Rookie impressions thread: PRESEASON/REGULAR SEASON

[Hans Embiid]

MCW looks like a future star.

Oladipo looks like a Deng at Shooting Guard.

[tranjSAIC]

That's the best rookie of the class ^^^^^^

Don't make me laugh, now if you said something along the lines of the rookie with the most potential. I could maybe get on that wagon.

[Brapman]

Giannis absolutely COULD turn out to be the best rookie in this class. The kid has major star potential, and he plays way more intelligently than anyone would expect from an 18 year old guy, let alone a player with minor (low-level) Greek-league experience. Seriously, it doesn't take a BB genius to see the talent pouring out of him. He's a 6'10 super skilled guy, an excellent athlete, with PG skills.

Predicting him as the best player in this class is premature, but then this is a pretty substandard class.

Highest upside players in this draft, based on potential and the position they play are Giannis, MCW and possibly Schroder. Other guys at their positions who could be very good to outstanding starters on a championship team are KCP, McLemore (even though I'm very unsold about him), Burke (even though I'm even more skeptical about this smallish, unathletic PG, being more than a decent player), Olynyk (based entirely on the great skill set I observed this summer).

I won't put Noel here, because of his two very bad knee injuries (one before he got to college) which is a terrible sign for a big man at his age. McCollum might be quite an outstanding offensive player, so we'll see. And I won't put Bennett here, his coming to camp fat and out of shape is the worst of all possible signs - he's got a long way to go before I see him cleared of the bust label.

By the way, as a Pistons fan, I want it known that KCP is playing shutdown defense now. He's a great athlete, very good length for the position, with excellent hands and feet, and he is able to stay with most any SG. He always gives it 100% and is up in the chest of every opponent, and fights through picks and gets back into position vis a vis the ballhandler he's chasing virtually every time. His shooting is coming around nicely now. And he never turns the ball over - he plays hard and with high IQ, plays unafraid, and plays like he belongs in the league. He's clearly a starting quality player on top teams in this league. The only question is whether he'll become the kind of player who demands the ball and who his teammates trust to have the ball, like stars command. Right now, he blends great, and as a rookie lets his hard work and play, not his mouth do the talking. The Pistons players and their fans love this pick.

[H2tObes]

Giannis will be a top 5 player from this class without question. For him to look as good as he does as a skinny ass 18 year old is remarkable.

Probably the only player from this class with legitimate top 15 player potential. Not saying he's a look to reach his ceiling, but he's going to be good. Don't doubt that, just watch him and realize how much of a physical freak and mismatch he is.

That's the best rookie of the class ^^^^^^

Not even close...he may turn out to be eventually, but he's not even remotely in the discussion right now.

Give him consistent minutes ala MCW and he would be in the discussion. His minutes have been constructed awfully thanks to Larry Drew. Every-time he's on the court he's a huge positive.

If Giannis was averaging 36 minutes a game there would be so much talk about him, he's capable of it to. Don't really want to throw 36 minutes every night at an 18 year old though, but still

[MountainDrew]

That's a lot of homerisms and bold statements about a guy that posted 6 points in 1 game. Yes he is a great prospect but he isn't shown nearly enough to be named "best player in the class". I am in fact a MCW homer but both he and Oladipo just got triple doubles in the same game and were the best players on their respective teams in that game. We'll talk once Giannis actually shows that he can play well in extended minutes.

[dautjazz]

Wow Giannis is 18!? Didn't think it was really possible for a player to be playing at 18 in the NBA with the eligibility rules.

[FrieAaron]

That's a lot of homerisms and bold statements about a guy that posted 6 points in 1 game. Yes he is a great prospect but he isn't shown nearly enough to be named "best player in the class". I am in fact a MCW homer but both he and Oladipo just got triple doubles in the same game and were the best players on their respective teams in that game. We'll talk once Giannis actually shows that he can play well in extended minutes.

That's putting quite a spin on it as well, isn't it? He had 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal and 0 TO. And his stat line two games prior was 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 2 TO. Both games he played 27 minutes.

He's obviously going to be inconsistent, and not be as productive every night as he learns, but it's a little dishonest to say the least to claim people are excited because he scored six points in a game.

