I don't know if many of you have had the time to check out Kevin Durant this year. For those who haven't, he's a 6'8-6'9 Freshman for Texas. While Oden gets all of the hype and will be the #1 pick in next year's NBA Draft, I believe Durant deserves just as much praise.

There is absolutely nothing this kid can't do. He's averaging 24 pts and 10 boards. That was before he dropped 37 pts and 15 rebs on #14 OSU last night. He can beat defenders off the dribble with silky smooth moves, he is lights out from behind the three point line, he can post defenders up and has a perfect right handed half hook, and he can rebound very well.

The last guy I saw this dominant in college basketball was Melo and he has Melo beat. He is better as a freshman than Melo was as a freshman. If Durant was at North Carolina or Duke, he'd be getting covers of magazines right now. Mark it down now, Kevin Durant will not only be a great NBA player, but he will be one of the greatest players in NBA history.

I saw him once this year. He wasn't dominant, but I saw him make some plays that were great and also saw how gifted he is athletically. He definately has that rare combination of size and speed like KG. It's really just a matter of him doing the right things to fully utilize his talent. If he has the will, he will be a beast.

Mark it down now, Kevin Durant will not only be a great NBA player, but he will be one of the greatest players in NBA history.

WOW, very bold. Dude can ball, but eeeeeasy playa.

Thats fair, he can make a claim, kid is unnaturally gifted and seems to have the drive to be a star. Or maybe he's Darius Miles.

WOW, very bold. Dude can ball, but eeeeeasy playa.

Just remember that I said it. I'm calling it a third into his freshman year of college. I can't think of a single player to compare him to. Sooo unbelievably smooth and so good in the clutch. I'm putting myself out there, I think I will be right.

Just remember that I said it. I'm calling it a third into his freshman year of college. I can't think of a single player to compare him to. Sooo unbelievably smooth and so good in the clutch. I'm putting myself out there, I think I will be right.

TMac or Rashard Lewis with clutchness rather than anti-clutchness.

He kind of looks like a poor-man's Chris Bosh without the back to the basket game. He would have to be on a team that really fits his style for him to be an all-time great. He obviously has crazy talent, but he also needs to get pointed to the weight room if he wants to play against the likes of Dwight Howard, Bosh, Dirk, Shaq, Garnett, Duncan and Jason Maxiell (I can wish can't I)

Durant doesn't need to hit the weights, he just needs to spend a few months with an NBA team with proper food, weights, training. I believe he is further along right now than TMAC was, i see him as the skills of mcgrady with a healthy back. The kid is the real deal, I would debate taking him #1.

the kid is getting more hype than oden lately. i've only seen him play a little. i dont think forecasting him to be a great, even all-time great, right now is a stretch. but there have been alot of rediculous talents that didnt amount to anything.

He kind of looks like a poor-man's Chris Bosh without the back to the basket game. He would have to be on a team that really fits his style for him to be an all-time great. He obviously has crazy talent, but he also needs to get pointed to the weight room if he wants to play against the likes of Dwight Howard, Bosh, Dirk, Shaq, Garnett, Duncan and Jason Maxiell (I can wish can't I)

You might want to check him out a little more. He does have a back to the basket game and no offense, but I don't think the Bosh comparison is even close. Bosh doesn't play like a guard with off the dribble moves and three point shooting like Durant. Durant is a guard with some post skills.

Reminds me of KG, with more range.

Glenn - you mean Jonathan Bender?

The question was asked last night on Sportscenter, "Who would you rather have right now? Oden or Durant. It wasn't Katz or Bilas, the name escapes me, but the analyst said he'd take Durant right now.

He's averaging 31 pts and 15 boards in conference play. His numbers have actually went up!

i watched the higlights of OSU's game last night. Oden only had 5 points, and they showed two highlights were he got the ball down low wide open for dunks. So that is all he did? i haven't seen anything impressive from Oden.

^they were up by like 40. Biggs can't do much if they don't get the ball.

i watched the higlights of OSU's game last night. Oden only had 5 points, and they showed two highlights were he got the ball down low wide open for dunks. So that is all he did? i haven't seen anything impressive from Oden.

