So how good is Wembanyama going to be?

[BobPSU92]

He went first in the NBA draft last night, as everyone knew he would. 7’5”, and it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. He can shoot the 3, he moves like a guard, he can play inside, etc. Assuming he stays healthy, he looks like a can’t miss.

GENERATIONAL. TALENT.

What do you think? Does he have any flaws that will be revealed through the rigors of the NBA? Does he kill it out of the gate, does he take his lumps early and develop his NBA game in the next few years, or is he a bust?

 

[ClarkstonMark]

somewhere between darko and lebron

 

[BobPSU92]

somewhere between darko and lebron

 

[BostonNit]

Jersey font will need to be too small to be legible.

 

[psuro]

He went first in the NBA draft last night, as everyone knew he would. 7’5”, and it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. He can shoot the 3, he moves like a guard, he can play inside, etc. Assuming he stays healthy, he looks like a can’t miss.


Can he play defensive line? We need some depth.

 

[Bvillebaron]

He went first in the NBA draft last night, as everyone knew he would. 7’5”, and it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. He can shoot the 3, he moves like a guard, he can play inside, etc. Assuming he stays healthy, he looks like a can’t miss.

GENERATIONAL. TALENT.

What do you think? Does he have any flaws that will be revealed through the rigors of the NBA? Does he kill it out of the gate, does he take his lumps early and develop his NBA game in the next few years, or is he a bust?

Why do images of Shawn Bradley keep going through head?

 

[Midnighter]

He went first in the NBA draft last night, as everyone knew he would. 7’5”, and it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. He can shoot the 3, he moves like a guard, he can play inside, etc. Assuming he stays healthy, he looks like a can’t miss.

GENERATIONAL. TALENT.

What do you think? Does he have any flaws that will be revealed through the rigors of the NBA? Does he kill it out of the gate, does he take his lumps early and develop his NBA game in the next few years, or is he a bust?

Is there a sport more advantageous to physical attributes than basketball? It’s why I hate it. If you are big and somewhat coordinated, you can do well. If you are big and coordinated, you can dominate. For scaling comparison, if you were 6’ tall the hoop would be about 8’6”. Like shooting paper balls into a trash can.

 

[rudedude]

The NBA will take its toll on this kid’s body unless he adds some weight and muscle. Guys that tall also have issues with their feet. He has skill for sure, depends on how he fares physically

 

[lemonears]

Looks like a kid who will be injured a lot playing in the NBA.

 

[PSU1969A]

Wonder if he can shoot foul shots better than Chamberlain.

 

[LionJim]

Wonder if he can shoot foul shots better than Chamberlain.

He can, 82% ft percentage last season. He’s actually very skilled, with an excellent handle. Nobody his size ever has had his ball skills. He really needs to improve his 3-point fgp, though. He’s only 19, give him five years and he could be phenomenal. He’ll make his mark, I am confident.

 

[BobPSU92]

Wonder if he can shoot foul shots better than Chamberlain.

The real is question is whether he can score like Chamberlain.

 

[Jason1743]

I’m sure the kid will be great. How great and can he stay healthy?, no one knows. It kinda bothers me that potentially the best player in the league (and world) is French. Anyone else feel the same?

 

[LionJim]

I’m sure the kid will be great. How great and can he stay healthy?, no one knows. It kinda bothers me that potentially the best player in the league (and world) is French. Anyone else feel the same?

The last five MVPs have been foreign-born. Yes, it bugs me.

 

[Bison13]

The last five MVPs have been foreign-born. Yes, it bugs me.

Much like with baseball and the Dominicans our culture’s way of developing young talent is wrong. Whether it be aau basketball or travel baseball our young kids play four, five or even up to eight games a weekend at tournaments and maybe practice once during the middle of the week. The international development focuses far more on skills and fundamentals than games.

 

[LionJim]

Much like with baseball and the Dominicans our culture’s way of developing young talent is wrong. Whether it be aau basketball or travel baseball our young kids play four, five or even up to eight games a weekend at tournaments and maybe practice once during the middle of the week. The international development focuses far more on skills and fundamentals than games.

Yeah, I forget this part.

 

[BobPSU92]

Years ago, one of the guys on espn would say, “The lost art of the mid-range jump shot.” American kids just wanted to dunk and make the 3. It became all about making SportsCenter in the ‘90s, then social media after that. Fundamentals went away. It wasn‘t really his fault, but I blame MJ. Dunking and athleticism were always prized, but MJ and the hype around him went to another level. Kids obviously noticed.

 

[wbcbus]

Is there a sport more advantageous to physical attributes than basketball? It’s why I hate it. If you are big and somewhat coordinated, you can do well. If you are big and coordinated, you can dominate. For scaling comparison, if you were 6’ tall the hoop would be about 8’6”. Like shooting paper balls into a trash can.

