[draft2017Participant]

Anthony Davis arrived for his pre-draft media interview wearing a T-shirt that read "Check my stats."

Thomas Robinson wasn’t afraid to share his thoughts when asked to give his input.

"If you wanted to check the stats, then I’d be the No. 1 pick easily — if that’s what you want to do," Robinson said. "I should get one of those shirts. I’ll get a shirt that says, ‘Numbers don’t lie.’ "

Robinson thinks he’s the best available player, despite Davis’ accomplishments.

"I think I play with a different level than everyone else, a different intensity level," Robinson said. "I’m going to play every night — that’s not something every guy [does]. Everybody don’t show up every night on a consistent basis. I think out of this group, I probably would say that I’m one of the players that do."

 

[rickyD510Participant]

I love guys who come into the league with a chip on their shoulders and have something genuine to play for, not just for the cars, jewlery, girls etc.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Every player should have this type of confidence. It might come off as arrogant, but players gotta believe that they’re better than the guy they’re facing if they want to beat them. Andre Drummond has the exact-opposite attitude.

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

Anthony Davis’ reaction:

 

 

 Anthony Davis’ mom reaction:

 

[omphalosParticipant]

I hate idiots who wear those shirts. Basketball is about a lot more than stats, there’s no metric for willpower and intensity.

As for Robinson being the first overall pick? That’s laughable, I might not even have him in my top 5 off the board.

[JoeWolf1]

 You can’t hate that much on a guy for being competitive.  He knows he’s not the #1 pick, but would you rather him say "Anthony Davis is on another level than me."  He’s not talking about Lebron, this is one of his peers and a guy he’s competed against, and done very well against during the season.

[omphalosParticipant]

I’m not hating on him for saying or believing it, but I just hope no GM takes him too seriously and reaches to take him.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I don’t care that he believes he should be the number on pick but it appears he is hating on Davis. 

[KayjayParticipant]

But I’ve been watching Thomas Robinson. And when I watch him, he just reminds me of an athletic, explosive Jason thompson. 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

LMAO….That gif of Bert looks just like Davis….

Robinson has a right to say he thinks he’s better..But Robinson is 1 of the players in this draft i think has a great chance of being considered a Bust if he’s taken in the top 5…Guys who blossom within a year,after not getting significant minutes the year before..You have to be wary of selecting so high…

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Haha, If we wanted to check the stats Damion Lillard or Kevin Jones would probably be in the running for the #1 pick. Good thing Robinson is a player and not a scout.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

So I checked the stats and I would have to say that Davis’ stats were more impressive than Robinson’s. His stats are even more impressive when you factor in age and time spent in college playing vs Robinson’s. Stats are not everything, but at least make sure you are going to be right when you try to prove a point like that.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Robinson should be a solid pro but I am not sold on him being a star and Davis looks like star.  Davis stats would have been insane if he returned next year. 

Also because or their age both Drummonds and Davis could still be growing. That thought is scary to me because the both measured where I thought they would be. Davis was a little bit under 6’11" I am sure in a few years we will find out that he grew to where he is over 6’11" in shoes.  Drummonds may actually touch 7 feet in shoes. I actually think Drummonds will be better than Favors.

[mosdefParticipant]

I dont think its bad that TRob thinks he is talented. Eli manning said he was on par with being elite like Brady before the season and his team beat Bradys. Davis is still #1 and Im a Kansas fan. I think what TRob is trying to get at is that Kansas wasnt really supposed to be in the championship game according to preseason media. They were questioning if Kansas could win the Big 12. TRob carried Kansas as far as he could against a very stacked Kentucky team who has 5 people who all probably drafted in the top 40. TRob at best was surrounded by 2nd rounders and FAs. He just doesnt want to be sold short

[NCarmean18Participant]

 I really don’t know how you could possibly hate on a guy like Thomas Robinson.  The dude competes.  He plays the game of basketball because he wants to win, not because he is all for the fame and fortune.  He’s a gamer, and he will do whatever he can do to help his team win.  

I remember in 2010-2011 whenever Jared Sullinger was a freshman, everyone thought he was a monster and a sure Top 3 pick.  This past season, in the Final Four, Thomas Robinson showed Jared Sullinger what was up.  I don’t remember the exact statline, but I believe Sullinger shot something like 5-19 from the floor with Robinson guarding him that game, and the Kansas Jayhawks beat an Ohio State team who really seemed to outmatch Kansas on paper.  A lot of that had to do with the play of Thomas Robinson.  

