Let's be realistic about James Young

[droopdog7]

I forgot he was on the team.  How's that for realistic?

[Eja117]

How many players look totally awful and raw as a rookie, that can't even make a NBA roster, end up as any sort of real player in the league.  I honestly can't think of one.

Gerald Green, Avery Bradley, Shabazz Muhammed, Jimmy Butler, Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis, Dennis Schroeder, Solomon Hill, Rudy Gobert, Donatas Moteijunas, Draymond Green, Paul George, Eric Bledsoe, Hassan Whiteside, Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Beverly, Kyle Lowry....

almost none of those guys are anywhere near the same as Young.  Most spent almost all their time in the actual NBA as a rookie, and most performed far better than Young has at the D-League level at the actual NBA level

Wait I'm confused. Did they spend their time in the NBA or the D League? A couple of these guys spent time in Russia. I think Donatas spent time in Poland around the same age. Several of these guys didn't come out till they were older than him. Also I think I need a translator for this part...."and most performed far better than Young has at the D-League level at the actual NBA level"

If you are saying they played better at the NBA level their rookie years than he did in his rookie year in the NBDL then my response to that would be "No. No. Not at all. That's definitely not how that went down. No".

Here are his nbdl stats. They are excellent. http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbdl/players/y/youngja01d.html

[littleteapot]

But in six months of intensive work with NBA-level coaches--the dude even had his own dedicated coach, though not an especially knowledgeable one--you'd think you could see significant improvement on a key skill such as, again, ball handling. I mean, regular pros who are working too hard during the season playing actual games can generally come back with noticeable improvements after just a few months work in the summer.

The toughest gear shift to make is getting the thing in first.

[JHTruth]

What was Young picked, 17th? If he didn't hack it, wouldn't be a huge surprise..

2013   Dennis Schroeder   Germany   Atlanta
2012   Tyler Zeller   North Carolina   Dallas
2011   Iman Shumpert   Georgia Tech   New York
2010   Kevin Seraphin   France   Washington
2009   Jrue Holiday   UCLA   Philadelphia
2008   Roy Hibbert   Georgetown   Indiana
2007   Sean Williams   Boston College   New Jersey
2006   Shawne Williams   Memphis   Indiana
2005   Danny Granger   New Mex. Sr.   Indiana
2004   Josh Smith   GA HSSr.   Atlanta
2003   Zarko Cabarkapa   Serbia 1981   Phoenix
2002   Juan Dixon   Maryland Sr.   Washington
2001   Michael Bradley   Villanova Jr.   Toronto
2000   Desmond Mason   Oklahoma St. Sr.   Seattle
1999   Cal Bowdler   Old Dominion Sr.   Atlanta
1998   Radoslav Nesterovic   Italy   Minnesota
1997   Johnny Taylor   Tennessee-Chattanooga   Orlando
1996   Jermaine O'Neal   Eau Claire HS   Portland
1995   Bob Sura   Florida State   Cleveland
1994   Aaron McKie   Temple   Portland
1993   Greg Graham   Indiana   NO Hornets
1992   Doug Christie   Pepperdine   Seattle
1991   Victor Alexander   Iowa State   Golden State
1990   Jerrod Mustaf   Maryland   New York
1989   Shawn Kemp   Trinity Valley   Seattle
1988   Eric Leckner   Wyoming   Utah
1987   Ronnie Murphy   Jacksonville   Portland
1986   Harold Pressley   Villanova   Sacramento
1985   Uwe Blab   Indiana   Dallas
1984   Jeff Turner   Vanderbilt   New Jersey
1983   Leo Rautins   Syracuse   Philadelphia
1982   Brook Steppe   Georgia Tech   Kansas City
1981   Kevin Loder   Alabama State   Kansas City
1980   Larry Drew   Missouri   Detroit

[JHTruth]

How many players look totally awful and raw as a rookie, that can't even make a NBA roster, end up as any sort of real player in the league.  I honestly can't think of one.

Perkins? IDK haha

[clover]

But in six months of intensive work with NBA-level coaches--the dude even had his own dedicated coach, though not an especially knowledgeable one--you'd think you could see significant improvement on a key skill such as, again, ball handling. I mean, regular pros who are working too hard during the season playing actual games can generally come back with noticeable improvements after just a few months work in the summer.

The toughest gear shift to make is getting the thing in first.

Ha ha--so true!

[spikelovetheCelts]

How many players look totally awful and raw as a rookie, that can't even make a NBA roster, end up as any sort of real player in the league.  I honestly can't think of one.

Gerald Green, Avery Bradley, Shabazz Muhammed, Jimmy Butler, Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis, Dennis Schroeder, Solomon Hill, Rudy Gobert, Donatas Moteijunas, Draymond Green, Paul George, Eric Bledsoe, Hassan Whiteside, Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Beverly, Kyle Lowry....

almost none of those guys are anywhere near the same as Young.  Most spent almost all their time in the actual NBA as a rookie, and most performed far better than Young has at the D-League level at the actual NBA level

Wait I'm confused. Did they spend their time in the NBA or the D League? A couple of these guys spent time in Russia. I think Donatas spent time in Poland around the same age. Several of these guys didn't come out till they were older than him. Also I think I need a translator for this part...."and most performed far better than Young has at the D-League level at the actual NBA level"

If you are saying they played better at the NBA level their rookie years than he did in his rookie year in the NBDL then my response to that would be "No. No. Not at all. That's definitely not how that went down. No".

Here are his nbdl stats. They are excellent. http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbdl/players/y/youngja01d.html

The boy has a stroke you can't teach. He will make in the NBA. Schroeder look terrible last year and he came around this year. This summer we shall see.
These are kentucky NBA busts http://bleacherreport.com/articles/692360-nba-draft-15-biggest-kentucky-wildcats-draft-busts-in-history/page/17
Not to many UK players are total busts

[cltc5]

Some players have it.  He doesn't.  Looks like a guy thy wants to be on a team like Miami where it's all about individuals

[Evantime34]

Some players have it.  He doesn't.  Looks like a guy thy wants to be on a team like Miami where it's all about individuals

He's a shooter/scorer, if he didn't try to score himself every time he got the ball he wouldn't be in the game.