[MountainDrew]

Apologies if my post seemed a bit harsh on Giannis, I didn't feel like typing out his entire statline but my point still stands. I certainly like him a lot as a player, but I felt as though people were going way overboard in that he is the only rookie with star potential. I realize he's 4 years younger than MCW, but he hasn't shown nearly enough to be named "best rookie in the class" when it's basically been a 2 (or the MCW show?) show so far. I realize we (myself included) are mostly are homers, but let's keep it a bit reasonable with those statements.


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[Ayt]

Aussiebuck was almost certainly stating that he thinks Giannis will be the best player in the class. I think he's right. I wouldn't trade him for any of the other rookies right now straight up. In fact, I wouldn't even need to think about it.

His understanding of the game is incredible for a guy who is the youngest player in the league and his potential is sky high given his skills and his build. He plays much more like a guy who was a 4 year college player at a major school rather than someone who is still only 18 and was playing in the 2nd tier in Greece last year.

He has some flashy highlights (like the chase down block followed by the dunk against the Celtics), but the most impressive thing about him is how good he is on a possession to possession basis. His game isn't about flash at all. He just plays good basketball on both ends of the court and he excels on the break.

Plus, he is still growing.

Not only is Antetokounmpo's game growing, so is his body. When the Bucks drafted him in June, he was 6-9. Now, just more than five months later, he has added more than an inch to his lanky frame.

“I am now 6-10 and one quarter,” Antetokounmpo said smiling.

He then paused before adding, “I still have 3½ years to grow.”

Indeed, doctors have informed Antetokounmpo and Bucks officials that the former's growth plate is still open. In all likelihood, he'll become a 7-footer.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... physically

I can understand wanting to see more, but sometimes it is clear that a guy has it. Giannis has it. In a draft like this, he should have gone #1.

Teams really missed out on a gem.

[phifans]

Can Antetokounmpo become the next Kevin Durant ?
But seriously I don't have faith in Buck they doesn't seem smart enough to know how to develop a good prospect according to their recent history. Nice pick though.

[ManualRam]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k-oxLTlis4[/youtube]

he already looks bigger than he did to start the season.

[ManualRam]

Elite speed and athleticism.

if this was last yr he would've dribbled that off his foot. he's showing a little more ball control.

[AussieBuck]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k-oxLTlis4[/youtube]

he already looks bigger than he did to start the season.

He's actually got a good frame, he's put on some muscle and should fill out very nicely.

[blazza18]

Can Antetokounmpo become the next Kevin Durant ?
But seriously I don't have faith in Buck they doesn't seem smart enough to know how to develop a good prospect according to their recent history. Nice pick though.

Huh?

Other than coaches burying them behind awful players, our last 3 first round picks looked to have developed ok I would've thought.

[Apollo64]

Wow Giannis is 18!? Didn't think it was really possible for a player to be playing at 18 in the NBA with the eligibility rules.

The way the rules are means that international players in contrast to US ones can actually play out of highschool at the age of 18. Happens very rarely though, so people don't notice it.

Anyway, i think Giannis is going to be good, a likely decent starter with some chance at superstardom a la Paul George. It is going to take years however since he is so young and basically still in puberty. In 2030 he will be 35 years old, think about it.

[UGA Hayes]

Giannis reminds me a lot of young Kirlinko with more shooting potential.

[Beorn]

with better off the dribble game too

[dautjazz]

Wow Giannis is 18!? Didn't think it was really possible for a player to be playing at 18 in the NBA with the eligibility rules.

The way the rules are means that international players in contrast to US ones can actually play out of highschool at the age of 18. Happens very rarely though, so people don't notice it.

Anyway, i think Giannis is going to be good, a likely decent starter with some chance at superstardom a la Paul George. It is going to take years however since he is so young and basically still in puberty. In 2030 he will be 35 years old, think about it.

Well from what I read, they need to be 1 year removed from high school to become eligible, or automatically eligible at 19.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eligibilit ... rent_rules

[Mikez1919]

Kentavious Caldwell-Popes defensive impact since replacing Chauncey in the starting lineup

[Brapman]

How do you pull up that chart Mikez?

that's a fantastic graphic.