Isn't IT a Unicorn?

[The One]

Nobody has ever seen a 5'9" PG:

1 - who can score like he does (in the paint/3pts)
2 - when he does (4th qtr king)
3 - the amount he does (almost 30ppg).


I almost always see the unicorn tag on Giannis, Porzingis, Embiid, or KAT.


But a unicorn is still a unicorn, no matter how small.

[SHAQATTACK]

Kinda looks like a little Troll to me 

[Csfan1984]

I'd say he is more Leprechaun than unicorn.

Edit add: Come on guys. He is short, wears green and makes magical plays. Oh and he wants his gold. Leprechaun all the way.

[Chris22]

IT has figured out how to use change of speeds, jumping in, and reverse layups to fend off bigs.
Rozier should study video of IT.

[mr. dee]

Unicorns are C/PFs who plays like a guard but can also mix it up inside.

Boogie, AD, Porzingis, Giannis and Towns are prime examples.

[jambr380]

I'm hoping the term goes away soon. Unicorns, like narwhals, are funny, but it has gotten so overused that it has lost much of the luster it once had.

As for the original question, IT is totally unique, but Mr. Dee has it right. The term specifically speaks to big men who can do everything on the court. Frankly, KO is approaching u-word status.

[A Future of Stevens]

A unicorn tends to be someone who can do amazing things, in spite of their size. This usually occurs in a positive way because of the size. For example, all of the players above can do amazing things in spite of their size, yet their size is a bonus attribute for them.

IT4 does amazing things in spite of his size, yet his size is a detriment to him. In the way the label unicorn is thrown around, he is not a unicorn.

Edit: My unicorn skill is being able to so seamlessly work in the word spite into two tiny paragraphs in spite of my size. 

[Moranis]

IT has figured out how to use change of speeds, jumping in, and reverse layups to fend off bigs.
Rozier should study video of IT.

he can study all the video he wants, he won't be able to do it.

[csfansince60s]

IT has figured out how to use change of speeds, jumping in, and reverse layups to fend off bigs.
Rozier should study video of IT.

he can study all the video he wants, he won't be able to do it.

I agree. IT has developed his skillset since playground days, ALWAYS playing against bigger people.

In a Darwinian sense, he has adapted to his environment by developing traits that have enabled him to survive and thrive. His adaptations have become instinctual, beyond mere muscle memory.

In addition, his ability to decelerate puts him in Harden's league in that category of abilities.

In biometric studies that were done including Harden (I don't think IT was included), the conclusion was that single largest factor distinguishing Harden from other top NBA players was his ability to decelerate or "stop on a dime".

EDIT: here is the article from the WSJ:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-hardens-secret-talent-is-slowing-down-1486667420

[KGBirdBias]

Then you'll never saw Tiny Archibald or Calvin Murphy.

[Alleyoopster]

Sure, there are times when IT looks like he could conquer space all by himself. However, watching him in recent games against teams like Denver and Washington makes me feel that he'd only be considered a a Unicorn on a Twilight-Zone based reality site. 

[GratefulCs]

if he could play defense, then ya, he'd be a unicorn

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I'm hoping the term goes away soon. Unicorns, like narwhals, are funny, but it has gotten so overused that it has lost much of the luster it once had.

As for the original question, IT is totally unique, but Mr. Dee has it right. The term specifically speaks to big men who can do everything on the court. Frankly, KO is approaching u-word status.

This had been my impression as well, but I read an article a couple of days ago that included Russell Westbrook as a unicorn, so now I'm not sure.

TP, though—I love narwhals!

if he could play defense, then ya, he'd be a unicorn

This was my first thought. Unicorns do EVERYTHING well. IT certainly has unicorn offense—dribble drives, 3-pointers, passing—but the D is a, um, work in progress.

[The One]

Then you'll never saw Tiny Archibald or Calvin Murphy.

Did they shoot three pointers like IT?

[The One]

if he could play defense, then ya, he'd be a unicorn

Then Boogie is not a unicorn.