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The 2011 NBA Draft starts picking Thursday from what many see as a weak class of players.
Outside of Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams, the draft is made up of respectable college players, terrific college players who won’t cut it in the pros, and a bunch of international guys most basketball fans know nothing about.
Sure, there will be a few surprises that break the mold and become impact players in the league, but, to take a quote from Jerry McGuire, “There's genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it's like popcorn in the pan. Some pop... some don't.”
Here are five players from recent drafts that have stepped up their game at the NBA level and become much better pros than we ever thought:
Tony Parker – 28th overall
The petits Frenchman is one of the greatest draft finds over the past 10 years. Parker was selected by the Spurs with the final pick of the first round and parlayed that chance into three NBA titles, a Finals MVP, and three All-Star spots, not to mention a marriage to Eva Longoria and a fling with Brent Barry’s wife.
David West – 18th overall
Lost in the sauce of the 2003 NBA Draft, West turned out to be a much better pro than his time at Xavier would indicate. The Hornets knew they had potential with the 6-foot-9 small forward but could never imagine West would blow up like he did in 2005-06. He’s averaged just over 19 points per game since that season. Not bad for a guy selected after Žarko Cabarkapa (who?).
Danny Granger – 17th overall
Granger had the NBA body heading into the league, but coming out of New Mexico, not much was said about the do-it-all 6-foot-8 forward. The Pacers adored his skill set, hoping he could develop his perimeter game. And boy did he ever. Granger is one of the biggest long-distance threats in the NBA and averages 18.5 points and 37.6 percent shooting from downtown for his career.
Rajon Rondo – 21st overall
We’ll be the first to admit, we weren’t crazy on the Kentucky PG’s chances in the pros. And for a while, his claim to fame looked like just being a chess piece in the Celtics’ “Big Three” deal. But Rondo proved everyone wrong and became the heart and soul of a team that featured three Hall of Fame locks. He’s won an NBA title, two All-Star appearance and a couple All-Defensive Team badges while becoming one the best point guards in the league.
DeAndre Jordan – 35th overall
Jordan is still popcorn in the pot. But if he continues to improve like he did last season, he’ll pop soon enough. Jordan was hailed for this pro-ready physique and athleticism when he left Texas A&M after one year. But it was his maturity and unpolished fundamentals that dropped him all the way to the Clippers in the second round. The near 7-footer is on the right road to proving those doubters wrong. He averaged seven points and seven rebounds, along with 1.8 blocks this season, and made plenty of highlight reels with his ability to run the floor.
Honorable mention: Wesley Matthews – Undrafted
We didn’t include Matthews because he was never drafted. But for someone who got snubbed by every team, he is sure making the most of his time in the pros. Last season, the Marquette product made good on the Trail Blazers’ five-year, $34-million deal by averaging 15.9 points and playing in all 82 games.
Outside of Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams, the draft is made up of respectable college players, terrific college players who won’t cut it in the pros, and a bunch of international guys most basketball fans know nothing about.
Sure, there will be a few surprises that break the mold and become impact players in the league, but, to take a quote from Jerry McGuire, “There's genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it's like popcorn in the pan. Some pop... some don't.”
Here are five players from recent drafts that have stepped up their game at the NBA level and become much better pros than we ever thought:
Tony Parker – 28th overall
The petits Frenchman is one of the greatest draft finds over the past 10 years. Parker was selected by the Spurs with the final pick of the first round and parlayed that chance into three NBA titles, a Finals MVP, and three All-Star spots, not to mention a marriage to Eva Longoria and a fling with Brent Barry’s wife.
David West – 18th overall
Lost in the sauce of the 2003 NBA Draft, West turned out to be a much better pro than his time at Xavier would indicate. The Hornets knew they had potential with the 6-foot-9 small forward but could never imagine West would blow up like he did in 2005-06. He’s averaged just over 19 points per game since that season. Not bad for a guy selected after Žarko Cabarkapa (who?).
Danny Granger – 17th overall
Granger had the NBA body heading into the league, but coming out of New Mexico, not much was said about the do-it-all 6-foot-8 forward. The Pacers adored his skill set, hoping he could develop his perimeter game. And boy did he ever. Granger is one of the biggest long-distance threats in the NBA and averages 18.5 points and 37.6 percent shooting from downtown for his career.
Rajon Rondo – 21st overall
We’ll be the first to admit, we weren’t crazy on the Kentucky PG’s chances in the pros. And for a while, his claim to fame looked like just being a chess piece in the Celtics’ “Big Three” deal. But Rondo proved everyone wrong and became the heart and soul of a team that featured three Hall of Fame locks. He’s won an NBA title, two All-Star appearance and a couple All-Defensive Team badges while becoming one the best point guards in the league.
DeAndre Jordan – 35th overall
Jordan is still popcorn in the pot. But if he continues to improve like he did last season, he’ll pop soon enough. Jordan was hailed for this pro-ready physique and athleticism when he left Texas A&M after one year. But it was his maturity and unpolished fundamentals that dropped him all the way to the Clippers in the second round. The near 7-footer is on the right road to proving those doubters wrong. He averaged seven points and seven rebounds, along with 1.8 blocks this season, and made plenty of highlight reels with his ability to run the floor.
Honorable mention: Wesley Matthews – Undrafted
We didn’t include Matthews because he was never drafted. But for someone who got snubbed by every team, he is sure making the most of his time in the pros. Last season, the Marquette product made good on the Trail Blazers’ five-year, $34-million deal by averaging 15.9 points and playing in all 82 games.
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