Oden is absolutely sick. He will be an instant NBA All Star. He's the best shot blocker that I can remember in a long long time. Unfortunately he plays on a team full of guards that jack up threes. He doesn't get a lot of shots and when he does touch the ball, he's doubled immediately. Developmentally, he might have been better off on a team not so loaded with guards, because he would have got more looks. But who can argue with playing for a team that is Top 5 in the country.

I just love this new 1 year in college rule. It is great to see these amazing talents in the college game.

I just love this new 1 year in college rule. It is great to see these amazing talents in the college game.

I agree Tre. I wish we would have got the 2 year rule that was originally suggested. For some reason I see it going away in the future.

This is actually a topic I agree with Tre on... I watch every Texas game I can. Durant can fucking ball. That's all that can be said, and I do agree with him being one of the best players in history... barring injury.

I havent seen Durant, so no official comment there. He seems pretty badass from what Ive read, and not just here. I wanted to point out one thing of Odom though (even though I dont like him as a conf foe), he still has a cast on his right hand which holds his game back a lot. He has learned to shoot free throws with his left and hasnt done bad. Thats pretty sick in itself. He did look pretty lazy on the offensive end against Wisky, maybe because of the guards OSU has. Put a cast on my right hand though, and Ill be straight retarded on the court. Whatever.. lookin like this years draft is going to be hotly contested between these two guys. I will definitely tune into the next Texas game that comes my way.

This is actually a topic I agree with Tre on... I watch every Texas game I can. Durant can fucking ball. That's all that can be said, and I do agree with him being one of the best players in history... barring injury.

The thing about Durant is how he leaves others with no room for error if they are going to try to top him. It's like TMac was in Orlando against the Pistons prior to his "nice to be in round 2" comment. Remember how TMac just didn't miss a single shot no matter how difficult? That's how it is when you watch Durant. Shot after shot whether inside or out is nylon.

Reminds me of KG, with more range.

Not a bad comparison, but KG can't take people off the dribble and he doesn't offer a smooth spin move.
http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/durant_kevin_010607_300.jpg

Durant is 6'9", has huge range, and is very skilled. He is a bit on the skinny side but as long as works hard in the weight room he should be alright. However, Durant is not the kind of athlete that Jordan, Bryant, McGrady, James, Garnett, Wade, Anthony etc. are/were. Durant is going to be a star, but an all-time great? I doubt it.

Durant is 6'9", has huge range, and is very skilled. He is a bit on the skinny side but as long as works hard in the weight room he should be alright. However, Durant is not the kind of athlete that Jordan, Bryant, McGrady, James, Garnett, Wade, Anthony etc. are/were. Durant is going to be a star, but an all-time great? I doubt it.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. Even though Anthony was amazing in college and I was begging the Pistons to take him, I am more impressed with Durant as a freshman. More impressed with him than I was with Wade in college too. Keep in mind Wade and Anthony were absolutely sick, don't get me wrong.

i'll just throw this here, i went to the osu/nw'ern game last night (nominate NW for worst campus in the big ten), mostly just to see oden.

like seemingly everyone else, im a fan of the 1 year rule. selfish reasons, mostly, cuz its real cool to see these guys dominate ncaa rather than sit on the bench in the nba. i also believe even 1 year living away at college can be a huge maturation for an 18 year old.

however, watching the game last night i almost felt bad for oden (not really. he's probably having an unbelievable year, and soon he'll have 9 digits in the bank). as far as developmental purposes go, i doubt he's getting too much out of this year. on offense, his guards dont hardly look to him at all (even if he's worked hard to get in position). on defense, northwestern didnt challenge him once, i think. they literally did not go into the paint. even though his mere presence obviously was the biggest factor in the game, he definitly was not the game's main actor. as far as where he should be playing basketball, i think clearly he belongs in the nba right now. this has probably been a wasted year development wise.

still, i liked watching him shoot ft's with the left hand (lets see durant play with the off arm for 4 months), and pretty much every rebound anywhere near him is his. i like durant, but a team could not pass on oden.

