[qDizzle32Participant]

As being successful in the NBA relies on athleticism and size a lot more than college. It has bailed several recently drafted talents out a lot who average even better stats in the NBA opposed to what they put up in college. On the other hand, there are always opposite guys who are great college players but don’t have the natural habitats, causing them to be fringe NBA players. Jimmer Fredette would be the perfect example. 

2012: 

Andre Drummond- Looked very mediocre during his lone season in college. Failed to reach expectations at UConn after being the #2 ranked high school player in his class. However, his built for the NBA body along with his athleticism has proved all of his doubters wrong. A double double machine who plays like a monster in the paint is now looking like an All-Star canditate going into his fourth year in the NBA

2013:

Michael Carter-Williams- Played as a reserve behind a guy who never made the NBA and ended up in the doghouse at the end of his first year at Cuse, as a 20 year old freshman. Ended up as a starter his second year in college but didn’t look outstanding. Being 6’6 and having the ability to run the point guard gave MCW a huge advantage in the league as he won the Rookie of the Year award

Steven Adams- Started every game of his college career but averaged 7 ppg and looked absolutely nothing like a player who was previously a Top 10 ranked high school player. Although Adams did not look like a bust in college, he just looked painfully raw and needed more time in college before going pro. In his two seasons with OKC, he earned himself a starting gig for a very good team and has hasn’t shown signs of All-Star potential, but if he can stay healthy, he’ll likely have a long career in the league as a starter due to his well built body and natural athleticism.

2014:

Zach LaVine- Started one game his lone season of college and averaged about 20 minutes per game. As he was not a key contributor at all for the UCLA Bruins, he was just a rotation player with freak athleticism, showing signs of potential. LaVine’s Russell Westbrook like athleticism perfectly translates to the NBA level as he averaged even more points his one NBA season so far than his one season at UCLA. 

 

As a Kings/Kentucky fan, I was very upset when they passed on Emmanuel Mudiay for Willie Cauley-Stein. As I watched almost every game WCS played at Kentucky, I was never too impressed with him as far as being a legitimate NBA player and especially his offensive game. He would often beat all of Kentucky’s guards at sprints in practices and played WR in high school as a 7 footer. I am sure hoping that Cauley-Stein could join that list of players I just mentioned who end up being better NBA than college players due to their natural athleticism and sizes.

[Toronto16Participant]

DeAndre Jordan maybe?

[CavFanPRParticipant]

 

Weird that you mention Jordán because that’s basically what you’re getting in WCS and Jordán got a max contract this summer? Can’t fault the Kings forma taking WCS.

[CavFanPRParticipant]

 

Weird that you mention Jordán because that’s basically what you’re getting in WCS and Jordán got a max contract this summer? Can’t fault the Kings forma taking WCS.

[Toronto16Participant]

DeAndre Jordan maybe?

[T Rex]

 Terry Rozier, playing alongside floor spacers.

Myles Turner

Towns

Rondae Hollis Jefferson because of the improved floor spacing in the NBA

Freak athletes like RHJ and Rozier often blossom just by having room to play to their strengths.

Eric Bledsoe fits that description too. Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague.

Norman Powell is looking like a huge steal, and he could be better in NBA.

Russell Westbrook, if you didn’t already mention him.

Freak athleticism is the common thread here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

Jeff teague was the acc player of the year

Ty Lawson helped UNC when the championship

RJ  hunter was the player of the year in his conference

Powell was arguably the best 2 way plYer in the pac12 the year he graduated

Obviously towns he was still very raw at kentucky.

Russell played on a stacked UCLA team where he played the 2 guard his natural and true position, give a guy witb his heart and atheleticism the ball and say go run the team and he definitely put up high scorimg stats.true he is a great rebounder for a guard, but isnt his career field goal percentage around 43% and from 3 around 30%/ 7.1-3.6 career  assists to turnover ratio, thats not even 2-1, maybe a move to the 2 spot might be a refreshing new step for tbe thunder.

I think people are thinking either to much about stats which in most cases improve with a 48 minute game with a 24 second shot clock in the nba versus a 40 minute game with a 35 second shot clock in college. I also know its almost inevitable guys get better as they age throughout their pro ball career, isnt that how the cycle goes talent wise for a player from college to the pros? I thought this topic was more for guys who showed very little or were even considered dissapointing in college and got drafted almost entirely on potential, or their ability to never stop playing hard & the adding of skills later in the nba. I see someone said Drummond, jimmy butler comes to more mind. Maybe some would say wes mathews, but I was so confused when he went undraftex so I have to stick with this Marquette wing.

