[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 We always talk about players we thought were going to do big things in the NBA and never panned out, but I want to take the time to recognize the guys who didn’t think would make an impact in the NBA but have stuck around and done a decent to great job at times.  

My list: 

Nate Robinson: Thought he was too small and not enough of a true point guard to make it and thought he should have been taken in second round.  

Roy Hibbert:  Thought he was a big stiff and big men who stay that long in college seem to have enough red flags to keep them in college.  Thought he wasn’t strong enough or he could keep up with NBA speed.

Jrue Holiday: Thought he wasn’t a true point guard and his best attribute at UCLA was offensive rebounding so I thought Sixers were getting a good rebounding shooting guard who couldn’t shoot.  

Dejuan Blair- 6’6 husky power forward with no ACLs, enough said.  

David Lee: Didn’t think he was tall enough, skilled enough, or athletic enough to last.  And just like all the other guys on this list I was WRONG.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

 Jrue Holiday – Im a numbers guy, he didnt put up great numbers…I was fooled by the UCLA system

Brook Lopez – Slow, Stiff, Awkward….didnt see him as an NBA propect

Glen Davis – This guys fat and short…hows he gonna survive in the NBA?

Landry Fields – I was pissed with the pick, we passed on Stephenson, Ebanks, WWarren, and TGallon, all 4 of who i really liked….

[MagikKnickParticipant]

 Jrue Holiday – Im a numbers guy, he didnt put up great numbers…I was fooled by the UCLA system

Brook Lopez – Slow, Stiff, Awkward….didnt see him as an NBA propect

Glen Davis – This guys fat and short…hows he gonna survive in the NBA?

Landry Fields – I was pissed with the pick, we passed on Stephenson, Ebanks, WWarren, and TGallon, all 4 of who i really liked….

[PlatypusParticipant]

1. Earl Boykins, he’s 5 freaking 5 

2. Ryan Anderson, he’s 6’11 and can shoot, thats it. channing frye can at least play defense

3. Tayshaun Prince, he was just so skinny when he came into the league but great coaching kept him in

[PlatypusParticipant]

1. Earl Boykins, he’s 5 freaking 5 

2. Ryan Anderson, he’s 6’11 and can shoot, thats it. channing frye can at least play defense

3. Tayshaun Prince, he was just so skinny when he came into the league but great coaching kept him in

[boshjonesfordParticipant]

All those picks are pretty good i would say…exect i thought lopez was going to be okey he had nise size and skill i thought.

I never expected Deron Williams as good (i thought he would be too slow)

I didnt expect Rusell Westbrook to be that good (thought he was just an althetic/ quick SG)

i thought jeff green was going to be a flop

[boshjonesfordParticipant]

All those picks are pretty good i would say…exect i thought lopez was going to be okey he had nise size and skill i thought.

I never expected Deron Williams as good (i thought he would be too slow)

I didnt expect Rusell Westbrook to be that good (thought he was just an althetic/ quick SG)

i thought jeff green was going to be a flop

[aamir543Participant]

Derrick Rose- (Please don’t kill me for this, it was Jay Bilas’ fault! He said his wingspan was below average!)

Adam Morison-(I tried to warn you guys, but you guys fell under the wrath of his mustache.)

Acie Law

Kevin Love(I was 11! It was all those hormones.)

Jordan HIll

[aamir543Participant]

Derrick Rose- (Please don’t kill me for this, it was Jay Bilas’ fault! He said his wingspan was below average!)

Adam Morison-(I tried to warn you guys, but you guys fell under the wrath of his mustache.)

Acie Law

Kevin Love(I was 11! It was all those hormones.)

