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This stuff doesn't get old.
Direct link: http://nba.si.com/2013/04/11/nba-surprises-kobe-bryant-tim-duncan-rockets/?eref=sihp
On the opposite end of the NBA life cycle is the 19-year-old Drummond, a “project” who turned out to be more NBA-ready than most everyone imagined. Drummond came packaged in last year’s draft with the allure of a traditional center — a solid 6-foot-10 big man with long arms and no delusions of ball-handling or perimeter shooting. He didn’t (and doesn’t) have much of a post game and couldn’t finish anything beyond a layup or dunk, but an incredible amount of athletic potential lurked in Drummond’s game. Still, NBA types have been taught through years of trial and error to be wary of players like Drummond, whose work ethic and conditioning were also questioned. As a result, Drummond fell to the Pistons at No. 9.
Since then, Drummond has made a handful of general managers hang their heads in regret. Drummond hasn’t played a ton of minutes because of coach Lawrence Frank’s initial reservations and later because of a back injury, but he’s been outstanding in 57 games. He may not create offense or be proficient enough to be a legitimate defensive force, but in Drummond one can already see raw tools and first-rate instincts manifesting in usable form.
Even as his game grows, Drummond has been a top-five rebounder on both ends — the only player to do so outside of glass-cleaning specialist Reggie Evans. He also holds no reservations about what he is or what he should do. Drummond only attempts shots that he can make, which in this case means that he endeavors to dunk whenever possible. That’s a charming attribute, but let’s home in on something more substantive: Since 1972, Drummond is one of just two players(along with Shaquille O’Neal) to average more than 13 points and 13 rebounds per 36 minutes in his rookie season. This exemplary production is just the start of what Drummond might be able to accomplish as he develops.
Direct link: http://nba.si.com/2013/04/11/nba-surprises-kobe-bryant-tim-duncan-rockets/?eref=sihp
On the opposite end of the NBA life cycle is the 19-year-old Drummond, a “project” who turned out to be more NBA-ready than most everyone imagined. Drummond came packaged in last year’s draft with the allure of a traditional center — a solid 6-foot-10 big man with long arms and no delusions of ball-handling or perimeter shooting. He didn’t (and doesn’t) have much of a post game and couldn’t finish anything beyond a layup or dunk, but an incredible amount of athletic potential lurked in Drummond’s game. Still, NBA types have been taught through years of trial and error to be wary of players like Drummond, whose work ethic and conditioning were also questioned. As a result, Drummond fell to the Pistons at No. 9.
Since then, Drummond has made a handful of general managers hang their heads in regret. Drummond hasn’t played a ton of minutes because of coach Lawrence Frank’s initial reservations and later because of a back injury, but he’s been outstanding in 57 games. He may not create offense or be proficient enough to be a legitimate defensive force, but in Drummond one can already see raw tools and first-rate instincts manifesting in usable form.
Even as his game grows, Drummond has been a top-five rebounder on both ends — the only player to do so outside of glass-cleaning specialist Reggie Evans. He also holds no reservations about what he is or what he should do. Drummond only attempts shots that he can make, which in this case means that he endeavors to dunk whenever possible. That’s a charming attribute, but let’s home in on something more substantive: Since 1972, Drummond is one of just two players(along with Shaquille O’Neal) to average more than 13 points and 13 rebounds per 36 minutes in his rookie season. This exemplary production is just the start of what Drummond might be able to accomplish as he develops.