score or being good at logical or mathematical sorts of things. There are a quite a few types of intelligence in which I'd say women are better equipped. Just off the top of my head, musical, interpersonal, naturalistic intelligences tend to be with women.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I think someone said (or heavily implied) that men being good at chess or having higher IQs is an indication that men are "smarter" than women...not really true.

I don't think the bolded is true either, and the responses in this thread are evidence. It wouldn't just be about basketball, it'd turn into a gender thing and the weight of all that would not be something anyone would readily take on. She'd get hate from the mostly male NBA fan base just for being a female that 'got out of place' and/or she wouldn't be taken seriously. There's also this little thing called stereotype threat as well, so I don't think its something as simple as her making the jump if she had the ability.

[EtchenBa]

Addressing the original OP...if she COULD, she WOULD. It's as simple as that. Why would she choose not to? She'd be famous for being the first and only female in the NBA, and she'd be getting paid way more. So, the answer is clearly no that SHE can't play in the NBA.

Could a girl EVER play in the NBA? Theoretically, yes, but I doubt it will ever actually happen. You'd quite honestly need a "freak" of a girl in the first place, and have her want to commit most of her life to the NBA. On top of all that, she'd most likely be a 3rd stringer

The chess tangent this thread has taken interests me as well; I'm a competitive player, and I've often wished that the tournaments I go to weren't such sausage fests. Men ARE better at chess, but this is because their brain is better equipped for it. This does NOT make men "smarter" though. Mens' brains are better equipped to succeed in the things that are stereotypically considered "smart," but there's a helluva lot more to intelligence than an IQ score or being good at logical or mathematical sorts of things. There are a quite a few types of intelligence in which I'd say women are better equipped. Just off the top of my head, musical, interpersonal, naturalistic intelligences tend to be with women.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I think someone said (or heavily implied) that men being good at chess or having higher IQs is an indication that men are "smarter" than women...not really true.

I don't think the bolded is true either, and the responses in this thread are evidence. It wouldn't just be about basketball, it'd turn into a gender thing and the weight of all that would not be something anyone would readily take on. She'd get hate from the mostly male NBA fan base just for being a female that 'got out of place' and/or she wouldn't be taken seriously. There's also this little thing called stereotype threat as well, so I don't think its something as simple as her making the jump if she had the ability.

That's true, I oversimplified it for sure. I still think she couldn't physically though. If she had that capability, it would probably be discussed on a much higher level than a RealGM message board.

[Tai]

Steve Nash isn't more athletic than her? You're joking right?

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled, in fact he is more skilled than 97% of all basketball players male or female, but not more athletic. Next you guys will tell me a 60 year old man is more athletic than any female athlete just because he's male. Keep in mind I already said she would never be a rotation player on a good team, but to say she wouldn't even have a shot in hell at making it when there are people like Chris Quinn in the league is just crazy.

I cover all types of sports and have for awhile now. Females athletes do not, I repeat, do not get the same type of training as male athletes do. Its not even close. Of course males already have an advantage physically, but its even more pronounced when you compare the training they get. The average male varsity high school basketball player gets as much training if not more than a WNBA player. They are demanded much more time in the weight room, more in practice, and do more strength and conditioning and the list goes on and on. They even get more opportunities to play from the start, like I said look at the AAU websites for the two sexes. The majority of female athletes don't ever even reach their full athletic potential unlike males because of the lack of attention paid to it, not to mention underlying factors holding them back such as their social life off the court being ruined if they do reach their full potential.

People like Chris Quinn? Yet, he is the same weight as Griner. And he's a PG. Griner's a center.

Are you some feminist? You really think Steve Nash, who weighs more than Griner I must add, is not more athletic than Griner? He is a former MVP in this league. You realize this, right? His knock was his defense, but not just athleticism can make you good at that; ask Amare. Think about that; Nash's not even considered a good defender by NBA standards, and he's a former MVP. He just doesn't rely on his athleticism to be successful, something all NBA coaches ideally would want out of their players.

In the end, it's not a big deal whether Brittney Griner is truly more athletic than Steve Nash, even if I personally think it's obvious she's not. I just find it laughable that you're trying to handpick NBA players here or there you perceive has non-athletic (I also assume Chris Quinn fits this category in your eyes) to make it seem like Griner isn't as behind the curve as she really is as far as the NBA goes. Don't fool yourself; she IS that behind the curve as far as the NBA goes. It's not even close.

And be honest. You think someone with her attitude would turn down a chance at the NBA if she truly had a chance? You trying to say she couldn't handle the "pressure" that came with this is hilarious. Her being bullied on a NBA floor would probably equate to people saying such, but realistically, that's what it comes down to; she would just get bullied.

[phx#7]

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled,

Nash is faster, stronger, has better agility, better hand eye coordination, better endurance and could probably jumper higher than her(certainly could when he was younger anyway). Nash may not seem like a super athlete by NBA standards but there isn't anyone in the WNBA even close to matching his athletic ability.

[Hobo4President]

I love a lot of sports women play in, such as making sandwiches, ironing my shirts and lingerie football. There is absolutely no way Griner could make an NBA team, nor even a D-League team.

