American Rookies

Discussion in 'NBA General' started by jump, Dec 30, 2003.

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  1. jump

    jump JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Back in June, just before the draft, scouts were singing the praises of international entrants into the 2003 NBA Draft.

    American rookies/stay away from me-he
    American rookies/can't hit the three-he
    Don't know how to flash back door
    Big men can't play the post no more
    I got more important things to do
    Then spend my time scouting dupes like you
    Now rookie, stay away
    American rookie, listen to what I say

    And a lot of us bought into the hype. These soon-to-be-rookies were turning in workouts that left scouts searching for new superlatives. Is No. 2 high enough for this guy? Super youth from Russia (7-5 and growing!) would change the way the game would be played. Passing would be crisper, shooting would be better, the water would be cleaner and the air would be fresher in the 2003-04 season thanks to these rookies.....</div>

    NBA.com
     
    jump, Dec 30, 2003
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  2. BigMemo

    BigMemo JBB JustBBall Member

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    Interesting. The draft was really stacked this year, good players getting drafted deep into it. Although foreign players did get a lot of attention, we all know who the draft was really all about. No amount of attention given to all the international players combined equals that given to Lebron James.
     
    BigMemo, Dec 30, 2003
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  3. TimFlem

    TimFlem JBB JustBBall Member

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    That was a funny little jingle got to print it. Anyway I think the rookies proved them wrong because that's all sportscatsters talkes about on TV. Didn't see alot of attention directed to the Forieghners though. Funny article IMO
     
    TimFlem, Dec 30, 2003
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  4. starman85

    starman85 JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimFlem:</div><div class="quote_post">That was a funny little jingle got to print it. Anyway I think the rookies proved them wrong because that's all sportscatsters talkes about on TV. Didn't see alot of attention directed to the Forieghners though. Funny article IMO</div>

    Haha, definitely right about the jingle, lol.

    I think this is a blessing in disguise. Darko is like the Kwame brown of foreign players, and its not just him. When a shrewd GM like Jerry West or Jerry Krause starts a trend, like drafting HS players or foreign players, it seems everyone in the league does it until someone busts big.

    Remember the draft of '01? It was the hip thing to do to draft HS players, and four went in the top 8 I believe. And then half of them came out as busts, and since then not as many HS players have been drafted. King James(the real one) withstanding, the highest HS player drafted since then was Amare at #9 in '02.

    Now we're seeing foreign players not live up to the billing, in sharp contrast with the American players who were thought to be bad prospects, or at least not as promising as their foreign counterparts. And teams are seeing that that's the wrong view to take.

    I don't have a link for this, but several weeks ago Jason Kapono was saying that if his name had been Kaponovich, he's have been drafted in the lottery. Funny, but true.

    This article hits it on the head that American college players can be just as bright and successful in the League these days as the 'diamonds in the rough' every scout dreams about.
     
    starman85, Dec 30, 2003
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