NBA player comparisons for Denzel Valentine and Tyler Ulis

 Ulis- Was Earl Boykins too quick to make this comparision fit? Ulis is 3 inches taller, but Ulis plays by going around defenders, not through defenders like Boykins.

Valentine- Poor man’s Paul Pierce?

IDK. These two are hard to categorize. I don’t feel that confident in either one.

 Ulis- Was Earl Boykins too quick to make this comparision fit? Ulis is 3 inches taller, but Ulis plays by going around defenders, not through defenders like Boykins.

Valentine- Poor man’s Paul Pierce?

IDK. These two are hard to categorize. I don’t feel that confident in either one.

Denzel Valentine – the first thing that comes to my mind is other spartan – SG versio of Draymond Green

more production looking than similar game styles

Denzel Valentine – the first thing that comes to my mind is other spartan – SG versio of Draymond Green

more production looking than similar game styles

 Denzel Valentine-Gordon Hayward 

Tyler Ulis-Brandon Jennings with a better IQ and right handed

 Denzel Valentine-Gordon Hayward 

Tyler Ulis-Brandon Jennings with a better IQ and right handed

 For Valentine I would go back to Paul pressey. For those who don’t know who pressey is, he was a point forward for the don Nelson coached Milwaukee teams in the 1980s. Didn’t shoot as much or as well as Valentine but that was also a much different era. Not really a guy you could slot into a position, but just a jack of all trades type with a phenomenal basketball iq.

As far as current players to compare to Valentine I’m kind of at a loss. Grevies Vazquez is about the best I could do.

I’m not in love with the boykins comp for ulis but I can’t really think of a better one right now.

 For Valentine I would go back to Paul pressey. For those who don’t know who pressey is, he was a point forward for the don Nelson coached Milwaukee teams in the 1980s. Didn’t shoot as much or as well as Valentine but that was also a much different era. Not really a guy you could slot into a position, but just a jack of all trades type with a phenomenal basketball iq.

As far as current players to compare to Valentine I’m kind of at a loss. Grevies Vazquez is about the best I could do.

I’m not in love with the boykins comp for ulis but I can’t really think of a better one right now.

 Ulis: he gives your team a chance to win. Scoring, passing, whatever.  The guy is 5’9 and their haven’t been that many 5’9 NBA stars — or ANY 5’9 guys for that matter.  Isaiah Thomas is one.  Compared to guys a bit taller — gamer point guards with the alpha gene: Allen Iverson, Chris Paul, and the ORIGINAL Isiah Thomas.

 Ulis: he gives your team a chance to win. Scoring, passing, whatever.  The guy is 5’9 and their haven’t been that many 5’9 NBA stars — or ANY 5’9 guys for that matter.  Isaiah Thomas is one.  Compared to guys a bit taller — gamer point guards with the alpha gene: Allen Iverson, Chris Paul, and the ORIGINAL Isiah Thomas.

 Kemba Walker

Evan Turner

 Kemba Walker

Evan Turner

 Ulis is averaging 17, 7, and 3 as a super soph.  Isiah Thomas averaged 16, 6, and 3 in his second season, leading Indiana to the title.  I will stick to the Isiah comparison.

I haven’t watched much of Valentine, but the Paul Pressey comparison by Dazzling Dunks, although I never watched him play either. 

So, we got a couple of good 80’s throwback-style players. 

Any athletic 6’7 floor leader has to be compared to Penny, but Denzel doesn’t seem to be in Penny’s class as far as athleticism goes. 

A more cerebral forward-guard who can score, defend, shoot, around 6’7, plays typical Big Ten basketball…  what about John Havlicek?

 Ulis is averaging 17, 7, and 3 as a super soph.  Isiah Thomas averaged 16, 6, and 3 in his second season, leading Indiana to the title.  I will stick to the Isiah comparison.

I haven’t watched much of Valentine, but the Paul Pressey comparison by Dazzling Dunks, although I never watched him play either. 

