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NBA Players who have surprised you by being good
Posted on 12/3/14 at 12:38 am
Posted on 12/3/14 at 12:38 am
A guy I'm shocked has been so productive this early in his career is Jared Sullinger. I thought he was a hefty tweener that didn't have any discernible above-average skills. When he fell in the draft after returning to school, I thought that was a telling sign. I figured he would be a borderline bench guy who would be out of the league when his rookie contract expires. Instead he's a legit piece to build around in Boston.
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Posted on 12/3/14 at 12:42 am to TheWalrus
Patty Mills.
Didn't know if he'd be another promising international whose game didn't translate to the Association.
Didn't know if he'd be another promising international whose game didn't translate to the Association.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 12:49 am to TbirdSpur2010
Mills is a good one. A few other ones although Sullinger's success is what inspired this thread:
Nikola Vucevic (I'm convinced Philly management was so despondent that they gave away this guy for nothing, that they basically said "frick it" and decided to mega tank as a way to sulk)
Joakim Noah going back further, wasn't thrilled about him as a Bulls pick
Chandler Parsons (obvious one as a second round pick to a max contract guy)
Wes Matthews (Who saw him going from undrafted to such a vital piece on a winner)
As for the other side, a guy I was convinced would be a great player before anyone even knew who he was is Nic Batum. Watched his Euro Junior highlights and was awestruck
Nikola Vucevic (I'm convinced Philly management was so despondent that they gave away this guy for nothing, that they basically said "frick it" and decided to mega tank as a way to sulk)
Joakim Noah going back further, wasn't thrilled about him as a Bulls pick
Chandler Parsons (obvious one as a second round pick to a max contract guy)
Wes Matthews (Who saw him going from undrafted to such a vital piece on a winner)
As for the other side, a guy I was convinced would be a great player before anyone even knew who he was is Nic Batum. Watched his Euro Junior highlights and was awestruck
Posted on 12/3/14 at 1:05 am to TheWalrus
Batum is definitely another great example.
ETA: Guess I have a thing for Portland products
ETA: Guess I have a thing for Portland products
This post was edited on 12/3/14 at 1:10 am
Posted on 12/3/14 at 1:17 am to TheWalrus
Didn't figure Steph Curry would be this good.
43.9% career 3pt
43.9% career 3pt
Posted on 12/3/14 at 1:31 am to TheWalrus
Watching Kevin love in college, I thought no way would be become anything more than an off the bench big who could rebound and draw fouls. His development has really impressed me.
In contrast from the same draft, I thought oj mayo was going to be a stud but he's regressed almost every year since going off as a rookie
In contrast from the same draft, I thought oj mayo was going to be a stud but he's regressed almost every year since going off as a rookie
This post was edited on 12/3/14 at 1:32 am
Posted on 12/3/14 at 1:55 am to eumont
In terms of very early returns, Dante Exum has been far more than I expected-- I thought he'd be the worst kind of a lottery building project that would require 2 or 3 years to get to play 10 minutes a game, and that might never flash-- whereas he's already playing 10-20 minutes, and flashing decently. If he ever gets his shot figured out, he can be a valuable piece.
Andrew Wiggins is a much more versatile offensive player than I anticipated. I thought 29 might be a near-career type high, rather than something he did in his first month in the league. I always thought he'd be a defense-athleticism-rebounder, without being a major scorer.
Andrew Wiggins is a much more versatile offensive player than I anticipated. I thought 29 might be a near-career type high, rather than something he did in his first month in the league. I always thought he'd be a defense-athleticism-rebounder, without being a major scorer.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 2:59 am to TheWalrus
Rajon Rondo
Posted on 12/3/14 at 3:26 am to TheWalrus
Marc Gasol.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 5:29 am to eumont
quote:because he was like 30 when he was a rookie
I thought oj mayo was going to be a stud but he's regressed almost every year since going off as a rookie
Posted on 12/3/14 at 7:09 am to TheWalrus
Roy Hibbert
Posted on 12/3/14 at 7:17 am to BoardReader
#1 draft picks in their rookie year arent allowed in this thread
Posted on 12/3/14 at 7:24 am to TheWalrus
I knew Damien Lillard was good but I had no idea he would be perennial All Star good
Posted on 12/3/14 at 7:24 am to TheWalrus
quote:
NBA Players who have surprised you by being good
He may not be good, but the fact that Steve Blake is still in the league surprises the hell out of me.
I still don't know how Matt Bonner has played 10+ years and won two NBA championships shooting like a sixth grade girl.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 7:44 am to Nonetheless
quote:
Rajon Rondo
This is a good one Usually players drafted on potential don't end up being very good. He was simply wasn't a very productive player at Kentucky.
Steph Curry was another good one. I thought he was too small. I thought he would be another great college player who didn't pan out like Morrison, Jimmer, etc.
I hated Noah out of college, but I think I just hated Florida and his ugliness. I loved Tyrus Thomas that year.
Chris Paul was a player that scouts had lots of problems with coming out of college. He's ended up being one of the best point guards ever. I always liked him though, but I always am biased towards my favorite college players.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 8:22 am to SwaggerCopter
noah... no way i figured he would be this good. I figured he would be a major flop.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 9:27 am to TheWalrus
Not that he is great, but I never thought Glen Davis would still be in the league after 3 years.
I was wrong on Noah too, I also used to hate that dude, but now he is probably my favorite player outside of AD.
I was wrong on Noah too, I also used to hate that dude, but now he is probably my favorite player outside of AD.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 10:01 am to LasVegasTiger
Big Baby for sure. He's been a serviceable (and more than serviceable) player for years now, and even has a championship (that he contributed to). I'm still not sure he can actually dunk.
Also, because my friends and I were discussing him last week...Garrett Temple. He's (well, was) having a pretty solid start to this year, and was starting (due to injury, but still) for the Wiz. I honestly thought he'd never seen the court or make an NBA team, but he's carved out a space for himself, and on a good team at that.
Also agree with Noah. I figured he'd be a run of the mill bench player in the league, but he's pretty damn good.
Also, because my friends and I were discussing him last week...Garrett Temple. He's (well, was) having a pretty solid start to this year, and was starting (due to injury, but still) for the Wiz. I honestly thought he'd never seen the court or make an NBA team, but he's carved out a space for himself, and on a good team at that.
Also agree with Noah. I figured he'd be a run of the mill bench player in the league, but he's pretty damn good.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 10:04 am to CocomoLSU
It's a shame that Temple figured out how to shoot the three after his time at LSU.
Posted on 12/3/14 at 10:06 am to TheWalrus
Lillard - dude is a stud and had no idea he'd be as good as he is. TOugh as nails too.
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