UConn in the NBA March ‘25

[HuskyWarrior611]

My comp was Jimmy Butler and a high end Shai if he really starts cooking.

I don't know if he'll ever be as smooth as Shai, but he might be if he develops that J.

Now, seeing him grow over the last few years into what he's becoming, I think a D Rose/better Tyreke Evans/Jimmy Butler comp isn't insane. But he's pretty unique.

I feel very "HuskyWarrior611" in that I think I've had him nailed since junior in HS. I thought he was a top 10 player in his class when he was still in the 20-30s when he committed. I thought he was a lotto pick before he started flashing his high level offensive skills that people were worried about. He's just so strong and smooth and a smart player.

We’ve been on this boat for awhile. I’ve seen his jumper look good the few times he went up confident and aggressive as a 3 level scorer.

It’s starting to seem more and more likely he can fall into that Shai/Cade mold of high scoring jumbo guards. Don’t think he’ll be the absolutely elite playmaker Cade is but still a great decision maker like Shai. Hes only freaking 20 right now doing what he’s doing.

It’s crazy to think he may actually outplay Fox to be the 2nd star. Couldn’t be more proud of a former player and he deserves all the praise he’s getting right now.

 

[Scoe]

AD starting against Clingan and taking it to him 16 pts and 11 reb at the half.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Andre’s best game of the year against DC. Good learning experience!

 

[UCFan1513]

Clingan had 13/13 and 3 blocks, not shabby either

 

[3rdbass]

Clingan had 13/13 and 3 blocks, not shabby either

He did let fellow husky Drummond to go off for 25 Pts and 18 rebounds.

 

[REB1094]

It’s pretty crazy that for a few years of Drummond’s career, 25/18 would just be another day at the office

Clingan with a nice 13/13/3blk as well. As we all expected, the two bigs hit 1 three and it was Drummond that did it

Not UConn related but Reed Sheppard (#3 overall) had arguably the first good game of his career with 25 points on 10-17. Cam Whitmore also put in 27 points on 10-19 to go with 11 rebounds. Their great games got spoiled by SGA’s 50 piece (18-30 FG, 5-9 3P, 10-10 FT. Sheeeesh)

 

[Scoe]

Clingan had a 13 and 13 game on a back to back, a bounce back performance after fouling out in 11 minutes the previous game good adjustments and experience for him he needs these starts going into his 2nd year.

AD has had a very impressive career, he’s 31 so he could have another 3-5 years, keep latching onto contenders I wish the Knicks signed him after losing Hartenstein.

 

[ctbro1999]

Lol holy !

 

[3rdbass]

Lol holy !

He made ex-UConn player T-Mart look silly. Everytime I see Castle it is a highlight dunk. This boy has amazing hops and is so fun to watch. I loved the reaction from Wemby. Priceless.

 

[ctbro1999]

He made ex-UConn player T-Mart look silly. Everytime I see Castle it is a highlight dunk. This boy has amazing hops and is so fun to watch. I loved the reaction from Wemby. Priceless.

He seems to posterize someone every game now.

 

[bazz&boujee]

Oof not going to lie, Bronny just put Hawkins on skates

 

[Mets1432]

Sad to see AJ has been relegated to the bench in Milwaukee, has barely played in the last 3 games and didn't play last night.

I know they traded for Kuzma, but I figured they would try to find some minutes for him off the bench as an energizer.

 

[3rdbass]

Sad to see AJ has been relegated to the bench in Milwaukee, has barely played in the last 3 games and didn't play last night.

I know they traded for Kuzma, but I figured they would try to find some minutes for him off the bench as an energizer.

He never really devloped his offensive game besides improving his 3pt shot.

 

[aceboon]

Don't think there's a pathway to a long-term NBA career with the way AJ plays offense, Bucks now have multiple options to turn to on the wing that play adequate defense while at the same knowing that you're allowed to score.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Don't think there's a pathway to a long-term NBA career with the way AJ plays offense, Bucks now have multiple options to turn to on the wing that play adequate defense while at the same knowing that you're allowed to score.

Really wish he came back for that extra year to develop a more confident offensive game.

 

[aceboon]

Really wish he came back for that extra year to develop a more confident offensive game.

I honestly don't think it would have changed anything, just would have continued to take a backseat to DC/AK/TN/SC, it's something with the way he's wired that is just missing that extra component. It's like if you turned the scoring passiveness of Ben Simmons/post KD signing Draymond and turned it up to 10. I've seen more than a handful of occasions with the Bucks where AJ has been thrown a perfect lob opportunity and instead of just catching and dunking it he'll come down with the ball and kick it out to a 3 point shooter. Only so long you can survive with his mindset on offense in the NBA as a wing.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I honestly don't think it would have changed anything, just would have continued to take a backseat to DC/AK/TN/SC, it's something with the way he's wired that is just missing that extra component. It's like if you turned the scoring passiveness of Ben Simmons/post KD signing Draymond and turned it up to 10. I've seen more than a handful of occasions with the Bucks where AJ has been thrown a perfect lob opportunity and instead of just catching and dunking it he'll come down with the ball and kick it out to a 3 point shooter. Only so long you can survive with his mindset on offense in the NBA as a wing.

He was starting to develop it towards the end of his junior year. He was a lot more aggressive attacking the rim than previously.

I don’t think he would’ve been an elite scorer or anything. Just continue to perfect that ability so he was capable of it by the time he got to the league.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I honestly don't think it would have changed anything, just would have continued to take a backseat to DC/AK/TN/SC, it's something with the way he's wired that is just missing that extra component. It's like if you turned the scoring passiveness of Ben Simmons/post KD signing Draymond and turned it up to 10. I've seen more than a handful of occasions with the Bucks where AJ has been thrown a perfect lob opportunity and instead of just catching and dunking it he'll come down with the ball and kick it out to a 3 point shooter. Only so long you can survive with his mindset on offense in the NBA as a wing.

It wouldn’t have really done anything for us IMO. Steph is/was a better player in pretty much every aspect. We all love AJ and not taking anything away from him, but that’s kinda just how it is.

 

[superjohn]

It wouldn’t have really done anything for us IMO. Steph is/was a better player in pretty much every aspect. We all love AJ and not taking anything away from him, but that’s kinda just how it is.

He probably would've went undrafted if he came back. He would've went from a starter the year before to a guy off the bench in 23-24. He had three seasons at UConn and nearly two seasons in the NBA with the best coaching in both places and has yet to show off any kind of scoring package.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

It wouldn’t have really done anything for us IMO. Steph is/was a better player in pretty much every aspect. We all love AJ and not taking anything away from him, but that’s kinda just how it is.

Unpopular opinion here (what’s new) but in my scenario it would’ve been a switch on who declared for the draft and who didn’t.

Andre had actual skills he needed to work on and develop. The other guy didn’t and never had much of a shot at cracking an NBA lineup anyways.

In this scenario Steph would’ve actually been able to play the position he wanted to too.

We were great so it’s not like it would’ve changed anything winning wise. But it would’ve been a lot of fun to see Castle, Andre, and Clingan terrorize teams on defense together and then fast breaks consisting of Castle and Andre. While rooting for his continued development as an overall scorer.

 

[ctbbfn]

When he started playing last year, I remember thinking he could get anywhere on the court he wanted.

This