So, we got a couple of good 80’s throwback-style players. 

Any athletic 6’7 floor leader has to be compared to Penny, but Denzel doesn’t seem to be in Penny’s class as far as athleticism goes. 

A more cerebral forward-guard who can score, defend, shoot, around 6’7, plays typical Big Ten basketball…  what about John Havlicek?

Valentine, yeah why not Evan Turner with a 3 pts shot….NBA SG, more than facilitators.

Turner a bit taller but with a japanese wingspan, now he’s basically a 10-5-5 quality sub. 

Ulis, i would try TJ ford, "bantamweight, undersized, true floor generals", final four  Ford, title game Ulis.

20 yo sophomore TJ ford, per 36 minutes, 16,1 pts 8,2 assists 4,2 rebs 2,1 steals, 6,3 FTA.

20 yo sophomore Ulis per 36 mins, 16,8 pts 7 assists, 3,1 rebs, 1,5 steal 5,6 FTA  

3 inches(probably 2) for Tj Ford, bigger wingspan for Ulis, better standing reach for Ford, same weight, same athleticism.

Ford way more TO prone and he never had 3pts range in the nba, Ulis could.

Valentine, yeah why not Evan Turner with a 3 pts shot….NBA SG, more than facilitators.

Turner a bit taller but with a japanese wingspan, now he’s basically a 10-5-5 quality sub. 

Ulis, i would try TJ ford, "bantamweight, undersized, true floor generals", final four  Ford, title game Ulis.

20 yo sophomore TJ ford, per 36 minutes, 16,1 pts 8,2 assists 4,2 rebs 2,1 steals, 6,3 FTA.

20 yo sophomore Ulis per 36 mins, 16,8 pts 7 assists, 3,1 rebs, 1,5 steal 5,6 FTA  

3 inches(probably 2) for Tj Ford, bigger wingspan for Ulis, better standing reach for Ford, same weight, same athleticism.

Ford way more TO prone and he never had 3pts range in the nba, Ulis could.

Denzel Valetine gets John Havlicek and Penny Hardaway comparisons? Woah…

I was thinking more along the lines of JR Rider/Latrell Sprewell 

Denzel Valetine gets John Havlicek and Penny Hardaway comparisons? Woah…

I was thinking more along the lines of JR Rider/Latrell Sprewell 

 i see some gilbert arenas on him..a poor’s man version..valentine is a little bit taller but not that much; he’s given 6’6 but he’s actually 6’4 w/o shoes while arenas was 6’2.5" w/o shoes..both with 6’10 wingspan and similar games..

 i see some gilbert arenas on him..a poor’s man version..valentine is a little bit taller but not that much; he’s given 6’6 but he’s actually 6’4 w/o shoes while arenas was 6’2.5" w/o shoes..both with 6’10 wingspan and similar games..

Bit surprised that no one has dropped the Jim Jackson comparison on Valentine yet. Both about the same size (Jackson was just one inch taller and the same weight), both from the same conference, both can score, rebound and pass at a high level in college. Both probably limited in the NBA. 

In Jackson’s last year at Ohio State he averaged 22.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.0 APG while shooting 49% from the field, 41% from three-point range and 81% from the free throw line. 

Bit surprised that no one has dropped the Jim Jackson comparison on Valentine yet. Both about the same size (Jackson was just one inch taller and the same weight), both from the same conference, both can score, rebound and pass at a high level in college. Both probably limited in the NBA. 

In Jackson’s last year at Ohio State he averaged 22.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.0 APG while shooting 49% from the field, 41% from three-point range and 81% from the free throw line. 

I think of Valentine will have a similar role as Doug Christie but with more of an offensive contribution and slightly less of a defensive impact.

I think of Valentine will have a similar role as Doug Christie but with more of an offensive contribution and slightly less of a defensive impact.