Can’t say I agree. The NBA is littered with players who had all the physical gifts in the world and did nothing because they failed to develop the necessary skills. On the other hand, you have guys like Chris Paul who likely isn’t even 6’ tall and is the best PG of the past 15 years. Or a guy like Barkley who led the league in rebounding for years despite being about 6’5”. Wemby isn’t a generational talent just because he’s tall and somewhat coordinated, otherwise Bol Bol would also have been a generational talent, and he’s plainly not and never was. You’re severely discounting the amount of skill required to be great regardless of size, and the amount of work it takes for those guys to develop those skills.

Meanwhile, who are the NFL greats that aren’t great because of physical attributes? Mahomes was born with that arm. Parsons running that speed at that size was born into him as well. How about MLB? You think Cole only throws 100 because he worked harder at it?

To me it seems every sport requires 75% things you’re born with, and 25% what you do with them. I don’t see NBA as any different on that front.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Can’t say I agree. The NBA is littered with players who had all the physical gifts in the world and did nothing because they failed to develop the necessary skills. On the other hand, you have guys like Chris Paul who likely isn’t even 6’ tall and is the best PG of the past 15 years. Or a guy like Barkley who led the league in rebounding for years despite being about 6’5”. Wemby isn’t a generational talent just because he’s tall and somewhat coordinated, otherwise Bol Bol would also have been a generational talent, and he’s plainly not and never was. You’re severely discounting the amount of skill required to be great regardless of size, and the amount of work it takes for those guys to develop those skills.

I don't disagree with the overall point. However, just to clarify, Sir Charles only led the league in rebounds one season, 1986-87.

 

[Corneliuswonder]

Can’t say I agree. The NBA is littered with players who had all the physical gifts in the world and did nothing because they failed to develop the necessary skills. On the other hand, you have guys like Chris Paul who likely isn’t even 6’ tall and is the best PG of the past 15 years. Or a guy like Barkley who led the league in rebounding for years despite being about 6’5”. Wemby isn’t a generational talent just because he’s tall and somewhat coordinated, otherwise Bol Bol would also have been a generational talent, and he’s plainly not and never was. You’re severely discounting the amount of skill required to be great regardless of size, and the amount of work it takes for those guys to develop those skills.

Meanwhile, who are the NFL greats that aren’t great because of physical attributes? Mahomes was born with that arm. Parsons running that speed at that size was born into him as well. How about MLB? You think Cole only throws 100 because he worked harder at it?

To me it seems every sport requires 75% things you’re born with, and 25% what you do with them. I don’t see NBA as any different on that front.

I agree. If anything, I’d say it’s football that relies on physical gifts above all else. Look at a guy like Ross Travis. With all due respect to Ross, he was an average to mildly below average Big Ten basketball player, but still managed to carve out a multi-year NFL career strictly on the back of his sheer physical gifts. There are many, many, many more stories like that than there are the other way around.

 

[Midnighter]

Can’t say I agree. The NBA is littered with players who had all the physical gifts in the world and did nothing because they failed to develop the necessary skills. On the other hand, you have guys like Chris Paul who likely isn’t even 6’ tall and is the best PG of the past 15 years. Or a guy like Barkley who led the league in rebounding for years despite being about 6’5”. Wemby isn’t a generational talent just because he’s tall and somewhat coordinated, otherwise Bol Bol would also have been a generational talent, and he’s plainly not and never was. You’re severely discounting the amount of skill required to be great regardless of size, and the amount of work it takes for those guys to develop those skills.

Meanwhile, who are the NFL greats that aren’t great because of physical attributes? Mahomes was born with that arm. Parsons running that speed at that size was born into him as well. How about MLB? You think Cole only throws 100 because he worked harder at it?

To me it seems every sport requires 75% things you’re born with, and 25% what you do with them. I don’t see NBA as any different on that front.

Fixed height of rim is the difference. What you’re describing is people who are good at their sports because of their talent - like McEnroe; he’s not going to beat too many people in a bench press contest or footrace, but he is a highly skilled tennis player. Same is true for bball, but the height requirement makes it so you don’t have to necessarily be a great basketball player to succeed. Even guys who are mid 6ft’s have an advantage. No other sport makes one physical attribute as important as height in basketball. The best players of all time are tall and dominant (Jabbar, Chamberlain, Shaq, James, Jordan, Robinson, etc.). Just run and dunk - can’t do that in any other sport.

Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all time but that’s because he set his mind to getting rebounds. Who else does that? He was an otherwise below average skill player (and 6’7”).