The NW campus is horrible, been to a couple football games there. I like the one-year rule because highschool mentality is so far from the real world. When I was young enough to feel right dating an 18 year old, it was only 18 year olds who were out of highschool because of the mentality. Totally different. So I think its good that guys have to spend a year in college just to get a clue on how life works, not that college is real life but its hella different from highschool. As far as Oden, its also good because he would be doubly rotting on the bench due to his wrist, so at least he can work that out in college. You are right though, his guards dont look at him most of the time and I think if he had a different group of players to work with he would be having a much better season. I noticed during the UW/OSU game though, that he was a non-factor. UW has a lot of bigs and he was pretty lazy in that game, got boxed out a lot and just didnt make an impact. UW wasnt scared to go at him either and he didnt do much anyway. His one year in college might actually be hurting his draft status considering a guy like Durant is lurking in the shadows. Smart teams will be looking at heart, and I havent seen much from Oden aside from learning to shoot left-handed.

i'll just throw this here, i went to the osu/nw'ern game last night (nominate NW for worst campus in the big ten), mostly just to see oden.

like seemingly everyone else, im a fan of the 1 year rule. selfish reasons, mostly, cuz its real cool to see these guys dominate ncaa rather than sit on the bench in the nba. i also believe even 1 year living away at college can be a huge maturation for an 18 year old.

however, watching the game last night i almost felt bad for oden (not really. he's probably having an unbelievable year, and soon he'll have 9 digits in the bank). as far as developmental purposes go, i doubt he's getting too much out of this year. on offense, his guards dont hardly look to him at all (even if he's worked hard to get in position). on defense, northwestern didnt challenge him once, i think. they literally did not go into the paint. even though his mere presence obviously was the biggest factor in the game, he definitly was not the game's main actor. as far as where he should be playing basketball, i think clearly he belongs in the nba right now. this has probably been a wasted year development wise.

still, i liked watching him shoot ft's with the left hand (lets see durant play with the off arm for 4 months), and pretty much every rebound anywhere near him is his. i like durant, but a team could not pass on oden.

I agree, I think I may have mentioned something about OSU's offense hurting Oden above. Can't remember. Anyways, I agree. OSU's guards just jack up shot after shot and Oden does not get the ball enough. He should have 20 a game just on his physical dominance alone. There are so many game that I see he was like 7 of 9 from the floor. 9 shots?!

Okay, Durant had 37 pts and 24 rebounds last night. Can anyone remember the last college basketball player let alone freshman to put numbers up like this? He did it on the road against Texas Tech too. It's not like it was against Midd. Tennessee St. or something.

I stand by my prediction, Durant will be one of the greatest of all time. Homeboy is sick.

24 rebounds in college is pretty darn good. 24 rebounds in the NBA is amazing, and that's with longer games too. I haven't seen TT this year, but Knight coaches hard bball too, so I suspect TT is a pretty good rebounding team as well.

24 rebounds in college is pretty darn good. 24 rebounds in the NBA is amazing, and that's with longer games too. I haven't seen TT this year, but Knight coaches hard bball too, so I suspect TT is a pretty good rebounding team as well.

You're right, Texas Tech is a pretty good team this year. They have a few signature wins, one against Kansas I believe. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw a kid record 20+ rebounds in a college game. Then you add 37 pts to it.

Reminds me of KG, with more range.


I like to describe him as "Kevin Garnett with a jump shot"

So what is Chad's WTF screenname? lol

Just remember Darko was Dirk with better defense. I wouldn't trust Fraud at all.

I saw this guy play one game and he reminded me of mcgrady with more heart

Does Durant have a lazy eye?

I'm not into the comb over thing, like some people pictured above are. Go bald gracefully is what I say. Pretty soon some dude is going to grow his pubes long enough to comb over his dome.

