NBA Draft

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#551      
IlliniKat91
Pay walled since it's The Athletic, but they have some confidential interviews about this year's prospects from NBA execs and college coaches. One caveat: coaches weren't interviewed about their own players, just ones they went up against.

Wings (including Will Riley): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6430848/2025/06/19/nba-draft-confidential-wings-2025/

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Guards (KJ): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6429478/2025/06/18/nba-draft-confidential-guard-2025/

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#552      
NarrowJ
IlliniKat91 said:
Pay walled since it's The Athletic, but they have some confidential interviews about this year's prospects from NBA execs and college coaches. One caveat: coaches weren't interviewed about their own players, just ones they went up against.

Wings (including Will Riley): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6430848/2025/06/19/nba-draft-confidential-wings-2025/

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Guards (KJ): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6429478/2025/06/18/nba-draft-confidential-guard-2025/

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lol at the sour grapes coach with the flopping comments on Will

Tell us you got your !!! kicked without telling us you got your !!! kicked
 
#555      
blackdog
IlliniFanTX said:
He's not wrong though... Will was ELITE at the "kick out your legs and get them swiped" move :ROFLMAO:
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He actually didn't even kick his legs out too bad he would just fold them up under him and fall down without being touched. It was really frustrating during his slump because it seemed he did it on almost every shot hoping to be fouled instead of trying to make the shot.
 
#556      
FloridaMan
Seems to me the comments reflect the fact that our two guys are nowhere near ready for the next level. I know, that isn't how players are drafted in the NBA. But, IMO, it should be. The league, again IMO, is nowhere near as good or entertaining as it used to be largely because they do not let their players develop before entering.
 
#558      
the juiceman cometh
FloridaMan said:
Seems to me the comments reflect the fact that our two guys are nowhere near ready for the next level. I know, that isn't how players are drafted in the NBA. But, IMO, it should be. The league, again IMO, is nowhere near as good or entertaining as it used to be largely because they do not let their players develop before entering.
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No, it just reflects the fact that there are 30 NBA teams, and thus being an NBA starter means you're one of the best 150 basketball players on the planet. In a given draft there might be 10 guys that are NBA starters even after they develop. This is not new, it's always been that way.

NBA is better at developing NBA players than the NCAA is. Just look at Anthony Edwards' stats at Georgia vs what he's become within an NBA infrastructure.
 
#560      
RabidDawgClassic
FloridaMan said:
Seems to me the comments reflect the fact that our two guys are nowhere near ready for the next level. I know, that isn't how players are drafted in the NBA. But, IMO, it should be. The league, again IMO, is nowhere near as good or entertaining as it used to be largely because they do not let their players develop before entering.
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Honestly... those two write up are essentially what I saw all season with the two players... especially KJ. The summaries were brutal, but spot on.
 
#562      
FloridaMan
the juiceman cometh said:
No, it just reflects the fact that there are 30 NBA teams, and thus being an NBA starter means you're one of the best 150 basketball players on the planet. In a given draft there might be 10 guys that are NBA starters even after they develop. This is not new, it's always been that way.

NBA is better at developing NBA players than the NCAA is. Just look at Anthony Edwards' stats at Georgia vs what he's become within an NBA infrastructure.
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They indicated much more than they "won't be a starter." They also pointed out what most realistic posters recognized throughout the season last year. Wildly talented players with loads of upside and likely sure fire NBA players. However, at 18-19 years old they are prone to mistakes made by young, not - yet - physically/mentally mature players. Didn't say this was necessarily new, but the NBA trend has certainly shifted to drafting more on potential than proven ability against collegiate competition. I'm sure you will argue these points, but I stand by my opinion that this trend has diminished the level of play overall.

Edit: and Ant was 3rd in scoring in the SEC in his one year at Georgia, so they developed him pretty well I'd say lol. Or he was already pretty well developed.
 
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#563      
Scoregasm
RabidDawgClassic said:
Honestly... those two write up are essentially what I saw all season with the two players... especially KJ. The summaries were brutal, but spot on.
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The negatives are spot on, but the overall reviews sound borderline fringe NBA draft picks.....not Top 20.
 
#564      
IlliniKat91
Scoregasm said:
The negatives are spot on, but the overall reviews sound borderline fringe NBA draft picks.....not Top 20.
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My only thought on that if I were being asked to give my opinion on a draft pick, I don't know if I would pump them up that much. Particularly knowing that this is going to be published before the draft, I wouldn't want to give any other office. Any insight into what I saw as positives in players. Let their own scouts find the positives. Everyone probably has the same negatives though and it probably isn't going to have a negative effect on your draft night if you let those slip out to the public.
 
#565      
the juiceman cometh
FloridaMan said:
Edit: and Ant was 3rd in scoring in the SEC in his one year at Georgia, so they developed him pretty well I'd say lol. Or he was already pretty well developed.
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And he was very inefficient. 29% from 3, .473 eFG. 1:1 assist to turnover ratio. Against college defense.

In the NBA, against better competition, he's a 36% 3pt shooter, .524 eFG, and perennial all-star. But yeah, he's the exact same player hasn't developed at all. Come on.
 
#566      
Emerson Bigguns
Scoregasm said:
The negatives are spot on, but the overall reviews sound borderline fringe NBA draft picks.....not Top 20.
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Outside the top 3, the talent level really levels out in this draft. Even if you include the top guys, a lot of development is necessary.

