Biggest draft busts :(

[PapaG]

A team that had only one other player, who played in more than 30 games, with a PER above 15 finished above .500. Pretty amazing that McGrady was able to accomplish that. Imagine if he had had more than one teammate above average.



Just that there are many pitfalls between elite start to a career and an elite overall career. I think very very few players are so talented that they are likely, after only a few years to judge from, to finish as an inner circle Hall of Famer. I do think that, barring injury, Durant will probably be a Hall of Famer. But likely to have a Jordan-like career? No. And I think even a Stockton/Barkley like career is below 50% though definitely a significant possibility.

Well, Stockton accumulated a lot of stats by longevity. While he was a great NBA player, the fact that the all-time assist and all-time steals leader isn't considered one of the top five players ever kind of proves that point.

 

[Minstrel]

Well, Stockton accumulated a lot of stats by longevity. While he was a great NBA player, the fact that the all-time assist and all-time steals leader isn't considered one of the top five players ever kind of proves that point.

Raw stats don't tell the story, I agree. Which is why I also don't think Durant's total points to a certain age tells the story.

Stockton fashioned his greatness from being fantastic for an incredibly long time. He wasn't Pete Rose...a pure accumulator who was only sometimes really good. Stockton was generally a true great. But he was never dominant like a Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson, the two top point guards of all-time in my view.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Well, Stockton accumulated a lot of stats by longevity. While he was a great NBA player, the fact that the all-time assist and all-time steals leader isn't considered one of the top five players ever kind of proves that point.

what player atop all time leaderboards did so without longevity? btw he could have retired at 34 with the assist record, but he had 6 more years of 21+ PER up his sleeve.

i think the reason alot of people dont respect his game more is because he didnt "score moar bukketz!" even though he shot .515 over his career

not saying he was top 5, him and durant have an identical career PER of 21.8, good for 31st all time...still less than mcgradys 22.4 though

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it's a pretty safe bet at this point to project Durant as a hall of famer ... regardless of how he stacks up directly against McGrady, Jordan, et al. Hell the fact that you can even begin to argue about where he ranks against them tells a you a helluva lot about what kind of player he's been so far.

Anyway, what does this have to do with Greg being a bust so far?

 

[Minstrel]

Anyway, what does this have to do with Greg being a bust so far?

Nothing. Durant is an awesome talent regardless of what Oden does or does not accomplish, and I thought so at the time of the draft.

It does, however, matter when it comes to the silly and lazy comparisons to Bowie vs. Jordan. Oden is far better than Bowie and Durant is not nearly as good as Jordan. That doesn't mean Oden can't be a bust, just that the comparison is invalid (all the more so when you consider the logic behind why Bowie was selected ahead of Jordan).

 

[PapaG]

I think it's a pretty safe bet at this point to project Durant as a hall of famer ... regardless of how he stacks up directly against McGrady, Jordan, et al. Hell the fact that you can even begin to argue about where he ranks against them tells a you a helluva lot about what kind of player he's been so far.

Anyway, what does this have to do with Greg being a bust so far?

What does Durant's career have to do with Oden? Really???

 

[3RA1N1AC]

What does Durant's career have to do with Oden? Really???

they are pretty much tied to the hip forever, heres hoping greg makes it a little less one sided (while he plays for portland)

 

[PapaG]

I wanted Oden to be the pick, but there is no reason they both can't end up great players for the teams who drafted them, eh?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I wanted Oden to be the pick, but there is no reason they both can't end up great players for the teams who drafted them, eh?

you are talking my language! haha, i still have high hopes for oden, you may say im a dreamer, but im not the only one