 

[wbcbus]

Fixed height of rim is the difference. What you’re describing is people who are good at their sports because of their talent - like McEnroe; he’s not going to beat too many people in a bench press contest or footrace, but he is a highly skilled tennis player. Same is true for bball, but the height requirement makes it so you don’t have to necessarily be a great basketball player to succeed. Even guys who are mid 6ft’s have an advantage. No other sport makes one physical attribute as important as height in basketball. The best players of all time are tall and dominant (Jabbar, Chamberlain, Shaq, James, Jordan, Robinson, etc.). Just run and dunk - can’t do that in any other sport.

Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all time but that’s because he set his mind to getting rebounds. Who else does that? He was an otherwise below average skill player (and 6’7”).

Completely agree that a general height is an overall requirement for the most part, but some genetic physical tool is mandatory for every professional sport, so I guess I fail to see the difference. “Just run and dunk” is so wildly inaccurate to the great players you list that it’s basically a lost cause to even argue against.

 

[wbcbus]

I don't disagree with the overall point. However, just to clarify, Sir Charles only led the league in rebounds one season, 1986-87.

Fair enough, I thought it was more. Top 20 rebounds all time supports the point in any event.

 

[wbcbus]

Fixed height of rim is the difference. What you’re describing is people who are good at their sports because of their talent - like McEnroe; he’s not going to beat too many people in a bench press contest or footrace, but he is a highly skilled tennis player. Same is true for bball, but the height requirement makes it so you don’t have to necessarily be a great basketball player to succeed. Even guys who are mid 6ft’s have an advantage. No other sport makes one physical attribute as important as height in basketball. The best players of all time are tall and dominant (Jabbar, Chamberlain, Shaq, James, Jordan, Robinson, etc.). Just run and dunk - can’t do that in any other sport.

Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all time but that’s because he set his mind to getting rebounds. Who else does that? He was an otherwise below average skill player (and 6’7”).

But who am I to not argue anyway…

Why do you suppose every 6’6”-6’7” player isn’t Michael Jordan or Lebron James? You think it’s just their height? Not skills that were worked at tirelessly to separate from the millions of other people that height in the world?

And if it’s not true in other sports, then start listing all the NFL all time great QBs who are 6’ or less, I’ll start with Drew Brees, you name the rest. Or maybe the great MLB starting pitchers that were 6’ or less. I’ll take Lincecum, you name the rest.

The simplicity of “just run and dunk” doesn’t hold up at all (especially where dunks make up maybe 5% of shots in a game). It’s the equivalent of saying all offensive lineman are only great because they’re big. Historically all the greats are huge men. So I guess their success is as simple as be big, and run and shove people down. That simple. You have to know that isn’t the case. Sure, size is an initial requirement for being a great OL, but what separates just being big from the greats involves a world more. Same for hoops.

 

[Midnighter]

But who am I to not argue anyway…

Why do you suppose every 6’6”-6’7” player isn’t Michael Jordan or Lebron James? You think it’s just their height? Not skills that were worked at tirelessly to separate from the millions of other people that height in the world?

And if it’s not true in other sports, then start listing all the NFL all time great QBs who are 6’ or less, I’ll start with Drew Brees, you name the rest. Or maybe the great MLB starting pitchers that were 6’ or less. I’ll take Lincecum, you name the rest.

The simplicity of “just run and dunk” doesn’t hold up at all (especially where dunks make up maybe 5% of shots in a game). It’s the equivalent of saying all offensive lineman are only great because they’re big. Historically all the greats are huge men. So I guess their success is as simple as be big, and run and shove people down. That simple. You have to know that isn’t the case. Sure, size is an initial requirement for being a great OL, but what separates just being big from the greats involves a world more. Same for hoops.

I didn’t say it was height only - I said height is a massive advantage and is something you cannot teach or practice or cultivate (unlike ball skills, shooting, foot speed/agility, etc). I said this advantage was unique to bball, so no need to bring in QBs, OL, etc. We’re strictly talking height and basketball. That is it. Short players (under 6’5”) who dominate are the exception and not the rule.

 

[Bison13]

Years ago, one of the guys on espn would say, “The lost art of the mid-range jump shot.” American kids just wanted to dunk and make the 3. It became all about making SportsCenter in the ‘90s, then social media after that. Fundamentals went away. It wasn‘t really his fault, but I blame MJ. Dunking and athleticism were always prized, but MJ and the hype around him went to another level. Kids obviously noticed.

Michael was also one of the best mid range jump shooters. The analytics say that a mid range jumpshot is not as effective of a scoring opportunity as a three pointer or a dunk or a free-throw so that’s part of the reason it’s not used much anymore as there are teams, who are only allow certain players to shoot certain shots

 

[wbcbus]

I didn’t say it was height only - I said height is a massive advantage and is something you cannot teach or practice or cultivate (unlike ball skills, shooting, foot speed/agility, etc). I said this advantage was unique to bball, so no need to bring in QBs, OL, etc. We’re strictly talking height and basketball. That is it. Short players (under 6’5”) who dominate are the exception and not the rule.