Being a very good backup in the NBA is not the slight some seem to think. It is really hard to carve out a starting role, and a lot of the guys who start weren’t particularly highly regarded on draft night. It’s a big crap shoot, even after the draft. (Keep in mid SGA was traded after his rookie year…oops)

Everyone has opinions. You know what they say about those…

I’m not one who believes guys should stay in college if they still have to develop. There is no substitute for practicing against the best in the world. Nothing will make you better faster, or expose what you need to work on more efficiently. If there is a spot for you on a roster, it’s an opportunity one should never pass up.

Regardless, both of our guys will almost certainly go in the 1st, which is an incredible development for Brad’s program.
 
#567      
FloridaMan
the juiceman cometh said:
And he was very inefficient. 29% from 3, .473 eFG. 1:1 assist to turnover ratio. Against college defense.

In the NBA, against better competition, he's a 36% 3pt shooter, .524 eFG, and perennial all-star. But yeah, he's the exact same player hasn't developed at all. Come on.
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Wow. Can you quote where I stated he "hasn't developed at all?" Come on. You just looooooove to argue lol
 
#569      
FloridaMan
the juiceman cometh said:
Naw just exhausted by the nonstop "they're not ready for the NBA" trope as if basketball players are frozen in amber and stop getting better the second they leave college ball.
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Nobody is saying anybody stops getting better, man. Of course they get better. My contention is that it does not contribute to improved play in the league overall because there are limited slots. And some players that would develop very nicely in college are taking up an increasing number of those slots. Maybe I'm (we're) wrong. But the number of viewers has been cratering for the last 10 years at least, so at least some agree.
 
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#570      
Mobi
RabidDawgClassic said:
Honestly... those two write up are essentially what I saw all season with the two players... especially KJ. The summaries were brutal, but spot on.
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To me, KJ is Podz with better passing and perhaps slightly better shooting. So I think he can start given the right situation as long as he is not super turnover prone.
 
#571      
Emerson Bigguns
FloridaMan said:
Nobody is saying anybody stops getting better, man. Of course they get better. My contention is that it does not contribute to improved play in the league overall because there are limited slots. And some players that would develop very nicely in college are taking up an increasing number of those slots. Maybe I'm (we're) wrong. But the number of viewers has been cratering for the last 10 years at least, so at least some agree.
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Has it? It’s been remarkably static post-Jordan, other than a brief spike between 2011 & 2013. NFL viewership has dropped at similar levels, thought it still dominates the ratings. MLB has dropped by much larger margins.
None have dropped anything like the drop of prime time network television in general, which was also somewhat responsible for the golden age of NBA viewing. There are so many more viewing options these days, no one pulls the numbers they used to.

The NBA finals has been down this year, but that’s largely due to small market teams w/o household name (yet) players.
 
#572      
FloridaMan
Emerson Bigguns said:
Has it? It’s been remarkably static post-Jordan, other than a brief spike between 2011 & 2013. NFL viewership has dropped at similar levels, thought it still dominates the ratings. MLB has dropped by much larger margins.
None have dropped anything like the drop of prime time network television in general, which was also somewhat responsible for the golden age of NBA viewing. There are so many more viewing options these days, no one pulls the numbers they used to.

The NBA finals has been down this year, but that’s largely due to small market teams w/o household name (yet) players.
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Data is a couple of years old, but seems like a trend downward since around 2010-2012. I agree with your points tho and this graph bears out that overall viewership has declined dramatically. So many more viewing options for sure, so that definitely also has had an impact. NBA viewership is actually down a bit less than I expected based on other things I had read fairly recently. Again, my opinion isn't changed that the quality of play is down, and I believe less development at both the high school and college levels plays a big part in that. AAU participation and drafting guys that have not advanced their skills to a higher level in college has contributed IMO.

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#573      
the juiceman cometh
FloridaMan said:
Data is a couple of years old, but seems like a trend downward since around 2010-2012. I agree with your points tho and this graph bears out that overall viewership has declined dramatically. So many more viewing options for sure, so that definitely also has had an impact. NBA viewership is actually down a bit less than I expected based on other things I had read fairly recently. Again, my opinion isn't changed that the quality of play is down, and I believe less development at both the high school and college levels plays a big part in that. AAU participation and drafting guys that have not advanced their skills to a higher level in college has contributed IMO.

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What exactly is it that current NBA players don't do as well as their predecessors?

Every critique I've heard about the quality of the NBA product has had more to do with style of play (analytic driven play style and homogenization of said style) and superstars being less marketable than in the past, lack of marketable dynasties and rivalries. I haven't heard anyone seriously argue that NBA players now are worse at basketball than NBA players of the past and I think all data and also my own eyeballs actually say the opposite.
 
#574      
Yes33
Mobi said:
To me, KJ is Podz with better passing and perhaps slightly better shooting. So I think he can start given the right situation as long as he is not super turnover prone.
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For some reason, when I think of KJ, I think of Jalen Brunson. Not sexy or overly athletic, but was very successful at every level. Sneaky good is the way I see it.
 
#575      
Justan opinion
the juiceman cometh said:
What exactly is it that current NBA players don't do as well as their predecessors?

Every critique I've heard about the quality of the NBA product has had more to do with style of play (analytic driven play style and homogenization of said style) and superstars being less marketable than in the past, lack of marketable dynasties and rivalries. I haven't heard anyone seriously argue that NBA players now are worse at basketball than NBA players of the past and I think all data and also my own eyeballs actually say the opposite.
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It’s not easy to compare basketball players over the eras. There are some great books out that do. I believe the NBA today pretty good and fun to watch I prefer 80s basketball but i’m old. I do think the greats could play in today’s game and vice versa. But not all in either could switch.
 
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