Jordan HIll

[TRC1991Participant]

I was almost certain that Luke Ridnour would be out within 2 years…Dude isn’t really great at anything besides ball-handling

[TRC1991Participant]

I was almost certain that Luke Ridnour would be out within 2 years…Dude isn’t really great at anything besides ball-handling

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

DJ Augustin

Semih Erden

Goran Dragic

Jared Dudley

Julian Wright

Adam Morrison

Danny Granger

Andre Blatche

Nate Robinson

Earl Boykins

Josh Childress

Mo Williams

 

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

DJ Augustin

Semih Erden

Goran Dragic

Jared Dudley

Julian Wright

Adam Morrison

Danny Granger

Andre Blatche

Nate Robinson

Earl Boykins

Josh Childress

Mo Williams

 

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

my predictions for players who won’t make it from the 2011 draft are:

Bismack Biyombo (although i hope he does), Nolan Smith, JaJuan Johnson and Justin Harper

Lets see if some of these players do okay

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

my predictions for players who won’t make it from the 2011 draft are:

Bismack Biyombo (although i hope he does), Nolan Smith, JaJuan Johnson and Justin Harper

Lets see if some of these players do okay

[JBrace19Participant]

By "Making it" do you mean just make it on a team, or play well in the league?

[JBrace19Participant]

By "Making it" do you mean just make it on a team, or play well in the league?

[JNixonParticipant]

Jrue Holiday.

And Stephen Curry. I saw him being similar to a Jannero Pargo, but he been able to translate his game well as a PG.

[JNixonParticipant]

Jrue Holiday.

And Stephen Curry. I saw him being similar to a Jannero Pargo, but he been able to translate his game well as a PG.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I felt the same way about Westbrook as well, I thought Bayless should have been drafted over him since he was a much better shooter and scorer, I also went to elementary school with with Bayless so I’m bias, but I was way wrong about that one.  

I thought Landry Fields wasn’t getting enough love pre-draft.  I had played with him a few times in pick-up games which isn’t saying much but the kid was much more athletic than people were giving him credit for so when the Knicks took him I wasn’t as much surprised as I was relieved.  

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I felt the same way about Westbrook as well, I thought Bayless should have been drafted over him since he was a much better shooter and scorer, I also went to elementary school with with Bayless so I’m bias, but I was way wrong about that one.  

I thought Landry Fields wasn’t getting enough love pre-draft.  I had played with him a few times in pick-up games which isn’t saying much but the kid was much more athletic than people were giving him credit for so when the Knicks took him I wasn’t as much surprised as I was relieved.  

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I’m still not sure if Jordan Hill has established himself in the league, I hope he does though.   

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I’m still not sure if Jordan Hill has established himself in the league, I hope he does though.   

[Da1potParticipant]

 J.J. Reddick- though he would fizzle out like fellow Duke alum Trajan Langdon and just be an.other 1st team all american that wouldn’t transkate to the NBA

Tyler Hansbrough- Thought he would just be a better Mark Madsen, but still a fringe rotation player nonetheless because he wouldn’t be able to just bully opposing post players in the NBA like he did in college. Now he has a deadly 15 foot jumper and a versatile offensive game and the same great motor and intensity he was known for in college.

Jared Dudley- Man he was slow, unathletic, fat and basically everything teammate Sean Williams wasn’t. But he plays his heart out everytime, has a high i.q. and a very deadly stroke and shoots a high percentage- things the higher rated WIlliams doesn’t/didn’t show. Its Dudley who is in the NBA now and is one of the most valuable role players in the whole league.

Marc Gasol-  Honestly I never watched him play, but scouts were making it seem like he was as slow as a rock, incredibly unathletic and weak despite his immense size and was getting looks only because he was Pau’s younger brother. But he is incredibly effecient and skilled for a center and is impossible to stop once he sets up on the low block and establishes position. His style of play gives me  that cause to believe that Nikola Vucevic can have a sucessful career, too because they play very similar and have similar bodies.

