[EndlessknightParticipant]

I have yet to see RJ Barrett play but all the hype around him reminds of the hype around Wiggins right before his freshmen year at Kansas, people were calling Wiggins “Maple Jordan”. We all know who that turned out.

For those of you who’ve seen both play at the same age who was better?

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

RJ is better. I feel a lot of the hype surrounding Wiggins was mostly his insane athleticism. At 6’8 he could jump out of the jump and was really quick. RJ has a better overall game, and while he’s not known as a shooter, he’s a better shooter at the same stage. The main knock on Wiggins has been his desire, or lack there of. That has clearly translated to the NBA. RJ on the other hand is a proven killer on multiple stages of high level basketball (EYBL, HS nat’l championships, FIBA). Everywhere he plays, he dominates because he has that Mamba like drive.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Well to be fair Wiggins is nowhere near finished developing but his intrigue has always been based on potential. RJ has always been regarded a better prospect because of his performance plain and simple. HE shows up for big moments. Even when Wiggins was blowing up people that follow the grassroots Canada system all know Barrett would be better. Hes been molded to be a Kobe Bryant type player from the day he was born and has had the support of everyone affiliated with Canadian basketball. His godfather is Steve Nash.

[GBeeParticipant]

 Can’t say that one was a better shooter than the other. Neither are/were good shooters at this stage. If I had to give the very slight edge in that dept to either it’d be Wiggins bc of his better ability to create shots, not just driving, but creating jumpshots with stepbacks, face up jumpers, and pullups.

Wiggins had better athleticism, RJ has a better motor and floor game. Because of his ability to impact more aspects of the game, I’d say Barrett is the better prospect at the same stage. Wiggins might have been a slightly better scorer, with better shot creating ability but Barrett is the better passer, defender, rebounder with a game that can fit next to just about anyone, whereas Wiggins is kinda on his own island, not having much of an impact without the ball or when he’s not trying to score.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 As a prospect at the same age I think Wiggins was more hyped but I feel RJ has a more polished game at the same age. Wiggins was certainly more explosive, RJ is no slouch but he doesn’t quite have that explosive burst Wiggins has although being such a smooth player he doesn’t need it.

I think RJ has a better basketball IQ than Wiggins had at the same age and possibly has more of a killer instinct.

 

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

back then was his rise dethroning Jabari as the number 1 player in highschool using his elite athletecisim at 6’8, writers and other scouts compared them to the draft before when Melo and LBJ was in highschool although melo and LBJ was not on the same class, but scouts believed that Jabari and Wiggins is a rivalry in every level which like Melo and LBJ earlier in their careers. Jabari has something to do with that also.

For Barrett although not blessed with Wiggins athletecism, his overall game is more complete and he has a better skill level and more importantly MOTOR AND KILLER INSTINCT that wiggins until now don’t have.

But from hype standpoint I think wiggins before has more hype

 

 

 

   

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I don’t believe the hype surrounding barrett is nearly what it was for Wiggins. People were comparing Wiggins to Dominique Wilkins and McGrady and saying he was the best player to come out of high school since lebron. To be honest, I never really understood it and thought it created kind of an almost impossible standard to live up to.  

While Barrett has gotten considerable hype as well, he might not even be the most hyped prospect on his own team. But I’d say Barrett is definitely a more complete player than Wiggins was at the same age. He is more advanced as a ball-handler and passer, has better court awareness, and just competes harder imo. Wiggins was just more of a freak athlete whose skills were still pretty raw.

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 But it became clear pretty quickly at Kansas that Joel Embiid was the one in a Decade Dominant Beast 

Wiggins is an amazing athlete but he’s never had that hard edge competetiveness where losing absolutely Kills him.And b/c of that Wiggins seems like he’ll never reach his full potential of a guy we ALL thought would be Dominant on Both ends 

Barrett looks like a better perimeter threat which is Massive in today’s NBA 

But until we actually see these guys compete at the NBA level we just don’t know —- But b/c we Expect a #1 overall pick to be a Super Star it feels like Barrett wins (For Now) just by default b/c Wiggins is def Not that

Look at 2017 where Fultz was by a mile the #1 prospect – but just 16 months later Mitchell & Tatum would 100% be the #1 & #2 picks (depending on who you like more) — B/c these players are coming out So young we just do Not know until we see them in the Pro’s

 

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts