Nba Draft: Kevin Durant

[Miramonti]

Apparently he's weak, slow, not all that quick, and can't jump...but he can atleast reach further than Oden. :laugh:

Seattle must be having indigestion right about now...

link

According to the newspaper, the report said Durant was ranked 78th out of 80 NBA prospects who worked out at Orlando, while Ohio State center Greg Oden had an impressive workout.

Oden and Durant have long been slated to go 1-2 in the NBA draft, and it's expected the Seattle SuperSonics will take Durant after the Portland Trail Blazers take Oden.

According to the Times, Durant was the only prospect at camp who failed to bench press 185 pounds, and finished behind Oden in some key drills, including the vertical leap, agility drill and three-quarter court sprint.

Oden jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap while Durant jumped 33½ inches, completed the agility drill in 11.67 seconds to Durant's 12.33 seconds, and finished the three-quarter court sprint in 3.27 seconds, ahead of Durant's 3.45 seconds, according to the report.

Durant, however, had a 7-4¾ wingspan, which ranked second among all prospects and measured a half-inch wider than Oden's wingspan.

But Durant's college coach said scouts should not question his strength just because he could not bench press 185 pounds.

"If people question his strength, they're sthupid," Texas' Rick Barnes said Tuesday, according to The Dallas Morning News. "If they are looking for weight lifters to come out of Texas, that's not what we're producing. There are a lot of guys who can bench press 300 pounds in the NBA who couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie. Kevin's the best player in the draft -- [except during his] period, at any position."

 

[HopJokey]

Yea but can he play Basketball?

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: HopJokey
Yea but can he play Basketball?

Based on that workout he won't last 82 games.

 

[LS20]

probably couldnt score a 6 on the wonderlic

 

[Gibsons]

Longer arms make it more difficult to bench press. The guy can play.

 

[tfinch2]

6'10", 7'4 3/4" wingspan, and a 33"+ vertical is more than enough to play above the rim in the NBA. The rim is only 10 ft high. The guy is probably half way up the net on reach alone.

The last time I checked, basketball was more about filling it up, rather than running fast and jumping high. Is there any question that Durant can fill it up? He will be fine. Oden needs skill more than Durant needs strength. He won't be able to physically dominate smaller players like he did at OSU.

Both will be good.

 

[Queasy]

George W Bush bench presses more than Kevin Durant

We're hoping that because of Kevin Durant's recent pathetic bench press showing at the NBA Draft Camp - he couldn't lift 185 lbs. even once - he'll fall all the way to the Warriors at the 18th pick. We'd gladly take him and his puny arms.

While that's pretty unlikely, we thought we'd take a look at how other athletes and celebrities have fared over the years with the bench press. We should note that not all of the numbers we've compiled are for max lifts. If they use certain weights for reps, we'll mention that. Our list is below, but all you really need to know is this, our current President benches more than Durant.

President Bush: 5 reps of 185 lbs.
Brady Quinn: Max - 350 lbs. and 28 reps of 225 lbs.
Yao Ming: Max - 300 lbs.
Former Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen: Max - 700 lbs.
Former NHL hockey goon Tony Twist: Max - 405 lbs.
Refrigerator Perry: Max - 465 lbs.
LaDainian Tomlinson: Max - 430 lbs.
The Rock: Max - 425 lbs.
Reggie Bush: Max - 335 lbs.
Matt Leinart: Never did one (Somehow I'm not surprised).
Power lifter and world bench press record holder Scot Mendelson: Max - 715 lbs.
MMA fighter and former pro football player Bob "The Beast" Sapp: Max - 600+ lbs.
Titans offensive lineman Justin Geisinger: Max - 600 lbs. and 43 reps of 225 lbs.
Former wrestler SuperFly Jimmy Snuka: Max - 525 lbs.
Shaq: Claimed Max - 455 lbs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Best ever Max - 455 lbs.
JaMarcus Russell: Max - 335 lbs.
49ers Tight End Vernon Davis: Max - 465 lbs.
Olympic Gold medalist and current pro wrestler Kurt Angle: Max - 420 lbs.
Dwight Howard: Max - 345 lbs.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Derek Landri: Max - 425 lbs.
Actor Hugh Jackman: Max - 315 lbs. (during X-Men)
Former wrestler Brett "The Hitman" Hart: Max - 405 lbs.
Actor Will Smith: Max - 385 lbs. (during I-Robot)
100 meter dash world record holder Maurice Green: Max -365 lbs.
Michael Vick: Max - 335 lbs.
Tedd Ginn Jr.: Max - 250 lbs.
Former wrestler Lex Luger: 5 reps of 405 lbs.
Actor Jack Lemmon: Claimed Max - 300+ lbs. (I assume this is a joke)
Tiger Woods: Max - 300 lbs. Reportedly does reps at 190 lbs.
Wilt Chamberlain: Witnesses claim he once benched 465 lbs.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go train so I can out bench the prez.

 

[50cent1228]

wow

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
6'10", 7'4 3/4" wingspan, and a 33"+ vertical is more than enough to play above the rim in the NBA. The rim is only 10 ft high. The guy is probably half way up the net on reach alone.

