[GrandmamaParticipant]

 I just want to touch on Wiggins’ upside and potential, and put it in perspective in relation to every NBA draft dating back to 2003.  Basically what I’m going to do is point out players who were as highly regarded, or higher, as Wiggins coming out of school in terms of upside and potential.  And I want to show the success rate of players with similar, or even more potential.

 

2003- Lebron (best player on the planet), Carmelo (multiple all-star apperances, top 10 player)

 

2004- Dwight Howard (multiple all-star appearances, best center in the league for multiple years, top 10 player)

 

2005- Nobody

 

2006- Nobody

 

2007- Greg Oden (career derailed by injuries), Kevin Durant (2nd best player in the league, multiple scoring titles)

 

2008- Derrick Rose (MVP, top 10 player when healthy), Michael Beasley (lack of motivation and bad attitude have kept his career in the mud)

 

2009- Nobody, I don’t think Griffin was as highly regarded as Wiggins

 

2010- John Wall (Finally coming into his own, top 5 PG averaged 19/9/4/2 last year)

 

2011- Nobody

 

2012- Anthony Davis (On the verge of superstardom,  I think he’s already a top 10 player in the league, and has the upside to be top 3)

 

2013- Nobody

 

 

So, that’s 9 players since 2003 that I feel have had as much, or more, upside/potential as Wiggins.  7 of the 9 are stars, including the two best players in the league, guys with multiple all-star appearances, and plenty of top 10 players in the league.

 

Oden’s career has been derailed by injuries.  There’s no doubt in my mind he would have been a superstar as well had he stayed healthy.  He was taken over Durant for a reason, and it’s because his upside as a dominant center was through the roof.  If he stays healthy, that’s 8 of 9 that are superstars.

 

Finally, we get to Beasley.  He’s the black sheep of the list.  Unlimited potential, but limited motivation and work ethic.  With his skillset, he should have become a great player.  But when you have his motivation and work ethic, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, you’re going to be a piece of sh*t.

 

So, there you have it.  7 of 9 are superstars, and it would have been 8 of 9 had Oden stayed healthy.  The only one who hasn’t become a star is Beasley, and we all know why.  Injuries, work ethic, attitude, and motivation are the reasons why 9 of 9 aren’t superstars.

 

 

In reference to Wiggins, his upside is unlimited.  He has a great bloodline.  His father was a former NBA player, and his mother was an Olympic athlete.  That speaks for itself.  He also, by all accounts, has a great work ethic and a good head on his shoulders.  Something that Beasley never had.  With the success rate of those with similar, or more upside, Wiggins future is very bright.  Wiggins chances of becoming a superstar are VERY good.  The only way I see him not becoming a star is an injury, because motivation and work ethic don’t appear to be an issue.  It seems as though he won’t go down Beasley’s path.

[omphalosParticipant]

Also, Harrison Barnes and Drummond were also that highly regarded coming out of high school, just not out of college.

[omphalosParticipant]

Also, Harrison Barnes and Drummond were also that highly regarded coming out of high school, just not out of college.

[dazeoneParticipant]

 If I remember correctly his father was ok. Not LeBron and got kicked out of the NBA for that yayo. I’m just saying he has basketball in his genes but so does Michael Jeffrey Jordan’s kids as does Bob Hurley’s Doug Collins and John Stockton’s kids..let’s wait and see…

[dazeoneParticipant]

 If I remember correctly his father was ok. Not LeBron and got kicked out of the NBA for that yayo. I’m just saying he has basketball in his genes but so does Michael Jeffrey Jordan’s kids as does Bob Hurley’s Doug Collins and John Stockton’s kids..let’s wait and see…

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 In my opinion he has all the tools that Pippen had, maybe more potential on the scoring end. I dont think anyone here would complain if he was to turn out like Pippen did. I believed he could have been for LeBron, what Pippen was for Jordan, it would have taken so much pressure off Lebron a year or two from now, not intially. Sorry to get off the topic but it was a bad trade, and i believe that Wiggins will do just fine in the league.

