The Great American Hope

This topic contains 22 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by Chariot Org 10 years, 4 months ago.

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Posted on: Mon, 02/08/2016 - 9:55pm #62712
valentine
I’m curious to know why there has been such a remarkable drop-off in talent from the United States in the past 5 years. Over the course of NBA history, over a 5-year period the US is likely to produce several legendary HOF players.
The best players, as far as I can tell, since the 2011 draft:
- Anthony Davis (possible exception….tbd)
- Irving
- Butler
- George
- Davis
- Drummond
- Lillard
- Jahlil Okafor
- Brandon Ingram
These guys are all All-Star worthy players, but you’d hardly consider them legends. I doubt that during a 5 year period, the United States has had such a small number of truly elite talents emerge.
Where is the next Jordan, Kobe, Wilt, Kareem, T-Mac, Iverson, Magic, Big O, Shaq, Bird, Barkley, Dr J, Lebron, Durant, Curry, D-Wade etc?
These guys are all better than the list above. I could have gone on as well…
Is Brandon Ingram the great american hope? Others see it…I’m skeptical he’s anything more than a nice All-Star. Josh Jackson? He’s still in High School.
What’s happening? Are athletic American kids playing football, or is there another explaination?
Is it simply a case of International basketball catching up? I doubt it, because the US can still easily dominate international competitions.
I expect people will say, "give them time"……but I just don’t see the talent to dominate in the way guys like Curry, Lebron, Kobe, MJ etc did.
Please tell me why I’m wrong. Who is the next great American hope?

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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 1:17am #1041714

A Lil English
Participant
Personally I have a lot of faith in these guys since 2011.

Lillard, Barnes, Drummond
Wiggins, Parker
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Stanley Johnson, Devin Booker.
A lot of it depends on their work ethic and health but I think based on what I’ve seen, the tools and skills they have the potential to get there. I wouldn’t write off D’Angelo Russell either.

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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 1:17am #1041577

A Lil English
Participant
Personally I have a lot of faith in these guys since 2011.

Lillard, Barnes, Drummond
Wiggins, Parker
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Stanley Johnson, Devin Booker.
A lot of it depends on their work ethic and health but I think based on what I’ve seen, the tools and skills they have the potential to get there. I wouldn’t write off D’Angelo Russell either.

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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 3:24am #1041732
  
  kobedagoat
  Participant
  Wiggins and KAT are non-americans…
  That’s his point, the real deal are not american born prospects these days
  
  2+
- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 3:24am #1041596
  
  kobedagoat
  Participant
  Wiggins and KAT are non-americans…
  That’s his point, the real deal are not american born prospects these days
  
  1+
Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 3:41am #1041736

A Lil English
Participant
I forgot Wiggins was Canadian. I believe Towns has dual heritage. He will represent the US team in the rookie game despite having played for the Dom Rep national team
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 3:41am #1041600

A Lil English
Participant
I forgot Wiggins was Canadian. I believe Towns has dual heritage. He will represent the US team in the rookie game despite having played for the Dom Rep national team
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 5:01am #1041748

GBee
Participant
KAT was born and raised in Jersey. He’s as American as it gets.
As for this topic I’m not sure what the OP expects. ATG players don’t come out every year. There isn’t one in every class. There’s usually 1, maybe 2 stars in every draft and not all of them become superstars. There can and has been 2-3 consecutive years of not a single superstar being drafted. This isn’t anything new. For example, take a look at the post Jordan, pre-Lebron era. True superstars are rare.

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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 5:01am #1041611

GBee
Participant
KAT was born and raised in Jersey. He’s as American as it gets.
As for this topic I’m not sure what the OP expects. ATG players don’t come out every year. There isn’t one in every class. There’s usually 1, maybe 2 stars in every draft and not all of them become superstars. There can and has been 2-3 consecutive years of not a single superstar being drafted. This isn’t anything new. For example, take a look at the post Jordan, pre-Lebron era. True superstars are rare.