The last time I checked, basketball was more about filling it up, rather than running fast and jumping high. Is there any question that Durant can fill it up? He will be fine. Oden needs skill more than Durant needs strength. He won't be able to physically dominate smaller players like he did at OSU.

Both will be good.

If you get pushed around on the basketball floor because everybody is stronger than you, you won't be filling up the hoop that much. He's young though. He has plenty of time to get stronger.

 

[vi edit]

I wonder how he matches up to Tayshaun Prince...another scrawny twig with a freakish wing span. Doesn't seem to be hindering Prince's game much.

 

[GDaddy]

Also basketball strength is more on leg strength then upper body, you lean in basket ball not push, especially with the new rules. He will be just fine.

 

[TheNinja]

The dude doesn't have to be Magnus Ver Magnussen, but if you are a pro athelete you'd think you could at least bench 185 pounds one time.

That being said, he's not dropping past #2 b/c of some statistics. The guy's play college is more important to NBA scouts than the numbers. The NFL on the other hand appears to be all about the combine, the 40 times, and the bench numbers.

 

[IAteYourMother]

he just needs time, he has the skills, just needs to bulk up to compete with bigger guys.

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Oden needs skill more than Durant needs strength.

QFT

there is no doubt oden is a physical specimen and an inredible athlete, but his offensive skils are still a question mark, although he has a strong upside.

durant will be fine. remember rich hamilton? for the longest time he wouldn't touch the weight room because he thought it would mess wtih his shot...he was still pretty good

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I wonder how he matches up to Tayshaun Prince...another scrawny twig with a freakish wing span. Doesn't seem to be hindering Prince's game much.

I'm not sure about that because guarding the stronger James was a punishing nightmare for Prince, and I think as a result Prince couldn't get any offensive rhythm and shot bricks all series.

With Durant's height he's going to have to guard some players a lot stronger than him as well, not to mention be physical around the rim.

Endurance and jumping quickness are also important but apparently they weren't part of the drills.

Bottom line imo...he's probably not Nba ready yet, and if he doesn't fair better in other pre-draft workouts, he might drop from #2.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
6'10", 7'4 3/4" wingspan, and a 33"+ vertical is more than enough to play above the rim in the NBA. The rim is only 10 ft high. The guy is probably half way up the net on reach alone.

The last time I checked, basketball was more about filling it up, rather than running fast and jumping high. Is there any question that Durant can fill it up? He will be fine. Oden needs skill more than Durant needs strength. He won't be able to physically dominate smaller players like he did at OSU.

Both will be good.

Oden doesn't need much of anything imo. He had a great touch around the rim during march madness, even with both hands, and has great timing in his shot blocking and rebounding. He was also a monster against some pretty strong college players as well. He's probably going to gain another 20 'nba pounds' in his first year over college weight, which will only make him more of a monster in the middle.

Overall I agree and think Durant will be fine, just maybe not right away tho.

 

[iamme]

there's a point you guys are overlooking. if Kevin Durant doesn't have the discipline to work out and take care of his body, he's going to be an injury-liability in the long run. guys who are that tall, but play a SG/SF game are bound to get knocked around and their body will be under stress. ask T-Mac how important strength training is....particularly his lower back. longevity and staying injury free are very important in the NBA. Durant can probably score buckets, but he'll have to work out if he wants to have a long, successful career.

with regards to Tayshaun Prince, his lack of strength hinders him against stronger SF's who play a physical game, like Lebron and Richard Jefferson. Tayshaun plays better against SF's who play more of a perimeter game like T-Mac, Kobe (more of a 2), etc.

 

[Juno]

what?!

i am 5'8 and 185, i can bench press more than 225. damn, durant is weak.

 

[j00fek]

what a pvssy

Durant was the only prospect at camp who failed to bench press 185 pounds

 

[hdeck]

and yet he can still play basketball. amazing.

 

[fustercluck]

He definitely needs to hit the gym, what the hell has he been doing in the offseason? Does he know millions are at stake? Yes he can play great college ball, but he's gonna get pummeled in the NBA by much stronger people. I really wouldn't take him based on these results. Not only does it show he's too thin/weak, but that he's not too committed either. He really should of been working out all this year, adding muscle all around.

 

[psteng19]

Shocked that I can bench more than a guy over 1 ft taller than me, but at the same time embarassed that President Bush is probably stronger than me.

 

[HamSupLo]

he still dominated the college game against guys that are older, strong and bigger than him. He'll be the 2nd pick in the draft.

 

[Double Trouble]

Scouts and folks in general get waaaaaay to hung up on stats and measurements when trying to figure out if a guy can play. Jerry Rice only ran a 4.6 in the 40 coming out of college. Way too slow, that guy will never make it as a WR.

Forget the stats, forget the strength/speed/vertical etc -- the guy can play, he's got the instincts and skills to get it done, provided he continues to work at it. Oden is a freak of nature, that guy will dominate for a loooooong time.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: j00fek
what a pvssy

Durant was the only prospect at camp who failed to bench press 185 pounds

You're an idiot. That has nothing to do with his ability to shoot or play basketball.