 Ulis a not as good/athletic Iverson

 Ulis a not as good/athletic Iverson

 As a State fan who has watched Denzel’s development for four years, I think Greivis Vasquez is spot on. I’m about to post another thread and then crash, but ll elaborate later if ya’ll don’t see it.

 As a State fan who has watched Denzel’s development for four years, I think Greivis Vasquez is spot on. I’m about to post another thread and then crash, but ll elaborate later if ya’ll don’t see it.

Denzel has Evan Turner game with more of a jumpshot. Grevis is another solid comparison stylistically both playmaking shooting guards not overly athletic with high Iq although Denzel is probably 30 pounds heavier coming out. Ulis is Phil pressy but better running a team. He can’t be Kemba walker because he’s not the athlete or explosive scorer but he’s fundamental can run a team and won’t make mistakes if he can get over athletic limitations.

Denzel has Evan Turner game with more of a jumpshot. Grevis is another solid comparison stylistically both playmaking shooting guards not overly athletic with high Iq although Denzel is probably 30 pounds heavier coming out. Ulis is Phil pressy but better running a team. He can’t be Kemba walker because he’s not the athlete or explosive scorer but he’s fundamental can run a team and won’t make mistakes if he can get over athletic limitations.

Of the comparisons made, Christie for Valentine and Ford for Ulis are the best.

Of the comparisons made, Christie for Valentine and Ford for Ulis are the best.

 I have a question for the board.

How is Valentine’s defense?

I was under the impression that he was probably pretty good on that end — sounds similar but I have also read that mediocre lateral quickness makes him only average on the business end of the basketball floor. 

So, that would limit his upside. However, if he works hard and really turns it up, making defense another calling card, then yeah, he can be a super 6th man like early issue Hondo, or a core All Star on a contender.

The point forward is a thing now, but in the old days you had Hondo, Rodney McCray, Pressey, and supposedly Robert Reid, too. 

A good comparison would be a guy in that range, obviously with Havlicek being the best case scenario.  I like the Big Ten ties and the limited athleticism, but great fundamentals to make that comparison.

Ok, I don’t see Pippen or Penny or one of those uber athletic 6’7 guys.

If he is just a BIG GUARD who is really cerebral, a tough, no-nonsense guy with a money jumper, and good defense, and GREAT rebounder, average athlete, non-flashy game then you go with Oscar Robertson.  The Big O would be a YUGE compliment as a comparison, but you have a little of that with Draymond Green.  Green has some Big O, or Magic, or LeBron, or Video Game C-Webb in him.  Denzel Valentine is obviously not as big as Draymond, though.  I would think that Valentine is a better ball handler than Draymond, and at this stage as a college senior, a better shooter.

 I have a question for the board.

How is Valentine’s defense?

I was under the impression that he was probably pretty good on that end — sounds similar but I have also read that mediocre lateral quickness makes him only average on the business end of the basketball floor. 

So, that would limit his upside. However, if he works hard and really turns it up, making defense another calling card, then yeah, he can be a super 6th man like early issue Hondo, or a core All Star on a contender.

The point forward is a thing now, but in the old days you had Hondo, Rodney McCray, Pressey, and supposedly Robert Reid, too. 

A good comparison would be a guy in that range, obviously with Havlicek being the best case scenario.  I like the Big Ten ties and the limited athleticism, but great fundamentals to make that comparison.

Ok, I don’t see Pippen or Penny or one of those uber athletic 6’7 guys.

If he is just a BIG GUARD who is really cerebral, a tough, no-nonsense guy with a money jumper, and good defense, and GREAT rebounder, average athlete, non-flashy game then you go with Oscar Robertson.  The Big O would be a YUGE compliment as a comparison, but you have a little of that with Draymond Green.  Green has some Big O, or Magic, or LeBron, or Video Game C-Webb in him.  Denzel Valentine is obviously not as big as Draymond, though.  I would think that Valentine is a better ball handler than Draymond, and at this stage as a college senior, a better shooter.