Brandon Jennings: "It’s easier to be KD, Bron, and etc, You gone need a a lot of training trying be Steph Curry though"

[Teen Girl Squad]

Of course there is a large genetic component to shooting. If it were sheer hard work and reps, dozens of players would have been Steph level shooters by the end of their careers via sheer volume of attempts in game/standard practices. Not only does it not, but shooting tends to level off after a point over an NBA career. If it were a pure skill, the trajectory would continue north for most players until they were to slow to get open looks. Were just in a social climate right now that still clings onto the hustle culture, growth mindset, anything is possible if you are just a superior enough human but the data is pretty clear that a significant part of talent, personality, health is genetic (what percentage is speculative at best, certainly not 100% but not the trivial throwaway many want to believe it is).

This doesn't diminish any of the greats but the idea that all the good players are rising and grinding everyday and all the mediocre ones are on the Ben Simmons/James Harden routine (a great example of someone who isn't going literally everything to maximize his talent as is a clear HoFer) is an antiquated one.

[YogurtProducer]

Dumbest **** i've heard in a while. Acting as if KD doesn't live and breath basketball everyday. To be that good takes countless hours put in everyday. Hate it when scrubs downplay greatness by acting as if it's all unexplained talent. Lebron and KD are that good because they put the work in.

The point being that if KD and Bron were 6’3 they’d be ordinary.

Isn't a 6'3 LeBron sort of like Westbrook with high IQ? Not sure that's an ordinary player either.

Also based on Durant's skillset at his height, making him 6'3 with his length, skillset, all other natural abilities doesn't seem like an ordinary player. His handles would improve dramatically because the handles he has at his height means his coordination is excellent and are equivalent to great to elite handles for a guard. So a 6'3 lengthy guard with elite handles and elite shooting, that's just an ordinary player?

He wouldn't be as "unstoppable" as he is now due to the help of his height, and he can't have the same defensive impact, especially protecting the rim, but that still screams elite scorer with the ability to be a solid defensive player with that length.

Durant is not the only guy with his height, length and mobility, but the rest didn't get to his skill level or ability. There are physical traits outside of work ethic, though that is one that Durant has over others, but there or other traits that for example, Bruno Caboclo doesn't have, traits he doesn't lose because he's 6'3.

People want to believe that Curry just outworked everyone else, but if you've seen guys train, you'll have two guys who train just as hard, just as much, but one simply eclipses the other because their body picks up things quicker, is naturally better a certain motions, etc, etc.

It’s hard to even quantify how different LBJ would be at 6’3”, but whenever these conversations come up it isn’t fair to be like “well if he was 6 inches shorter he would he better at X becuase of Y”. If LBJ was 6’3” he wouldn’t be Westbrook because Westbrook is a way freakier athlete. What makes LBJ so impressive is his absiltiies he has WHILE being 6’3”. It’s the same with KD. What makes him elite and not just good or great is that he can shoot like he is 6’3 but he’s 7’0. If he can’t go over the top and shoot over everyone suddenly he isn’t as great of a player.

There’s a reason why the league doesn’t have 5’9” dudes running around, and if they do make it they have to be absolutely elite at a lot of things. Isaiah Thomas at 6’6” is probably the GOAT scorer.

Obviously LBJ or KD have incredible talent. It’s what differentiates them from Kelly Oubre or Bruno like you said, but Bruno is another great example. He’s still in the top 1% of basketball players in the world and when he was drafted he was less skilled than probably 90% of realgm. But pure size and height just kept him relevant.

I shouldn’t have said they’d be ordinary at 6’3”, but they’re certainly not all-time greats. The way I look at it is this, whose a better player?

Assuming no changes in skills, is a LBJ sized Curry or a Curry sized LBJ better? It is without a doubt a LBJ sized Curry.

[Buzzard]

I agree with the premise. Its much harder to have a substantial winning impact for shorter players. I am going to add this as well, when you get one of these players hold on to them for dear life. When your PG is outscoring your opponents PG by 15 to 20 points that is very hard for them to overcome.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

No matter how much training someone gets, they still aren't going to be Steph Curry - just like no one is going to be able to train and become KD or LeBron either. These guys are just special on top of all the hard work they put in.

[C3H6N6O6]

I'm firmly convinced that a good part of Curry's ability is God-given. It's not all work ethic.

No one is stopping any NBA player to run until they are spewing and blowing opponents up. Yes you need a motor but there isn’t anything stopping these athletes some are just lazy on the court.

That’s takes a lot of hard work, disclipline and dedication.

Yes he has god given abilities so does every other top tier talented sportsmen in the whole world.

The door doesn’t ever open by just working “hard” you need extremely high innate talent to be a superstar the rest is up to you.

Ben Simmons anyone?