Robinson is everything you’d want in a player.  He’s strong, he can bang down low, he can defend strong and athletic power forwards, he can rebound well, and he has a decent jump shot.  Robinson has shown me everything I would have needed to see as an NBA GM to certify him as a top 5 draft selection.  And if he doesn’t go within the top 5, then I think Charlotte and Sacramento really missed out.  Maybe even Washington, as well… 

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 too bad Davis owned him in both games they played against each other…

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I remember in 2010-2011 whenever Jared Sullinger was a freshman, everyone thought he was a monster and a sure Top 3 pick. This past season, in the Final Four, Thomas Robinson showed Jared Sullinger what was up. I don’t remember the exact statline, but I believe Sullinger shot something like 5-19 from the floor with Robinson guarding him that game,

————————————————————————————————————-

 

I remember Withey guarding Sullinger more than Robinson did…

[JoeWolf1]

 @ChrisCross, you must not have watched either game because Davis guarded and was guarded by Jeff Withey for most of both games.

It’s not like Thomas Robinson had bad games against Kentucky either.  I wouldnt’ call 18 points and 17 rebounds being owned by anyone.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I have no problem with him thinking or saying he’s a better player, I’m just not sure he can go the route of look at the stats. If I only look at the stats then I think Davis had the better stats. Their numbers are pretty close. Davis probably gets part of his jump in field goal percentage due to playing with better players and not having to carry the team every night. The shot blocking though is a huge difference in my opinion. over 4 a game is a huge impact at any level even if you are only looking at the stats and not the games.

Personally, I don’t think Davis will be a superstar. I think Thomas will likely carve out a role as a good role player. I could be horribly wrong, but who knows. I was one of the few people saying there is no way I would take Oden with the first pick. Not every number 1 pick is a hall of famer and in a lot of cases these top picks do not end up being the best player in their draft classes.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I’d like to see Kenneth Faried and Thomas Robinson play one-on-one, and both guys get a knife. Those dudes are both angry with their opponents. Kinda reminds me of a young Kellen Winslow Jr. Haha.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

T Rob isn’t too tall but just under 6’9 is ok.  His wingspan was nice.  7’3 is good.  Plus, he has a chiseled physique, a high motor, and hops.  You could do worse.  He may not have Anthony Davis’ upside but both their floors are about the same.  T Rob as a high-energy rebounder and inside scorer/dunker with AD being a rangy shot blocker, a solid rebounder, and an alley-oop guy.  Players like T Rob aren’t usually busts.  Guys like Anthony Davis have been busts more often.  Anthony Randolph comes to mind.  Or even Pervis Ellison.

But, I like both guys.  Davis could be a superstar while T Rob’s ceiling is probably just a good all-star for many years.  I think that if anything derails these two guys it will be injuries rather than something else.

I can’t wait to watch these two guys come to the league.  Both should be great additions to the Rookie-Sophomore game.  Heck, Anthony Davis could make a run at the all-star game if he is classified as a center.  Andrew Bynum has the starting position out West locked up, but the backup spot should be a race between Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan, and I would put Anthony Davis right there with those guys.

[mosdefParticipant]

Since ROY is based alot on PPG, if TROB is selected by ateam that has Guards I think he has a better chance to win ROY then Anthony Davis who has no one if Eric Gordon leaves

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 no I did, I remember Davis coming over and swating Robinson like 3 times in the championship game.

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 Robison went 6-17 in the title game, as a post player, pretty bad shooting wise.

[mosdefParticipant]

Anthony Davis went 1-10 from the field. Thats even worse. They had trouble posting Robinson cuz of the height and had to switch to alot of faceup sets like pick and rolls just to free him up more. Its hard going against height for anyone.

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 Davis also had 7 blocks, Robinson doesn’t make an impact like that. Basketball is more about shooting.

[JoeWolf1]

 Not saying Robinson is a better player at all, just that it wasn’t a head to head matchup.  

Saying Davis "owned" Robinson is simply not true.  Any team or player that gives up 18 points and 17 rebounds to one player did not "own" that player.  

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Hey when comparing Davis to possible busts in the past, please don’t just pick a tall rangy guy and say they are comparable. Sure Anthony Randolph is tall and rangy and he hasn’t panned out. He also "only" blocked 2.3 shots per game as a 32 minute a game starter. Davis blocked 4.7!!! per game. These things are not comparable. It is like comparing a scorer who gets you 15 a game with a guy who gets you 32. Randolph was much much worse at blocking shots than Davis. 

Lets not get into the shooting and rebounding as well. 

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