[TheNextOne21]

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled,

Nash is faster, stronger, has better agility, better hand eye coordination, better endurance and could probably jumper higher than her(certainly could when he was younger anyway). Nash may not seem like a super athlete by NBA standards but there isn't anyone in the WNBA even close to matching his athletic ability.

Griner could throw a better punch than nash.

[Jerry Curl]

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled,

Nash is faster, stronger, has better agility, better hand eye coordination, better endurance and could probably jumper higher than her(certainly could when he was younger anyway). Nash may not seem like a super athlete by NBA standards but there isn't anyone in the WNBA even close to matching his athletic ability.

He was also a world class rugby and soccer player when he was younger....

[AussieBuck]

If Earl Boykins can play in the NBA with no skill other than being able to throw up semi-accurate shots quickly then there is surely a chance for someone chick sometime. Maybe. More likely Boykins shouldn't be in the league.

[noobcake]

If Earl Boykins can play in the NBA with no skill other than being able to throw up semi-accurate shots quickly then there is surely a chance for someone chick sometime. Maybe. More likely Boykins shouldn't be in the league.

....or maybe Boykins was strong and fast. I doubt there are anyone in the WNBA stronger or nearly as fast as Boykins.

Career 10.8 PPG player on 47% shooting. The man is a 5'5" beast.

[Bgil]

Some people need to understand how much of a difference there is between a male, and a female athlete. It's not only about phisyque, and muscles. We have much better eye-hand coordination as well. An example. I've read a great tennis story from a guy, who's a great poster on another sport forum. There was a tennis exhibition game maybe 10 years ago, when an out of shape male ex-tennis player (sadly don't remember who) played an exho with one of the Williams' sister, or maybe both. The guy won something like 6-1, 6-0, smoking cigarettes (!) during breaks.

An above average junior player would be easily, i mean easily world Nr1. in the WTA. Lindsey Davenport talked about how she struggled to win points (!) against his ex-tennis player husband, who's in his 40's, or maybe even 50's. The amount of spin a male player can generate, simply too much for women. That's just an example. You can't say any sport (and i mean any sport) where women are better. Not even chess, bridge, poker, anything, that you can consider a sport, really. We would be better at synchronised swimming if it weren't gay. Any arguing about the subject is ridiculous. We are better at every sport. Every one of them. Of course she couldn't play in the NBA.

The Williams sisters were 16 at the time but I don't think it would have made any difference.

http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/01/28/sport/WILLIAMS.HTM

[panthermark]

If Earl Boykins can play in the NBA with no skill other than being able to throw up semi-accurate shots quickly then there is surely a chance for someone chick sometime. Maybe. More likely Boykins shouldn't be in the league.

....or maybe Boykins was strong and fast. I doubt there are anyone in the WNBA stronger or nearly as fast as Boykins.

Career 10.8 PPG player on 47% shooting. The man is a 5'5" beast.

LMAO...
Boykins is an AWFUL example.....
Pound for pound, there might not be a STRONGER player in the NBA than Boykins (at 135 pounds)...
His max bench press was just over 300 pounds with a vertical of 37 inches....not to mention his speed.

[bballmaniac27]

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled,

Nash is faster, stronger, has better agility, better hand eye coordination, better endurance and could probably jumper higher than her(certainly could when he was younger anyway). Nash may not seem like a super athlete by NBA standards but there isn't anyone in the WNBA even close to matching his athletic ability.

QFT. People are severely underrating the athletic abilities of NBA guards.

[99 Problems]

I can't believe some people actually believe women can play in the NBA... Probably the same people who've never played competitive sports or coed sports with females...

[Luv those Knicks]

No he is not. He is clearly more skilled,

Nash is faster, stronger, has better agility, better hand eye coordination, better endurance and could probably jumper higher than her(certainly could when he was younger anyway). Nash may not seem like a super athlete by NBA standards but there isn't anyone in the WNBA even close to matching his athletic ability.

Griner could throw a better punch than nash.

and a better sucker punch than Eddy Curry.

[Luv those Knicks]

If Earl Boykins can play in the NBA with no skill other than being able to throw up semi-accurate shots quickly then there is surely a chance for someone chick sometime. Maybe. More likely Boykins shouldn't be in the league.

....or maybe Boykins was strong and fast. I doubt there are anyone in the WNBA stronger or nearly as fast as Boykins.

Career 10.8 PPG player on 47% shooting. The man is a 5'5" beast.

LMAO...
Boykins is an AWFUL example.....
Pound for pound, there might not be a STRONGER player in the NBA than Boykins (at 135 pounds)...
His max bench press was just over 300 pounds with a vertical of 37 inches....not to mention his speed.

There's a funny story that when Earl would enter the weight room, some guys would leave cause Earl could lift more than they could. Also, Earl could dunk. He never dunked in a game but he dunked in practice. And, he was a good ball handler (being that low to the ground gave him an advantage).

Height obviously helps and Earl didn't have that but he had enough going for him to be a respectable NBA player and a pretty good backup for several years.

[Bucksfans1and2]

When I was ten or eleven I would lose to the best female basketball playing 15 year old at my school. By the time I was 15 and she was 18, I had to be careful not to hurt her. They just can't compete.