Eric Gordon- Might get bashed for this one, but I thought he was too short for an NBA shooting guard despite his athletic gifts and strength and I kinda thought he would be like Trajan Langdon in the league only I didn’t even think he was as good of a shooter as Langdon. I though t he would be a liabilty on defense to due to his height. But man he has really proved me wrong and had an all-star caliber season on both ends of the floor and is now one of the best young shooting guards in the league.

Danilo Gallinari- Thought he was just a product of the Knick hype machine and that he was soft three point shooting Euro and a homeless man’s Rashard Lewis. 

Demar Derozan- Thought he was the next James White/Gerald Green and a future D-League all-star based on how raw he looked at USC. It is pretty scary though the rate he has improved at though and the sky is the limit for someone with his athletic tools and size as a swingman.

 

 

[Da1potParticipant]

 J.J. Reddick- though he would fizzle out like fellow Duke alum Trajan Langdon and just be an.other 1st team all american that wouldn’t transkate to the NBA

Tyler Hansbrough- Thought he would just be a better Mark Madsen, but still a fringe rotation player nonetheless because he wouldn’t be able to just bully opposing post players in the NBA like he did in college. Now he has a deadly 15 foot jumper and a versatile offensive game and the same great motor and intensity he was known for in college.

Jared Dudley- Man he was slow, unathletic, fat and basically everything teammate Sean Williams wasn’t. But he plays his heart out everytime, has a high i.q. and a very deadly stroke and shoots a high percentage- things the higher rated WIlliams doesn’t/didn’t show. Its Dudley who is in the NBA now and is one of the most valuable role players in the whole league.

Marc Gasol-  Honestly I never watched him play, but scouts were making it seem like he was as slow as a rock, incredibly unathletic and weak despite his immense size and was getting looks only because he was Pau’s younger brother. But he is incredibly effecient and skilled for a center and is impossible to stop once he sets up on the low block and establishes position. His style of play gives me  that cause to believe that Nikola Vucevic can have a sucessful career, too because they play very similar and have similar bodies.

Eric Gordon- Might get bashed for this one, but I thought he was too short for an NBA shooting guard despite his athletic gifts and strength and I kinda thought he would be like Trajan Langdon in the league only I didn’t even think he was as good of a shooter as Langdon. I though t he would be a liabilty on defense to due to his height. But man he has really proved me wrong and had an all-star caliber season on both ends of the floor and is now one of the best young shooting guards in the league.

Danilo Gallinari- Thought he was just a product of the Knick hype machine and that he was soft three point shooting Euro and a homeless man’s Rashard Lewis. 

Demar Derozan- Thought he was the next James White/Gerald Green and a future D-League all-star based on how raw he looked at USC. It is pretty scary though the rate he has improved at though and the sky is the limit for someone with his athletic tools and size as a swingman.

 

 

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

i took the question to mean, has a lasting role in the nba, not just get drafted

[GrovesinternationalParticipant]

i took the question to mean, has a lasting role in the nba, not just get drafted

[aamir543Participant]

@Chilbert Arenas, yeah, I guess you are right, he barely got any minutes, and teams were warned that it would take time to develop.

[aamir543Participant]

@Chilbert Arenas, yeah, I guess you are right, he barely got any minutes, and teams were warned that it would take time to develop.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I meant play well in the league and get to at least a second or third contract and actually contribute to a team at some point in some significant way.  

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I meant play well in the league and get to at least a second or third contract and actually contribute to a team at some point in some significant way.  

[TimbosliceParticipant]

Wesley Matthews and Marcus Thornton, maybe they haven’t necessarily “made it” yet, but they have done very well for themselves in their short time in the league and seem to save bright futures

[TimbosliceParticipant]

Wesley Matthews and Marcus Thornton, maybe they haven’t necessarily “made it” yet, but they have done very well for themselves in their short time in the league and seem to save bright futures

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Roy Hibbert. Thought he was a slow, unathletic stiff, but he’s actually had a solid career thus far.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Roy Hibbert. Thought he was a slow, unathletic stiff, but he’s actually had a solid career thus far.