I'm not into the comb over thing, like some people pictured above are. Go bald gracefully is what I say. Pretty soon some dude is going to grow his pubes long enough to comb over his dome.

I agree. I'd shave my head if I was nearing baldness. You aren't fooling anybody with a comb over or a rug.

That would be a pretty stinky comb over BTW. Hope they match.

Every guy in my family is balding (my dad has a pretty dead on Blaha comb-over and has since I can remember) so I planned my current hair style years in advance (seriously). When I got close to twenty I started shortening my hairstyles. I kept a pretty close eye on my dome situation and when it got to the point where I was sure it was leaving town and thought it might be showing to others I started shaving/buzzing it with no guard. I did it early enough that most around me assumed it was a choice and my brothers still call me "bald by choice". I let it grow longer than normal before I cut it a couple months back just to show my wife that my style "choice" was indeed necessary (though she really liked the "choice" originally anyway so it was more of an educational thing).

Balding is a pretty obvious thing to see on yourself. The only time I can't tell that I'm thinner on top is the day or two after a cut. However, most people that see me often (I'm talking business relationship here not just family and friends) seem not notice as long as I keep up on it. I base that on not being included in casual conversations around the office that center on baldness and at being asked a couple times why I chose to "cutt off all my hair".

I saw this guy play one game and he reminded me of mcgrady with more heart

This is the most accurate comparison yet. Only difference would be better rebounding and post up game for Durant.

right now durant is saying he's coming back. it sounds like oden is too.

im guessing they both can only stay away from the money so long, probably sophomore year and out. could be a magic/bird type deal. i'd bet the house right now they'll be meating in the dance next year.

and yea, i think another year in school pretty much seals the deal on the type of player durant will end up being. there have been guys about as talented before him, but they didnt have intangibles because they cut their teeth in abc camps. durant is the real deal that old time basketball fans should be able to appreciate. god am i stoked.

Don't buy the coming back talk. They are just saying all the right things before leaving. You can't tell your teammates you are gone after the year.

I agree with Chris, neither of those guys are coming back, nor should they.

The goal these days is to get your rookie contract over with ASAP so you can start making some real cash.

i buy it 100%. neither is coming out... unless they win a championship. and even then, maybe not. i know that this is typical talk, and i guess i should read the articles to get more context. but oden, atleast, obviously loves college, and i think durant does too. basically by staying in, they might be costing themselves some money. but jordan made more money then anyone, and he came out late. i think it'd be probable that oden would make more money over his career than dwight howard. who's a bigger name right now, oden or howard?

Jordan didn't "make more money than anyone". He actually was highly underpaid most of his career, and then the Bulls gave him a huge "make good".

Kevin Garnett will make more money during his career than anyone else will for a long time. KG got in young, and more importantly, under the old CBA that yielded him (and others like Juwan Howard) monstrous deals.

KG has one more huge deal left in him, too.

These young kids (Oden, Durant) would already be wrapping up year one of their rookie deals if Stern hadn't banished them to a token year in school.

Don't kid yourself, they'll both be in the draft. The clock is ticking.

i'd bet any number of alpacas atleast one isnt in the draft. and it is kinda irrelivent to bring up K's under the old cba, but jordan was making 40+ million at the end. but thats not what i was reffering to. the money is in the endorsments. jordan was a poster child because he earned everyone's respect in college, olypmpics, and ultimately with nba championships. durant and oden will have something lebron will never have. im not saying they'll out earn him, but i wont be surprised in 15/20 years when theyre all out of the nba if the college guys ultimately have a star still rising while maybe lebron is more of a kobe.

Oden's in. WOTS is he isn't going to class. 7 hours, one of which is the 4 credit hour "History of Rock & Roll". OMIGOD!!

thats a legit class. i took history of the 60's, and a history of music (which included the beatles). i dont know, i dont think you can be a student athlete without being a fulltime student (12 credits minimum), so that rumour might not be true. or maybe you can, idk. im not going to back down. he's sticking it out in osu, one, maybe more years.