 

 

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I don’t think he mentioned RJ Hunter.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I don’t think he mentioned RJ Hunter.

[ncballer]

 Ty Lawson’s last season at UNC was probably the best since Phil Ford.  He was unreal that year.  I owe my life to him as a UNC homer.

[ncballer]

 Ty Lawson’s last season at UNC was probably the best since Phil Ford.  He was unreal that year.  I owe my life to him as a UNC homer.

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

Jeff teague was the acc player of the year

Ty Lawson helped UNC when the championship

RJ  hunter was the player of the year in his conference

Powell was arguably the best 2 way plYer in the pac12 the year he graduated

Obviously towns he was still very raw at kentucky.

Russell played on a stacked UCLA team where he played the 2 guard his natural and true position, give a guy witb his heart and atheleticism the ball and say go run the team and he definitely put up high scorimg stats.true he is a great rebounder for a guard, but isnt his career field goal percentage around 43% and from 3 around 30%/ 7.1-3.6 career  assists to turnover ratio, thats not even 2-1, maybe a move to the 2 spot might be a refreshing new step for tbe thunder.

I think people are thinking either to much about stats which in most cases improve with a 48 minute game with a 24 second shot clock in the nba versus a 40 minute game with a 35 second shot clock in college. I also know its almost inevitable guys get better as they age throughout their pro ball career, isnt that how the cycle goes talent wise for a player from college to the pros? I thought this topic was more for guys who showed very little or were even considered dissapointing in college and got drafted almost entirely on potential, or their ability to never stop playing hard & the adding of skills later in the nba. I see someone said Drummond, jimmy butler comes to more mind. Maybe some would say wes mathews, but I was so confused when he went undraftex so I have to stick with this Marquette wing.

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Terry Rozier, playing alongside floor spacers.

Myles Turner

Towns

Rondae Hollis Jefferson because of the improved floor spacing in the NBA

Freak athletes like RHJ and Rozier often blossom just by having room to play to their strengths.

Eric Bledsoe fits that description too. Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague.

Norman Powell is looking like a huge steal, and he could be better in NBA.

Russell Westbrook, if you didn’t already mention him.

Freak athleticism is the common thread here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew1984Participant]

 Russell Westbrook finished only third on his own team in scoring in his second and final year at UCLA. Kevin Love and Darren Collison outscored him, while Josh Shipp was only a half a point behind. 

Westbrook won the NBA scoring title last year. 

 

[Andrew1984Participant]

 Russell Westbrook finished only third on his own team in scoring in his second and final year at UCLA. Kevin Love and Darren Collison outscored him, while Josh Shipp was only a half a point behind. 

Westbrook won the NBA scoring title last year. 

 

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

I have said this so many times that college and NBA are totally different. Wiggins had an OK college career nothing special for a player that was #1 in his class, however once he went on to the NBA he fully showcased his skills and natural abilities. NCAA is built on physicality and long shot clocks that are just so out of date, too many time outs that distrupt the flow of the game and as well players scoring streaks. They need to allow highschool seniors to go to the NBA again.

I am very upset kids cant go to the NBA straight out of highschool. People make an argument that its better they go off to college because they will have an education. YOu know how many student atheletes specifically for basketball are  kicked off teams many times for right reasons but a lot of times because coaches want to replace them with someone who they think will be better. NCAA only talks about the success stories and preaches them, they dont talk about all the kids that get dumped from teams each year. This is all about money and TV ratings IMO. 

Sorry to go off topic!

 

 

  

[GBeeParticipant]

 The NBA has every right to set whatever qualifications they deem necessary, just like any other company has a right to set qualifications to hire you.  It is in their best interest to see these kids play at any level above HS level to see how they stack up vs better competition before they invest millions of dollars into them.  When YOU want to invest your money into something, what would you rather have, less or more information? 

The NCAA isn’t make these rules.  They are at the mercy of the NBA.

And to reiterate, no, nobody is forcing anyone to go to school.

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 The NBA has every right to set whatever qualifications they deem necessary, just like any other company has a right to set qualifications to hire you.  It is in their best interest to see these kids play at any level above HS level to see how they stack up vs better competition before they invest millions of dollars into them.  When YOU want to invest your money into something, what would you rather have, less or more information? 

The NCAA isn’t make these rules.  They are at the mercy of the NBA.