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

 Joakim Noah: I felt he didnt have talent enough to be the all star he is
Tyler Hansborough: I thought he would be a end of rotation guy but he is a starter
Kevin Love: Slow unathletic didnt think hed be a 15-10 guy let alone 20-15
OJ mayo: the talent was undeniable i just felt that OJ Mayo would get in his way(i could still be right)
Brandon Jennings: I thought he would just be another fast backup 
Ty Lawson: liked the guy didnt think hed be anything more than a backup

 

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

 Joakim Noah: I felt he didnt have talent enough to be the all star he is
Tyler Hansborough: I thought he would be a end of rotation guy but he is a starter
Kevin Love: Slow unathletic didnt think hed be a 15-10 guy let alone 20-15
OJ mayo: the talent was undeniable i just felt that OJ Mayo would get in his way(i could still be right)
Brandon Jennings: I thought he would just be another fast backup 
Ty Lawson: liked the guy didnt think hed be anything more than a backup

 

[FLYNTFLOSSYBABY]

and kobe bryant

[FLYNTFLOSSYBABY]

and kobe bryant

[mwalling2117Participant]

Rajon Rondo (I was a Marcus Williams guy)

 

 

[mwalling2117Participant]

Rajon Rondo (I was a Marcus Williams guy)

 

 

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

Thought he was an undersized shooting guard who at best was a poor mans Ben Gordon.  Happy to see him doing so well though.   

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

Thought he was an undersized shooting guard who at best was a poor mans Ben Gordon.  Happy to see him doing so well though.   

[GrandmamaParticipant]

DJ Augustin and Jared Dudley come to mind.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

DJ Augustin and Jared Dudley come to mind.

[McDunkin]

J.J. Redick

Yao Ming

Goran Dragic

Sasha Vujacic

Monta Ellis

Anthony Morrow

Courtney Lee

George Hill

Aron Gray

Jeff Teague

Mario Chalmers

Zaza Pachulia

Josh Smith

Al Jefferson

 

[McDunkin]

J.J. Redick

Yao Ming

Goran Dragic

Sasha Vujacic

Monta Ellis

Anthony Morrow

Courtney Lee

George Hill

Aron Gray

Jeff Teague

Mario Chalmers

Zaza Pachulia

Josh Smith

Al Jefferson

 

[RafterParticipant]

Rajon Rondo – Small Point Guard that couldn’t shoot from anywhere, getting picked 21st in a weak draft, i didn’t have high hopes for him. But when the "Big 3" arrived Rondo was the guy they couldn’t do without, he stepped up and the "Big 3" became the "Big 4".

Wesley Matthews – Undrafted, snapped up by the Jazz and has not looked back since. Just came off a season where he averaged just under 16ppg. Are you telling me there wasn’t even room in the second round for this guy? He’s now enjoying a $34mil contract. A great story.

Blake Griffin – Before i get a "wut?" from you, hear me out. I thought he was going to "make it" eventually but the way he stormed onto the scene was incredible. Already considered one of the top power forwards in the league, probably the best young player in all of sports, a slam dunk champion, an allstar and made the Clippers relevant, he did that in one NBA season.

 

 

[RafterParticipant]

Rajon Rondo – Small Point Guard that couldn’t shoot from anywhere, getting picked 21st in a weak draft, i didn’t have high hopes for him. But when the "Big 3" arrived Rondo was the guy they couldn’t do without, he stepped up and the "Big 3" became the "Big 4".

Wesley Matthews – Undrafted, snapped up by the Jazz and has not looked back since. Just came off a season where he averaged just under 16ppg. Are you telling me there wasn’t even room in the second round for this guy? He’s now enjoying a $34mil contract. A great story.

Blake Griffin – Before i get a "wut?" from you, hear me out. I thought he was going to "make it" eventually but the way he stormed onto the scene was incredible. Already considered one of the top power forwards in the league, probably the best young player in all of sports, a slam dunk champion, an allstar and made the Clippers relevant, he did that in one NBA season.

