Duke4life831 wrote:What is the major difference between him and Kawhi leaving San Diego? Very similar size, length and athleticism. Both elite defenders (Kawhi better at getting steals) with moldable offensive games because both are such high IQ players. Kawhi had the edge with steals and rebounds, Hunter with the big edge in jumper.
Not saying he's Kawhi 2.0 because it's impossible to predict a progression curve equal to Kawhi's. Just saying leaving college, they look like pretty similar players.
I would say discipline and IQ. Hunter is a good defender, but Kawhi can defend every position, Hunter won’t be able to. At the same time Hunter can probably defend bigger players better in his prime. Kawhi just moves around the court like a guard while Hunter moves more like a forward. Kawhi also has super quick hands, something Hunter doesn’t have. I don’t see them as similar. Closer to OG Anunoby than Kawhi, but obviously he’s much better than Anunoby offensively. Back to Discipline and IQ, Kawhi has a unique kind of discipline for the game, it’s why he looks like a machine when he plays. And Hunter just isn’t a read and react kind of guy. He can play within the offense (that’s what they do at Virginia), but if someone unaccounted for comes he has a hard time adjusting. I think that’ll come with experience though.