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 In my opinion he has all the tools that Pippen had, maybe more potential on the scoring end. I dont think anyone here would complain if he was to turn out like Pippen did. I believed he could have been for LeBron, what Pippen was for Jordan, it would have taken so much pressure off Lebron a year or two from now, not intially. Sorry to get off the topic but it was a bad trade, and i believe that Wiggins will do just fine in the league.

[TheMOSTHATEDoneParticipant]

 

He needs a bit more weight, he is not a great shot creator but has done great strides, good shot, good/great on ball defender, athletic in the same level as Jordan. With fine tuning in his ballhandling and great work ethic he could end being a Kobe replacement as the best SG of this decade. And dont bring Harden on question, he doesnt even try to defend.

Sorry my english 🙂

 

 

 

[TheMOSTHATEDoneParticipant]

 

He needs a bit more weight, he is not a great shot creator but has done great strides, good shot, good/great on ball defender, athletic in the same level as Jordan. With fine tuning in his ballhandling and great work ethic he could end being a Kobe replacement as the best SG of this decade. And dont bring Harden on question, he doesnt even try to defend.

Sorry my english 🙂

 

 

 

[Toronto16Participant]

What he has on his side is that his weaknesses are easily fixable.  Weight, suspect dribbling, finishing at the rim.

His jump shot isn’t as bad as people think, and I think he deep down never wanted to go to college, which would explain the lack of fire sometimes.  In the summer league games he was locked in.  And if he being traded doesn’t motivate him, I’d be surprised.

 

[Toronto16Participant]

What he has on his side is that his weaknesses are easily fixable.  Weight, suspect dribbling, finishing at the rim.

His jump shot isn’t as bad as people think, and I think he deep down never wanted to go to college, which would explain the lack of fire sometimes.  In the summer league games he was locked in.  And if he being traded doesn’t motivate him, I’d be surprised.

 

[tuck243Participant]

when he has great scoring games in college (or even in the Summer League) they were had at the free throw line…  That 40 point game vs West Virginia he went to the line 19 times…  My coach said getting to the freethrow line is a mark of a great player, but he never really showed me his game outside of an occasional step back and back doors…

I truly wonder how good he is when he play against grown men and they won’t need to foul him…  That’s what I need to see from him and will confirm it for me, just how good he’s gonna be.. 

[tuck243Participant]

when he has great scoring games in college (or even in the Summer League) they were had at the free throw line…  That 40 point game vs West Virginia he went to the line 19 times…  My coach said getting to the freethrow line is a mark of a great player, but he never really showed me his game outside of an occasional step back and back doors…

I truly wonder how good he is when he play against grown men and they won’t need to foul him…  That’s what I need to see from him and will confirm it for me, just how good he’s gonna be.. 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

I do like Andrew Wiggins as a player, I really believe he’s a guy you could plug into a contender like San Antonio and not miss a beat

I just think soooooo much is going to be expected of this kid and I’m not sure he’s ready for life as the savior to a Franchise as historically unlucky as Minnesota, I am however pulling for Wiggins, Lavine and Mohammed, I have just always felt like Minnesota is a wasteland for young players and that their best days are likely way ahead of them and outside of the Minneapolis area…

I just what to say I also will not be shocked if Wiggins doesn’t amount to much more than Corey Brewer meets Wes Johnson, I’m not so sure he has the ability and mental makeup of a Go to Scorer, I can see him getting extremely discouraged if a guy shuts him down, he’s going up against Kawhi Leonard 4 times this year, those are the games I’d watch closely

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

I do like Andrew Wiggins as a player, I really believe he’s a guy you could plug into a contender like San Antonio and not miss a beat

I just think soooooo much is going to be expected of this kid and I’m not sure he’s ready for life as the savior to a Franchise as historically unlucky as Minnesota, I am however pulling for Wiggins, Lavine and Mohammed, I have just always felt like Minnesota is a wasteland for young players and that their best days are likely way ahead of them and outside of the Minneapolis area…

I just what to say I also will not be shocked if Wiggins doesn’t amount to much more than Corey Brewer meets Wes Johnson, I’m not so sure he has the ability and mental makeup of a Go to Scorer, I can see him getting extremely discouraged if a guy shuts him down, he’s going up against Kawhi Leonard 4 times this year, those are the games I’d watch closely

[Author]

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