2018 NBA Draft

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Yeah, what comes to mind for me with Ayton is a range somewhere between the big Os.....Olajuwon, Oden and Olowokandi.

I remember all of the hype on Kandi early on way back when.

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

I think generational players can change the game/rules if they are good enough. But of course, those are hard to find if you ever do. So what you guys are really trying to say is that it's hard to know who will be a star or not. That's every player in the top 10 in a good draft.

In the last 15 years, who did you know for sure would be a superstar coming from the draft? I'd say only Lebron James.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

I think generational players can change the game/rules if they are good enough. But of course, those are hard to find if you ever do. So what you guys are really trying to say is that it's hard to know who will be a star or not. That's every player in the top 10 in a good draft.

In the last 15 years, who did you know for sure would be a superstar coming from the draft? I'd say only Lebron James.

Yeah it's only Lebron. Nobody else had that kind of absolute can't miss stuff. Even Lebron though I don't think you could say 100% would be a superstar. Because there are still those stories of guys like Beasley who just didn't have the work ethic, Guys like Kwame Brown who may or may not have been ruined by Michael jordan's ego. Guys like Petrovic who was on the rise and was taken in a terrible accident, he wasn't drafted high but the example was more for just how off the field things can take a career as well. Jay Williams as well with the motorcycle accident. A guy like Petrovic in today's nba would be a top 10 player IMO no question. He was ahead of his time shooting 45% from 3 and 50% from the floor before the 3pt era truly took off.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

LOL....not comparing to anyone. Just adding to sefant77's point about hype and the range that a player could end up in.

I remember reading/hearing comments in the media how Kandi was a "can't miss" and that was in the days when his position was more relevant.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

LOL....not comparing to anyone. Just adding to sefant77's point about hype and the range that a player could end up in.

I remember reading/hearing comments in the media how Kandi was a "can't miss" and that was in the days when his position was more relevant.

And who can forget Bargnani, the next Dirk. Some former scouts are prolly still tellin those stories while they talk about those free floor mats while selling used cars.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

And who can forget Bargnani, the next Dirk. Some former scouts are prolly still tellin those stories while they talk about those free floor mats while selling used cars.

The comparisons to Dirk for the past 15 or so years with virtually no one coming even close indicates just how unique and special he is. Portzingis and and Markkanen are about the only ones who have a chance in this NBA imo.

It comes down to what is between the ears with some of these players in the draft and I think with Rick that is doubly important.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

The comparisons to Dirk for the past 15 or so years with virtually no one coming even close indicates just how unique and special he is. Portzingis and and Markkanen are about the only ones who have a chance in this NBA imo.

It comes down to what is between the ears with some of these players in the draft and I think with Rick that is doubly important.

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

Bingo. There are so many things that made Dirk unique that we will never see another like him. Others might have similar traits, but will never have the same effect on the game that Dirk did.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

My point is more about the success and impact of that type of player more than becoming the exact player. You can say that about every player because no two players will ever be the exact same.
Dirk had a lot of Bird in him and I'm sure many will see a lot of Dirk in Portzingis and Markkanen. My point is that will be high praise for those guys as Dirk has set the bar high. The mere fact people want to find the next Dirk makes him one of the most unique players and the best at the style in his time.

You rarely hear "he's the next Bird" now because now they are saying "he's the next Dirk".
Until someone takes that to another level for that style (if that is even possible), Dirk will always be the one to compare to.

I do agree there will never be another like him.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Dirk had a lot of Bird in him

I watched Larry Bird, Dirk is no Larry Bird -- the biggest thing they have in common is the color of their skin... Kevin Garnett played more like Bird than Dirk ever did.

Porzingis and Markkanaen are both white, European jump-shooters -- that's about the beginning and end of how they'll ever really compare to Dirk. Hell, Markkanen looks way more like Bosh to me, but skin color, so Dirk... And Porzingis has nice range, but he's way more active in the paint, especially on defense -- Dirk never averaged 2 blocks per game at any point in his career... I just think most of the comparisons to Dirk are shallow as shit.

Dirk popularized the stretch-4 and taught players how to create space with the high-release step back...So most NBA players have "a little Dirk" in them at this point -- he's part of the league's DNA -- but nobody is going to be the next Dirk... Just like you don't get to be the next Kareem by shooting hook shots or be the next Dr. J by throwing down high-flying dunks. Some players just stand apart.