And to reiterate, no, nobody is forcing anyone to go to school.

 

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

I have said this so many times that college and NBA are totally different. Wiggins had an OK college career nothing special for a player that was #1 in his class, however once he went on to the NBA he fully showcased his skills and natural abilities. NCAA is built on physicality and long shot clocks that are just so out of date, too many time outs that distrupt the flow of the game and as well players scoring streaks. They need to allow highschool seniors to go to the NBA again.

I am very upset kids cant go to the NBA straight out of highschool. People make an argument that its better they go off to college because they will have an education. YOu know how many student atheletes specifically for basketball are  kicked off teams many times for right reasons but a lot of times because coaches want to replace them with someone who they think will be better. NCAA only talks about the success stories and preaches them, they dont talk about all the kids that get dumped from teams each year. This is all about money and TV ratings IMO. 

Sorry to go off topic!

 

 

  

[SnowtaParticipant]

Even though he put up decent college stats, the style of play in college (especially at Kansas) did not suit Wiggins at all and I think really limited what he was able to do at that level. Obviously a big reason for his ROY season had to do with individual improvement, but I think a big part of his success was also due to the style of the NBA game fitting Wiggins style much better.

[SnowtaParticipant]

Even though he put up decent college stats, the style of play in college (especially at Kansas) did not suit Wiggins at all and I think really limited what he was able to do at that level. Obviously a big reason for his ROY season had to do with individual improvement, but I think a big part of his success was also due to the style of the NBA game fitting Wiggins style much better.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I think you might be wrong here. I am almost 100 percent sure that the general consensus about guys needing to go to college for one year is not so they will have an education. Last time I checked you don’t get a degree for one year in college. I believe the argument for guys having to go to school for a year is that one year of maturity and coaching that they will get so they will be more NBA ready than guys straight out of high school. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Anthony Davis and Andrew Wiggins were not taking astrophysics and engineering during their time at Kentucky and Kansas. As I am sure it has been repeated millions of times when the topic of guys going pro straight out of high school is there are for more Ndudi Ebi’s coming straight out of high school than Kevin Garnett’s, Lebron James’ and Kobe Bryant’s. I believe that a lot more guys will take the route of going overseas or a year than going to college. In my opinion, playing in the NBA is a privilege, not a right. If it takes a year of going to school at a Kansas or Kentucky and being treated like a god on campus and playing high level college basketball for a year before you are allowed to become a multi-millionaire in the NBA, it could be a hell of a lot worse. Guys can go overseas and play if they don’t want to go to college, but I believe the year out of high school before you can declare for the NBA draft is more than fair.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I think you might be wrong here. I am almost 100 percent sure that the general consensus about guys needing to go to college for one year is not so they will have an education. Last time I checked you don’t get a degree for one year in college. I believe the argument for guys having to go to school for a year is that one year of maturity and coaching that they will get so they will be more NBA ready than guys straight out of high school. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Anthony Davis and Andrew Wiggins were not taking astrophysics and engineering during their time at Kentucky and Kansas. As I am sure it has been repeated millions of times when the topic of guys going pro straight out of high school is there are for more Ndudi Ebi’s coming straight out of high school than Kevin Garnett’s, Lebron James’ and Kobe Bryant’s. I believe that a lot more guys will take the route of going overseas or a year than going to college. In my opinion, playing in the NBA is a privilege, not a right. If it takes a year of going to school at a Kansas or Kentucky and being treated like a god on campus and playing high level college basketball for a year before you are allowed to become a multi-millionaire in the NBA, it could be a hell of a lot worse. Guys can go overseas and play if they don’t want to go to college, but I believe the year out of high school before you can declare for the NBA draft is more than fair.

[GBeeParticipant]

 Uh doesn’t this just come with the territory of the one and done era? Most freshmen really don’t know how to play but are still taken where they are bc of their potential.  1 year of development versus a number of years of development at the pro level to see how they pan out? What are we really comparing here?  I mean this topic is silly especially if 1 and doners are included.  Maybe if you left them out, this topic would be more interesting. I’d be more interested in seeing a list of players who had time to adjust to the college game, still didn’t live up to expectations at the college level, but went on to become good players in the NBA

[GBeeParticipant]

 Uh doesn’t this just come with the territory of the one and done era? Most freshmen really don’t know how to play but are still taken where they are bc of their potential.  1 year of development versus a number of years of development at the pro level to see how they pan out? What are we really comparing here?  I mean this topic is silly especially if 1 and doners are included.  Maybe if you left them out, this topic would be more interesting. I’d be more interested in seeing a list of players who had time to adjust to the college game, still didn’t live up to expectations at the college level, but went on to become good players in the NBA

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Jrue Holliday

Stanley Johnson

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Jrue Holliday

Stanley Johnson

 

[Memphisboy14Participant]

You can name a good amount of players. I remember vividly that D-Rose wasn’t that good at Memphis. He really didn’t come into his own until the NCAA tourney. Derrick Favors is another player that got better in the NBA after struggling in college.