As I understood you, you hate basketball because one physical advantage is so important. So I pointed out that positions in other sports have equally similar single physical characteristics that are required. I did that to question why that offends you in basketball, but not in those other sports. I haven't seen an explanation from you on why height being a massive advantage for a QB or SP doesn't bother you, but it does for an NBA center. Take a look at the NFL's top 100 players of all time and essentially the only players you see under 6'1" or so are a few RBs. So the height advantage seems equal there, just at a lower threshold. You obviously don't owe me an explanation, I just don't understand it.

 

[Midnighter]

As I understood you, you hate basketball because one physical advantage is so important. So I pointed out that positions in other sports have equally similar single physical characteristics that are required. I did that to question why that offends you in basketball, but not in those other sports. I haven't seen an explanation from you on why height being a massive advantage for a QB or SP doesn't bother you, but it does for an NBA center. Take a look at the NFL's top 100 players of all time and essentially the only players you see under 6'1" or so are a few RBs. So the height advantage seems equal there, just at a lower threshold. You obviously don't owe me an explanation, I just don't understand it.

I’d argue the height issue in football is more a product of the evolution of players more than a requirement. Go back to 1961 - arguably Wilt Chamberlain’s best year. He was still 7’1”. Sonny Jurgensen was the NFL passing leader that year and was 5’11”.

I also checked the average height of an NBA player in 1960 - 6’6”. In 2020? 6’6”.

I’d add that statistically speaking, if you are an American male and 7’ or taller, you have an 18% chance of making the NBA.

 

[JakkL]

Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all time but that’s because he set his mind to getting rebounds. Who else does that? He was an otherwise below average skill player (and 6’7”).

Wilt did. His WORST season he averaged 18. His high season was 27 and his career average was 22.

 

[Midnighter]

Wilt did. His WORST season he averaged 18. His high season was 27 and his career average was 22.

Ok. Probably the best player ever.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

Length always matters! I have been told this waaaaay to many times!!!

 

[VaDave4PSU]

Length always matters! I have been told this waaaaay to many times!!!

That's what she said!

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

That's what she said!

Sadly, my retort of “It’s quality, not quantity that is important” never worked.

 

[Midnighter]

I agree. If anything, I’d say it’s football that relies on physical gifts above all else. Look at a guy like Ross Travis. With all due respect to Ross, he was an average to mildly below average Big Ten basketball player, but still managed to carve out a multi-year NFL career strictly on the back of his sheer physical gifts. There are many, many, many more stories like that than there are the other way around.

A lot more room on a 53 man pro football roster for a guy who works hard and is physically gifted than for amazing basketball players who are under 6’4”. Mostly because there will be some 6’6” - 6’8” guy who can do the same but only taller…

 

[Nitt1300]

The last five MVPs have been foreign-born. Yes, it bugs me.

we're all immigrants to North America

 

[LionJim]

we're all immigrants to North America

No, I’m American-born, not an immigrant. I’m guessing you meant to say that those of us who are not full-blood Native have ancestors who immigrated to North America.

Edit: More to your point, I’ll stipulate that it doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference that the last five NBA MVPs have been awarded to foreign-born players. What bothers me is that this is a reflection on how poorly American players are prepared for the NBA and, perhaps, a reflection on the work ethic of American youth. Our kids are addicted to their phones.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

Who guards this guy? From a 30 yr coaching point of view…. You put a 7ft center on him, I step him out to 20 feet and take the defender off the bounce. Put a 6-8 guy on him, I post him up. Best of luck!

 

[PrtLng Lion]

No, I’m American-born, not an immigrant. I’m guessing you meant to say that those of us who are not full-blood Native have ancestors who immigrated to North America.

Edit: More to your point, I’ll stipulate that it doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference that the last five NBA MVPs have been awarded to foreign-born players. What bothers me is that this is a reflection on how poorly American players are prepared for the NBA and, perhaps, a reflection on the work ethic of American youth. Our kids are addicted to their phones.

^^^ This. I think the work ethic (or lack thereof) issue and lack of emphasis on fundamentals is huge. I still play hoops regularly but get very frustrated in pickup games with most younger generations because everyone is jacking up 3's (everyone thinks they're Steph Curry), no one crashes the boards, there's no setting of picks, and no one looks to pass.

 

[BobPSU92]

WEMBY. is making his NBA debut tonight in a Summer League game against Charlotte. At halftime now. In the first half, he had 5 points, shooting 1-7 from the floor. Also 5 rebounds and 5 blocks.

He needs to eat some burgers.

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

Every time i see his name this is all I think of...