Nba Draft: Kevin Durant

[Inspector Jihad]

he's fine...he's going to put on some muscle in the nba and will end up having more so mcgradys physique than tayshauns physique.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: 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.

I can't believe that people are willing to disregard an entire season of performance for a few hours worth of arbitrary tests. Durant was dominating all of those players in college that were stronger than him. The fact that he obviously hasn't been working out and maximizing his strength only makes him more attractive as a player. Lots of room to grow.

 

[wicktron]

The kid is like 18/19 years old... Let him grow into his body for a few more years.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: 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.

It's easier to bench with shorter arms.

 

[Accipiter22]

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

EXACTLY. Every year teams get hung up on these workouts till you have horrible guys who couldn't win a game to save their lives in college going in the first round. Look at the track record...did he WIN games, and could he take them over in college. If yes, then he's probably at least a decent prospect. Those workouts are nearly worthless....speed, and jumping all that has NEVER ONCE been correlated to any sort of endurance issue in the NBA.

 

[Accipiter22]

SHENS to Yao benching 300 btw

 

[Coquito]

Remember Jonathan Bender being the Pacers future?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
SHENS to Yao benching 300 btw

Text

Second and third page of the article says Yao does indeed bench 300.

 

[Homerboy]

good thing Magic and Bird never did these tests. They would have never have been drafted I'm sure.

 

[Patt]

Durant's never going to be a lock-down defender ... but with the new rules in the NBA, he'll still light it up. He'll get knocked around a bit, but I think he'll be fine. Can't wait

 

[HopJokey]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

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

EXACTLY. Every year teams get hung up on these workouts till you have horrible guys who couldn't win a game to save their lives in college going in the first round. Look at the track record...did he WIN games, and could he take them over in college. If yes, then he's probably at least a decent prospect. Those workouts are nearly worthless....speed, and jumping all that has NEVER ONCE been correlated to any sort of endurance issue in the NBA.

But, but, Darko did pretty good in the workouts without showing any game experience. Thus he was drafted high and led the Pistons to the championship... Oh wait

 

[thesurge]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
good thing Magic and Bird never did these tests. They would have never have been drafted I'm sure.

Actually, scouts today still don't really put much emphasis on the combine results (definitely not as much as the NFL). They know that skill>athleticism and it just shows what the draftee neds to work on..

 

[blurredvision]

To those saying you wouldn't take him with the 2nd pick....teams draft all the time based on good workouts and potential. Why not draft based on poor workouts but proven skill? See HopJokey's Darko example above .

 

[herkulease]

smoke and mirrors yeah its pointless since he won't go lower than 2 unless there's a trade deal.

Yes he will need to beef up. Scottie Pippen was a skinny little guy out of college and they put him together with some people and got him to bulk up.

In all likelyhood they'l be playing him at the 3 spot anyhow so he won't have to put on a lot of muscle but will need to put on some.

The only thing from these workouts nba teams should worry about his stamina. I don't care how good of a player is, if he can't last more than 10 minutes on the court its pointless.

 

[PaNsyBoy8]

the reason he did so bad was because unlike many of the other prospects, he didn't hire a personal trainer and train for these workouts. He's been busy with contract signings and commericals, i read that he's about done with his final commerical, so he'll be working out soon, and will be in shape and ready to workout for the blazers and sonics.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: HopJokey

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

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

EXACTLY. Every year teams get hung up on these workouts till you have horrible guys who couldn't win a game to save their lives in college going in the first round. Look at the track record...did he WIN games, and could he take them over in college. If yes, then he's probably at least a decent prospect. Those workouts are nearly worthless....speed, and jumping all that has NEVER ONCE been correlated to any sort of endurance issue in the NBA.

But, but, Darko did pretty good in the workouts without showing any game experience. Thus he was drafted high and led the Pistons to the championship... Oh wait

well, the Pistons did win the championship that year....

 

[naldo]

Kevin's the best player in the draft -- [except during his] period, at any position.

Ummm....

 

[Crazee]

Anyone who thinks he will slip past 2 is crazy. If you think bench press is important to playing basketball (especially at small forward, or either guard position) you don't know much about the game. When you are establishing position you are using your legs and hips not your chest (you would get fouls called right and left). All you need to know is that he averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.9 blocks while shooting 47.3% from the field, 81.6% from the freethrow stripe and 40.4% from 3 point land all in 35.9 minutes. This was done on a Texas team that played a very good schedule against good competition.

He is the only freshman in NCAA history to sweep all 7 player of the year awards. He is also the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding this year.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
SHENS to Yao benching 300 btw

Text

Second and third page of the article says Yao does indeed bench 300.

Article link is pretty interesting to read. Yao sounds like a pretty dedicated guy.

 

[Miramonti]

Seattle could look at it as a positive...that if he could dominate in college on both ends of the floor with that body, he's going to be a helluva player once a some nba trainers get a hold of him.

Like iamme said, its up to Durant's work ethic to take him further. From what I've heard tho, he's been working on understanding the game and playing the right way for years, so going thru rigorous strength training in the offseason should be a no-brainer for him. (but why the heck hasn't he started that yet?? )

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

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

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

Are you joking? Stats like this don't mean sh1t. Any person out there who sees these statistics and thinks Durant sucks hasn't watched him play. Jesus christ he jumped 1/2 inch lower that Oden surely he SUCKS.

...

 

[NeoV]

Durant is a hoops stud

Texas doesn't push weight training like some programs do - and remember, the kid is 1 year removed from High School.

He's got freakishly long arms, can handle, shoot, pass, and block shots. He'll get stronger with an NBA training schedule and coaching, nutritionists, etc.

No way he is drafted lower than 2nd.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Not sure I've ever heard benchpress numbers thrown around before an NBA draft before. An inability to put up 185 a single time indicates he may never have seen the inside of a weight room. But I think he'll be OK, since the NBA he's trying to get into is not the National Benchpressing Association.

Actually if he's that untrained, there may be decent potential for improvement in his vertical (and quickness and explosiveness) with some good power training in the weight room.

 

[caivoma]

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
SHENS to Yao benching 300 btw

Text

Second and third page of the article says Yao does indeed bench 300.

Article link is pretty interesting to read. Yao sounds like a pretty dedicated guy.

It is a really good read. I wasnt Yao fan before but i seriously hope he doing good now.

 

[Homerboy]

He's what? 19? He hasn't even physically matured yet.
Anyone saying Durant is "Smoke and Mirrors" or will be a bust is nutso. Strength can be created, skill can not.