[Memphisboy14Participant]

You can name a good amount of players. I remember vividly that D-Rose wasn’t that good at Memphis. He really didn’t come into his own until the NCAA tourney. Derrick Favors is another player that got better in the NBA after struggling in college.

[jaycee24Participant]

 Archie Goodwin 

[jaycee24Participant]

 Archie Goodwin 

[MorseWillParticipant]

Real good college player but Draymond Green may end up as good or better in the NBA as well. Much of it has come from his fit with the Warriors, but just a guy that came to mind

[MorseWillParticipant]

Real good college player but Draymond Green may end up as good or better in the NBA as well. Much of it has come from his fit with the Warriors, but just a guy that came to mind

[bumbleb33Participant]

 jimmy butler

 

also as someone else mentioned, andrew wiggins. wiggins was not a great finisher in college, he botched easy layups and never dunked on people the way he has in nba

 

 

[cjwParticipant]

Awful comment kid. Butler led Marquette in scoring multiple times and led that team to good tourney runs and wiggins most certainly did not "botch easy layups"

[cjwParticipant]

Awful comment kid. Butler led Marquette in scoring multiple times and led that team to good tourney runs and wiggins most certainly did not "botch easy layups"

[GBeeParticipant]

 Wiggins was not a good finisher at Kansas.  Open court he was great.  Half court he was not.  He shot ~56% at the rim in half court situations.  That’s not good.  He didn’t and still doesn’t play to contact well.  

In the NBA he’s not a comfortable driver in the half court by any means either, driving to the hoop less than 4 times a game last year and converting 42% of those drives. Driving to the hoop in the half court accounted for roughly only 2.5 ppg for Wiggins last year.

People automatically equate great athleticism with great slashing ability but that isn’t the case with Wiggins, not yet at least.

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Wiggins was not a good finisher at Kansas.  Open court he was great.  Half court he was not.  He shot ~56% at the rim in half court situations.  That’s not good.  He didn’t and still doesn’t play to contact well.  

In the NBA he’s not a comfortable driver in the half court by any means either, driving to the hoop less than 4 times a game last year and converting 42% of those drives. Driving to the hoop in the half court accounted for roughly only 2.5 ppg for Wiggins last year.

People automatically equate great athleticism with great slashing ability but that isn’t the case with Wiggins, not yet at least.

 

 

[bumbleb33Participant]

 jimmy butler

 

also as someone else mentioned, andrew wiggins. wiggins was not a great finisher in college, he botched easy layups and never dunked on people the way he has in nba

 

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 We talking current or all time? If all time, Cedric Ceballos and John Starks are the first that pop in my head. Two dudes that had decent college careers but wound up flourishing in the pro’s and made a couple of All-Star teams.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 We talking current or all time? If all time, Cedric Ceballos and John Starks are the first that pop in my head. Two dudes that had decent college careers but wound up flourishing in the pro’s and made a couple of All-Star teams.

[Swim34061Participant]

James Harden

[Swim34061Participant]

James Harden

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

jimmy butler & chandler parsons

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

jimmy butler & chandler parsons

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

deron williams…i think he averaged 11 points for his career at illinois…

david lee is another 1…i dont think anyone ever envisioned him becoming a 2 time all star when he came Straight Outta Florida

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

deron williams…i think he averaged 11 points for his career at illinois…

david lee is another 1…i dont think anyone ever envisioned him becoming a 2 time all star when he came Straight Outta Florida

[cjwParticipant]

 Shawn Kemp out of trinity CC

[cjwParticipant]

 Shawn Kemp out of trinity CC

[RecoveringVegetarianParticipant]

 Hey now!! Raise your hand if u saw Steve Blake in college and said he would be in the nba for a decade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RecoveringVegetarianParticipant]

 Hey now!! Raise your hand if u saw Steve Blake in college and said he would be in the nba for a decade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Author]

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