Rest my case

My friend and I started Squatting seriously for the first time in January this year. He used to train harder than me but he went from Squatting twice a week to once a week in September because he was stuck on almost the same weight for 2 months while I was still seeing good increase to my strength. The reverse is true for Bench. I am stuck on a 120 KG bench for months now and he is benching 150.

It is much easier to do things that Curry does when you are seeing the results that Curry is seeing but it is much harder to do them continuously when after doing all that you barely make the G-league.
Every single NBA player is in the league at least 90% because of their genetics. This includes Curry.

[Soca]

ok 99.9999999% genetics then

You clearly have no idea how hard it is to revamp your shot. That takes a lot more than 10 percent of work with muscle memory and having to retrain your brain when you've been shooting a certain way for so long.

Lets say it's the hardest thing anyone's ever done. My 99.9999999% doesn't change here.

That's not factual so that hardly matters to me.

[Karate Diop]

The point being that if KD and Bron were 6’3 they’d be ordinary.

Isn't a 6'3 LeBron sort of like Westbrook with high IQ? Not sure that's an ordinary player either.

Also based on Durant's skillset at his height, making him 6'3 with his length, skillset, all other natural abilities doesn't seem like an ordinary player. His handles would improve dramatically because the handles he has at his height means his coordination is excellent and are equivalent to great to elite handles for a guard. So a 6'3 lengthy guard with elite handles and elite shooting, that's just an ordinary player?

He wouldn't be as "unstoppable" as he is now due to the help of his height, and he can't have the same defensive impact, especially protecting the rim, but that still screams elite scorer with the ability to be a solid defensive player with that length.

Durant is not the only guy with his height, length and mobility, but the rest didn't get to his skill level or ability. There are physical traits outside of work ethic, though that is one that Durant has over others, but there or other traits that for example, Bruno Caboclo doesn't have, traits he doesn't lose because he's 6'3.

People want to believe that Curry just outworked everyone else, but if you've seen guys train, you'll have two guys who train just as hard, just as much, but one simply eclipses the other because their body picks up things quicker, is naturally better a certain motions, etc, etc.

It’s hard to even quantify how different LBJ would be at 6’3”, but whenever these conversations come up it isn’t fair to be like “well if he was 6 inches shorter he would he better at X becuase of Y”. If LBJ was 6’3” he wouldn’t be Westbrook because Westbrook is a way freakier athlete. What makes LBJ so impressive is his absiltiies he has WHILE being 6’3”. It’s the same with KD. What makes him elite and not just good or great is that he can shoot like he is 6’3 but he’s 7’0. If he can’t go over the top and shoot over everyone suddenly he isn’t as great of a player.

There’s a reason why the league doesn’t have 5’9” dudes running around, and if they do make it they have to be absolutely elite at a lot of things. Isaiah Thomas at 6’6” is probably the GOAT scorer.

Obviously LBJ or KD have incredible talent. It’s what differentiates them from Kelly Oubre or Bruno like you said, but Bruno is another great example. He’s still in the top 1% of basketball players in the world and when he was drafted he was less skilled than probably 90% of realgm. But pure size and height just kept him relevant.

I shouldn’t have said they’d be ordinary at 6’3”, but they’re certainly not all-time greats. The way I look at it is this, whose a better player?

Assuming no changes in skills, is a LBJ sized Curry or a Curry sized LBJ better? It is without a doubt a LBJ sized Curry.

Curry sized LBJ easily. LBJ was on another level from Curry in his prime. Not even comparable.

[Triple7]

Yes!

[Dutchball97]

This basically comes down to it is easier to succeed in the NBA if you're 6'9 than it is when you're 6'2. Not really rocket science.

[Warriorfan]

There are literally millions of people taller than Curry
Just thousands taller than KD.

Lebron may is probably top 5 strength speed combo in NBA history.

All have above average BBIQ and worked hard..

Curry probably had to do the most work since he was considered a below average athlete for his position.

[Doug_12]

I don't. Curry is a very talented shooter and I don't buy the hidden argument here that by practicing enough you would be able to become Curry.

Kobe was training like crazy and become nowhere close to Curry.

From Lebron's perspective: I was never a fan of him, but he is probably the most intelligent (basketballwise) player I've ever seen on a night to night basis. He very rarely makes bad decisions, reads defenses like very few can - he is just great to watch.

I would imagine that if I lived in the 80-es, watching Bird would have been the same.

This is probably the skill that takes the most time to practice.

[dhsilv2]

You clearly have no idea how hard it is to revamp your shot. That takes a lot more than 10 percent of work with muscle memory and having to retrain your brain when you've been shooting a certain way for so long.

Lets say it's the hardest thing anyone's ever done. My 99.9999999% doesn't change here.

That's not factual so that hardly matters to me.

Well of course not. Curry's not even 40 and he's already changed his shot, so it can't be that difficult.

[Soca]

Lets say it's the hardest thing anyone's ever done. My 99.9999999% doesn't change here.

