[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 Beware of Zion. He’s injury prone. As I predicted one week ago. He won’t "change the leauge…." He’ll flame out before he gets drafted.

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 oh wow. instant negs! as usual. one more prediction. duke won’t make it to the sweet 16. This Coach K B.S. is getting old. He produces awful Bball players. Funny how any of them are supposed to be lottery picks. That’s just awful.

The hate only tells me I’m doing somethin right. lets keep those neg’s comin….

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 No hate on bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner, Elton Brand, or Grant Hill. But they did all get injured or fail in the pros. Shane Battier was a bust.

[90sNYKParticipant]

A woman from spain is a hoe doesn’t mean all women from spain are hoes. What you’re saying is not only illogical its also down right stupid. Zion’s body is strong and symmetrical. He has awesome biomechanics. It took a faulty shoe to give him this minor injury. I’m not saying Ja Morant shouldn’t be considered the top pick, but I am saying that you shouldn’t take Ja over Zion just because of this fluke injury.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

Battier won 2 NBA championship with the Heat.

Grant Hill is in the HOF. Laettner play on the Dream Team, 10+ years in the NBA and was an All Star. Elton Brand was ROY, now is the GM of the 76ers. Hurley got into a career ending car accident, he did try to make a come back, but is not a coach in college. 

Going to Duke helped all of those guys. Not one of those guys are a bust. 

The best thing is your still talking about them. 

 

 

[Scott42444Participant]

Jay Williams ALSO got into a career ending car accident (well, motorcycle accident technically).  Maybe ScroogeMcNegs should have predicted a car accident for Zion.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

You do make a fair point about many recent Duke alumni failing to meet expetations in the NBA.

Although, just because players like Rivers, Okafor and Parker haven’t lived up to the hype, that doesn’t mean that Zion, Cam and R.J. are just as likely to fall off. 

While Zion’s physical build is uncharacteristic for a modern basketball player, it hasn’t shown to be a problem in terms of injuries. There isn’t nearly enough evidence to label Zion as injury-prone. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’m not saying you’re right either.
 

[timinator1Participant]

That’s BS, but lets go thru it…

Okafor-finally in the right system, would have been fine if Hinkie wasn’t an ass.

Taytum- doing just fine.

Winslow- doing just fine in Miami

Tre Jones- doing just fine in Minn

Seth Curry- doing just fine on Dallas initially, now with Portland.

Mason Plumlee–starting center/PF for Denver, #2 in the west

Ingram–screwed by playing with LeBron, but he’ll be fine

Jabari–injuries, injuries

Bagley–having a very good rookie season

Quinn Cook–multiple rings as backup for GSW

I think you’d have a pretty tough time finding a school with a better recent result. Maybe UK, maybe Michigan State, but that’s about it. 

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 Let’s not forget Rivers on a playoff team, JJ on a playoff team, Hood and Curry on a playoff team, Bagley playing to make the playoffs, Cook on a playoff team, Winslow playing to make the playoffs, Mason on a playoff team, Kyrie and Tatum on a playoff team, Ingram playing to make the playoffs, 

That’s a lot of players contributing to winning. 

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 I still don’t trust a Point Guard from Murray State. I’d still take Zion over Murray even after the injury

[HitsterParticipant]

 I’d see Cavs, Knicks, Hawks, Chicago and Phoenix all taking Zion over Morant if they had a choice of the two.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I’m not sure if Zion will ultimately wind up being the best player from this draft, but I’m pretty much positive he’ll be the number one pick regardless who is making the selection. He is virtually a can’t miss from a marketing perspective.  

[juves4783Participant]

 I’ll still take the Duke Alum over Cameron Payne and Isaiah Canaan.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 I know he got hurt, but Kyrie Irving went to Duke.

[jjj10manParticipant]

 My problem with Zion is he’s 6 6 and his jumpshot form is not going to work for that height and people seem to not care. He barely gets off the ground when he shoots and looks so uncomfortable. I don’t see how anyone can pass RJ who is clearly better than Tatum and Ingram at Duke. RJ’s floor is a borderline all star it self.

[JM40Participant]

Tatum will be a top ten player in the league down the road in my opinion.  I also think Bagley and Carter Jr. will be special, and even in the all-star mix annually.  Ingram is right there too.  Duke has 25 (no misprint) players in the league right now.  Zion is the clear cut first pick.  No disrespect to Morant, but given the comp it’s not even close.

[Scott42444Participant]

…the more I think about it there haven’t been any "game changers" from Duke in a long time.  Grant Hill is the best NBA player that came from Duke and his career WAS derailed due to injuries.  Not that getting MRSA in the hospital is his fault AT ALL, but it DID happen.  His career was destined to be much more than it ended up being, but because of injuries he had to prematurely re-invent himself as more of a high-level role player than a #1 alpha scorer.

Kyrie Irving #1 is probably the best RECENT example, although he got hurt during his tenure at Duke.  Maybe that’s the key and Zion is going to have a great career since he got his injury out of the way (I’m being somewhat sarcastic).

As a Bulls fan, I hope to GOD that this is all coincidence and not a trend.  The Bulls appear to have zeroed in on the Duke "Big 3" this year.  Also as a Bulls fan, I have witnessed A LOT of draft picks from Duke since Jordan retired in 1998 and the more I think about them the more I realize Duke hasn’t really produced that many great NBA players (comparing them to their overall draft position, not saying they aren’t great basketball players because all NBA players are great basketball players except for Cristiano Felicio).  Here are some that stick out as a Chicagoan:

Elton Brand #1 overall – 2 All-Star Appearances

Jay Williams #2 overall – 1 NBA Season, cut short by a motorcycle accident

Luol Deng #7 overall – 2 All-Star Appearances

Carlos Boozer #35 overall – 2 All-Star Appearances (Great by draft position)

Mike Dunleavy #3 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances

Corey Maggette #13 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances (Chicago Area Guy)

Jabari Parker #2 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances (Chicago Guy)

Jahlil Okafor #3 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances (Chicago Guy)

 

Also, there are a couple other Duke players in the lottery from recent drafts:

 

Justise Winslow #10 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances

Austin Rivers #10 overall – 0 All-Star Appearances

 

I don’t really see a ton of value based on where these guys were drafted.  Of course, a guy like Zion turning into a generational talent makes this list look A LOT better.  Or Cam Reddish (that’s who I think the Bulls are drafting based on their recent 3 game winning streak).

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Yeah but…Tatum, Carter Jr. and Ingram all look like very good young players. Winslow is having a quiet breakout year and should improve on it next year. 

[LovebugParticipant]

 ?

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Forgot Bagley.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

Majority of Duke players usually dont just get drafted but find a way to stick in the league for 10+ years. Even undrafted Duke players make it to the league, Lance Thomas, Amile Jefferson, Trevon Duval, Seth Curry, Quin Cook.

Most are high character guys, great community contributors, have interest in other things outside of basketball, but also interest in basketball front office roles, coaching, media. Duke players stay relevant after the NBA. 

Duke players are well coached and low risk players, that can contribute to a team on and off the court.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Ja could very well end up being the best player in this draft, so could RJ. They both are tremendous talents. But you just ant pass on this kid Zion. 

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