What NBA players who you expected little suprised you?

[Horatio]

Jimmy butler and Noah.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Remember Tony Allen was the man on the OkSt squad that lost to GTech in 04 final four. Tony was more offense then but his D is so good he might have locked up both Ben & Rashad had they made the final!

 

[tzznandrew]

Remember Tony Allen was the man on the OkSt squad that lost to GTech in 04 final four. Tony was more offense then but his D is so good he might have locked up both Ben & Rashad had they made the final!

I was actually worried about Okie State. They were a better version of Pitt that year, and we all know that Pitt gave our best 2000s teams fits. By the time the Duke game started, that game was already over, and I thought UConn-Duke was the title game.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Steph Curry has to be the biggest one for me. I expected he would be a good but not great role player in the NBA, not what he has turned into.

The other is Serge Ibaka, mainly because I'm always hesitant with the raw offensive big men. His consistency on the offensive end has improved dramatically over the past two years but I generally expected him to be a great defensive big man who can chip in a couple of easier shots during the game, but he's become quite an offensive weapon.

 

[Strummer]

Blake Griffen.
Apparently I was the only person in America who didn't think he would be very good. I actually recall myself saying that he lacked vertical, or something completely asinine like that. Not only is he awesome, he's becoming moreso.

 

[tzznandrew]

Steph Curry has to be the biggest one for me. I expected he would be a good but not great role player in the NBA, not what he has turned into.

The other is Serge Ibaka, mainly because I'm always hesitant with the raw offensive big men. His consistency on the offensive end has improved dramatically over the past two years but I generally expected him to be a great defensive big man who can chip in a couple of easier shots during the game, but he's become quite an offensive weapon.

We all love Ray Allen. And I do not think Steph Curry is big enough, ultimately, to challenge Allen's 3-point records. We always say that Ray Allen is the greatest shooter in NBA history (and that's true, perhaps, insomuch as what we mean is inclusive to HOF or All-Star level), but Curry may take that. He's not the all-around player Ray was in his prime (in the NBA Allen continually got to the rim....hell, he was in a dunk contest), but he may be a better shooter.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Kevin Love and Noah.....never been more wrong that I was about both of them.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I thought Harden would be a career backup too.

One guy that I was dead right about was Anthony Bennett. A few posters jumped on me a year ago when I said i thought he was no where near ready for the NBA. Cleveland drafted him first, but I was right. By 2015-2016 he might be a productive forward that is useful in more than spot duty in filler games at season's end. I also think it is 50/50 that he will be out of the league within 5 years. He will have to bust his butt to be an NBA player.

 

[Vuce]

This may be a little out of left field but for me .......Smush Parker

I saw him play live when he was with Fordham against Umass. I only remembered him because of his name. Then a few years later I look up and he's getting minutes with the Lakers!! He played in the NBA for maybe 5 years or so. I still can't believe it

 

[G0UCONN]

Good list above. Agree with basically all led by Rondo. Would also add Steve Blake...never saw him as a pro.

On flip side...I thought Derrick Williams of Arizona would be a star...oops.

 

[Kembacity]

Good list above. Agree with basically all led by Rondo. Would also add Steve Blake...never saw him as a pro.

On flip side...I thought Derrick Williams of Arizona would be a star...oops.

I agree with you fully on Blake and D Williams, I thought Beasley would be a star too, you never know what you'll get with those guys

 

[Dooley]

Noah is a good one. I agree - I thought he was just an energy guy in college who didn't have the skill set needed in the NBA. He's carved out a nice career.

Carmelo Anthony - to be fair, I always automatically deduct a few points from all Syracuse players in the draft not just because they're Syracuse guys (although I'm sure watching UCONN contain him well 3 times his FR year doesn't help!), but because of the 2-3 zone and how that background never transitions well to the NBA. I underestimated his ability to draw fouls with the level of consistency that he did in college. I didn't think he'd flop out of the NBA like most Cuse players do, but I also didn't think he'd become a superstar either.

Andre Drummond - I saw absolutely NOTHING in his year at UCONN, aside from athleticism on a few dunks, that showed me that he had a post-up game or could handle big players on defense. It's early, but he has definitely found his game in the NBA.

 

[ZenConn]

Granted I didn't see much of Paul George but he has become a star at Indiana. He didn't have eye popping numbers in college as well.

 

[NotADimeBack]

Westbrook, Isiah Thomas

 

[Lefty2one]

Kevin Love - played below the rim and wasn't a great finisher. Not a recipe for an NBA All-Star.
Rondo - wasn't even on my radar as a potential starting NBA point guard. I barely even remember him from our 2006 tourney game vs UK.
DeRozan - thought he'd be another SG bust that was nothing more than an athlete.
Draymond Green - surprised he's even in the NBA. Ditto for Isaiah Thomas.
Jared Sullinger - seemed like a sure-fire bust coming out of Ohio State but had a nice sophomore year with the Celtics.
Kyle Lowery - took him a while to get going but it's amazing that he's best pro from that Villanova core.

 

[BluffCityHsky]

Tayshaun Prince. Lagged considerably as he's aged over past two seasons. Extremely solid career. NBA title, Olympic champion, multiple all NBA defensive teams, great glue guy. Always thought he was overrated at Kentucky and wouldn't do anything as a pro. I was wrong. First person I always admit I was wrong about.

 

[UConn17]

Steph curry

 

[CallMeBruce]

I was at the UConn/Kentucky tournament game in 2006, and I couldn't believe how awful Rondo was. He looked like he'd never practiced shooting in his life. I was shocked that he ended up being an all star.