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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:42am #1041699
  
  Hype Machine
  Not that rare…like you said..every 2 or 3 years on average.
  But we’re approaching 5 now. Find me another half-decade which didnt produce a legendary American player.
  Since Jordan theres been guys like Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, Curry, Durant etc. No one in the past 5 years even even touches this level.
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:42am #1041836
  
  Hype Machine
  Not that rare…like you said..every 2 or 3 years on average.
  But we’re approaching 5 now. Find me another half-decade which didnt produce a legendary American player.
  Since Jordan theres been guys like Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, Curry, Durant etc. No one in the past 5 years even even touches this level.
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 7:49am #1041792

lalaila
Participant
the next Curry? three years ago he wasnt even an allstar after 4 seasons in then NBA
the next Barkley? I really believe Anthony Davis can and will reach this level
the next TMac ? A.I.? guys like Harden and Westbrook statistically are pretty similar ans still pretty young
SLOW DOWN

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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 7:49am #1041655

lalaila
Participant
the next Curry? three years ago he wasnt even an allstar after 4 seasons in then NBA
the next Barkley? I really believe Anthony Davis can and will reach this level
the next TMac ? A.I.? guys like Harden and Westbrook statistically are pretty similar ans still pretty young
SLOW DOWN

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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:20am #1041685
  
  Chewy
  Participant
  Even after he was drafted and played 2 years in the NBA, nobody expected Curry to be the FIRST Curry, so how can we expect a SECOND Curry already?
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:20am #1041822
  
  Chewy
  Participant
  Even after he was drafted and played 2 years in the NBA, nobody expected Curry to be the FIRST Curry, so how can we expect a SECOND Curry already?
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:38am #1041697
  
  Hype Machine
  When was Harden and Westbrook drafted? The last 5 years? No.
  Your saying the best player from the last 5 years in AD could possibly get to Barkleys level…which while true…is hardly the top player in the list I provided.
  
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:38am #1041834
  
  Hype Machine
  When was Harden and Westbrook drafted? The last 5 years? No.
  Your saying the best player from the last 5 years in AD could possibly get to Barkleys level…which while true…is hardly the top player in the list I provided.
  
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 12:37pm #1041745

JoeWolf1
Kawhi Leonard is a Finals MVP, NBA Champion, Defensive Player of the year 2XAll-Defensive team, lead the league in steals once, and is enjoying his first 20 ppg season at age 24, while playing the role of a 1st option on a contender.
Pretty great start to a career if you ask me
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 2:51pm #1041773
  
  Chariot Org
  Yeah Leonard and George look like perennial MVP candidates.
  
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- Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 2:51pm #1041910
  
  Chariot Org
  Yeah Leonard and George look like perennial MVP candidates.
  
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 12:37pm #1041882

JoeWolf1
Kawhi Leonard is a Finals MVP, NBA Champion, Defensive Player of the year 2XAll-Defensive team, lead the league in steals once, and is enjoying his first 20 ppg season at age 24, while playing the role of a 1st option on a contender.
Pretty great start to a career if you ask me
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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 2:56pm #1041775

Chariot Org
Marcus Smart is another one. He’s the best defender on the NBA’s best defensive team.
And his game is improving all the time. It’s really fun to watch.
Pretty much the ultimate American. He’s a Cowboy for life from OKState, he’s from Dallas Texas, home of America’s Team, he has a mohawk like Mr T, as seen in all American movies like Rocky II.
Smart’s built like a linebacker, which is the All American body type, and he’s a blue collar superstar worker.
He’ll win a game with a new invented move every month or so, and inspire more hustle in his team than Bolivian Marching Powder.
Smart is about where Kawhi was two years ago.
A couple great Americans right there.

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Posted on: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 2:56pm #1041912

Chariot Org
Marcus Smart is another one. He’s the best defender on the NBA’s best defensive team.
And his game is improving all the time. It’s really fun to watch.
Pretty much the ultimate American. He’s a Cowboy for life from OKState, he’s from Dallas Texas, home of America’s Team, he has a mohawk like Mr T, as seen in all American movies like Rocky II.
Smart’s built like a linebacker, which is the All American body type, and he’s a blue collar superstar worker.
He’ll win a game with a new invented move every month or so, and inspire more hustle in his team than Bolivian Marching Powder.
Smart is about where Kawhi was two years ago.
A couple great Americans right there.

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