That's not factual so that hardly matters to me.

Well of course not. Curry's not even 40 and he's already changed his shot, so it can't be that difficult.

Such a witty rebuttal.

[YogurtProducer]

Isn't a 6'3 LeBron sort of like Westbrook with high IQ? Not sure that's an ordinary player either.

Also based on Durant's skillset at his height, making him 6'3 with his length, skillset, all other natural abilities doesn't seem like an ordinary player. His handles would improve dramatically because the handles he has at his height means his coordination is excellent and are equivalent to great to elite handles for a guard. So a 6'3 lengthy guard with elite handles and elite shooting, that's just an ordinary player?

He wouldn't be as "unstoppable" as he is now due to the help of his height, and he can't have the same defensive impact, especially protecting the rim, but that still screams elite scorer with the ability to be a solid defensive player with that length.

Durant is not the only guy with his height, length and mobility, but the rest didn't get to his skill level or ability. There are physical traits outside of work ethic, though that is one that Durant has over others, but there or other traits that for example, Bruno Caboclo doesn't have, traits he doesn't lose because he's 6'3.

People want to believe that Curry just outworked everyone else, but if you've seen guys train, you'll have two guys who train just as hard, just as much, but one simply eclipses the other because their body picks up things quicker, is naturally better a certain motions, etc, etc.

It’s hard to even quantify how different LBJ would be at 6’3”, but whenever these conversations come up it isn’t fair to be like “well if he was 6 inches shorter he would he better at X becuase of Y”. If LBJ was 6’3” he wouldn’t be Westbrook because Westbrook is a way freakier athlete. What makes LBJ so impressive is his absiltiies he has WHILE being 6’3”. It’s the same with KD. What makes him elite and not just good or great is that he can shoot like he is 6’3 but he’s 7’0. If he can’t go over the top and shoot over everyone suddenly he isn’t as great of a player.

There’s a reason why the league doesn’t have 5’9” dudes running around, and if they do make it they have to be absolutely elite at a lot of things. Isaiah Thomas at 6’6” is probably the GOAT scorer.

Obviously LBJ or KD have incredible talent. It’s what differentiates them from Kelly Oubre or Bruno like you said, but Bruno is another great example. He’s still in the top 1% of basketball players in the world and when he was drafted he was less skilled than probably 90% of realgm. But pure size and height just kept him relevant.

I shouldn’t have said they’d be ordinary at 6’3”, but they’re certainly not all-time greats. The way I look at it is this, whose a better player?

Assuming no changes in skills, is a LBJ sized Curry or a Curry sized LBJ better? It is without a doubt a LBJ sized Curry.

Curry sized LBJ easily. LBJ was on another level from Curry in his prime. Not even comparable.

And how much of that is because he can do what he can at 6'8"? Have you seriously forgotten what Curry did and is doing in his prime?

[LesGrossman]

Wierd take. Curry has more talent than everyone else. KD, Bron are more "obvious" gifts but especially Bron has certainly put in the time and effort and still in 1000 years could not become the shooter Steph is. Talent vs. Work is not just size. There are many talents that are much harder to spot. Other than hand/eye coordination, the ability to "be ahead of the game a few seconds" comes to mind, which enables certain guys to make seemingly impossible passes to guys they arent even supposed to see, or be at the right place magically on defense or rebound all the time. That is also a talent that is spread very scarcely.

[LesGrossman]

From Lebron's perspective: I was never a fan of him, but he is probably the most intelligent (basketballwise) player I've ever seen on a night to night basis. He very rarely makes bad decisions, reads defenses like very few can - he is just great to watch.

I would imagine that if I lived in the 80-es, watching Bird would have been the same.

Crazy to compare Bron to Bird. Also crazy to say he is the most BBIQ player we get to see, when during his playing there were so many examples of much more capable guys. >90% of his "assists" are just him standing at the perimeter, the defense orienting towards him and him eventually passing to a very capable shooter or finisher. Very static. His contribution here is that everyone is afraid of his drive, so his strength is really not his passing or IQ but his ability to finish through defense (or used to be 5 years ago).

Meanwhile we have guys in the league who play the game highly dyncamic, meaning they move, their target moves, the defense moves and they pass "four dimensionally" to the pocket where the guy will be in some seconds. If you leave marketing and ESPN brainwash aside, i'd easily see Jokic ahead of Bron in terms of BBIQ, for example. Easily, and not only now, but also way ahead of prime Bron in that regard. And thats just one example, not even entering the realm of real elite pass-first point guards.

[Jcity08]

You cant teach size/length but at the same time length/size enhance skill, doesnt replace it. They all need immense skill to do what they do, which is why you dont see many Currys, LBJs, Durants on every team.

[TimRobbins]

I can't see how KD and Lebron are in the same category. KD is as skilled as Curry.