 

 

[BigDParticipant]

I thought Serge Ibaka was going to just fall over in the league like so many Africans had of late. But now he’s the most jacked guy in the league and blossuming into a great post defender (learnt a lot from the Dirk schlacking he received in the West Finals), and has shown some decent offense to date.

[BigDParticipant]

I thought Serge Ibaka was going to just fall over in the league like so many Africans had of late. But now he’s the most jacked guy in the league and blossuming into a great post defender (learnt a lot from the Dirk schlacking he received in the West Finals), and has shown some decent offense to date.

[Chicago1980Participant]

Erik Snow- I have no clue how he lasted in the league so long and he actually had a decent career especially his philly years.

Trevor Ariza- Thought he made a mistake coming out early never thought he could shoot or be a factor in the NBA and he proved a lot of people wrong and he got paid pretty handsomely in the process.

Steve Blake- I thought that Juan Dixon was the better player coming out of college and it seems as though Blake made himself into the better pro while he is still kinda producing in the league Dixon is out.

Chris Duhon- Didnt even think he would have a shot in the league and hes still playing and he plays pretty well at times.

 

[Chicago1980Participant]

Erik Snow- I have no clue how he lasted in the league so long and he actually had a decent career especially his philly years.

Trevor Ariza- Thought he made a mistake coming out early never thought he could shoot or be a factor in the NBA and he proved a lot of people wrong and he got paid pretty handsomely in the process.

Steve Blake- I thought that Juan Dixon was the better player coming out of college and it seems as though Blake made himself into the better pro while he is still kinda producing in the league Dixon is out.

Chris Duhon- Didnt even think he would have a shot in the league and hes still playing and he plays pretty well at times.

 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Josh Smith…Jay Bilas said on draft night that he would be a bust on live TV…I was like damn…dude must not be that good LOL..

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Josh Smith…Jay Bilas said on draft night that he would be a bust on live TV…I was like damn…dude must not be that good LOL..

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 did Jay Bilas really say that??? woooooow…

Roy Hibbert, Javale McGee, George Hill, JJ Redick, Mario Chalmers, Kevin Love

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 did Jay Bilas really say that??? woooooow…

Roy Hibbert, Javale McGee, George Hill, JJ Redick, Mario Chalmers, Kevin Love

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Can’t find the video..but yea he said he would be a bust..heres the article..
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/050628&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Can’t find the video..but yea he said he would be a bust..heres the article..
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/050628&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

1.Marc Gasol-He was an out of shape kid,who i thought would play in the nba for about 2 seasons coming off the bench and the rest of his career playing overseas..

2.Derek Fisher-He seem to slow, not very quick and didnt have great point guard skills..I still think he’s overrated..But the dude has made some big shots in big games and has been doing it for 15 years..

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

1.Marc Gasol-He was an out of shape kid,who i thought would play in the nba for about 2 seasons coming off the bench and the rest of his career playing overseas..

2.Derek Fisher-He seem to slow, not very quick and didnt have great point guard skills..I still think he’s overrated..But the dude has made some big shots in big games and has been doing it for 15 years..

 

 

[aamir543Participant]

@cuzucuz, it’s Jay Bilas, his philosophy is that a player needs a good wingspan to be succesful in this league.

[aamir543Participant]

@cuzucuz, it’s Jay Bilas, his philosophy is that a player needs a good wingspan to be succesful in this league.

[McDunkin]

So…Cyclo is Jay Bilas under the mask?

[McDunkin]

So…Cyclo is Jay Bilas under the mask?

[Johnny Chill]

How the hell is this guy even in the NBA?

but he is a bad mutha fucken puerto rican

[Johnny Chill]

How the hell is this guy even in the NBA?

but he is a bad mutha fucken puerto rican

[Author]

Posts