Common sense says that both of these guys enter the draft and make millions next year. After that potentially career threatening injury to Livingstone on what looked like a fluke play, no way does anyone take the risk to enjoy the college lifestyle.

I'm wondering if the people in this thread that thought I was jumping the gun with my bold prediction weeks into the season are now changing their minds-?

Oden said "He's not NBA ready".. Hmmm, why would he make such a statement?

Oden said "He's not NBA ready".. Hmmm, why would he make such a statement?

Is that Oden on Oden, or Oden on Durant?

If it is Oden on Oden, he would say that to keep from being alienated from his teammates/fans during the tournament.

It would be a pretty dumb thing for him to say the opposite right now, even if it was true.

If it is Oden on Durant, then Greg is just being a bitch.

It was Oden on Oden. I gotta say that I love that kid. He's a 7 foot freaking stud who is humble, loves the college game/life, and wants to improve.

But on the other hand, I reeeeeeally hope he goes to the L. I don't want to see him and OSU beat down the Big Ten anymore.

It was Oden on Oden. I gotta say that I love that kid. He's a 7 foot freaking stud who is humble, loves the college game/life, and wants to improve.

But on the other hand, I reeeeeeally hope he goes to the L. I don't want to see him and OSU beat down the Big Ten anymore.
I'm with you on Oden. Until some dick U of Mum apologist on another board announced how "he had a friend" who was a senior @ OSU and that Oden is not going to class blah x 3 I was all over Oden staying in school. I've seen him interviewed. He is a really bright kid and savvy well beyond his years. He exudes that he is truly enjoying the college experience. Man that cake is going to be there. My deal with him is that he was hindered with his lead wrist being lame (happened to me a lot in my teens) he hasn't been able to develop his "O". Look what he did shooting free throws left handed. Fucking amazing. Paraphrasing what Kornheiser & Wilbon had to say yesterday from Oden: "Players who jump to the NBA have their offense down. I don't." "I'm not ready at this time for the off the court stuff." Man I give the guy props. Good for him. I want him to stay so MSU has another shot at him next year.

What happened to Shaun Livingston last week is enough reason to not take any chances, especially if you're going to go #2 at worst.

Why not work on your game while getting paid millions?

Derrick (scranton, Pa): Alot of people say Kevin Durant needs to put on 20-30 pounds on to his rail thin frame, but is that really necessary for his success?

David Thorpe: (12:50 PM ET ) No, it might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

yea, i think he's physically ready, and infact if he did enter he'd be a favorite to win the roy. but that doesnt mean another year of c-ball wouldnt do him alot of good.

and i dont buy the whole, 'you might get a career ending injury' argument. everyone knew livingston was a glass man coming into the L, and quite frankly serious injuries arent all that common in basketball, especially c-ball (where you play ~30 or so 40 minute games against amateur athletes as opposed to 90+ 48 minute nba games against absolute monsters).

yea, it can happen. but durant or oden will probably get drafted regardless of any injury. and they can also get some kickass insurance.

No caption needed.

http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/2007/0219_large.jpg

I'd like to see Durant beat this guy.
http://static.flickr.com/90/237687228_7966581354.jpg

Parents To Decide Future Of Texas' Durant
18th March, 2007 - 5:20 am
Memphis Commercial Appeal -
Becoming an instant millionaire will be hard to pass up for any young man, but Texas forward Kevin Durant said once his season concludes, he'll listen hard to his parents' advice.

Should Durant and Ohio State center Greg Oden decide to declare for the NBA, they are virtually guaranteed to go first and second.

Wanda Pratt, Durant's mother who works for the postal service, raised Kevin from the time he was eight months old until he was 13 in Seat Pleasant, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C. Five years ago, she reunited with Kevin's father, Wayne, who is a police officer at the Library of Congress.

Together, they have provided a solid support team for their son, even from long distance, after he decided to leave the D.C. area for the Lone Star state.

"We're not going to put pressure on him," Pratt said. "We lived pretty much the same way all of our lives. We want Kevin to keep his love of the game pure. We know he'll get everything he wants if he keeps working hard. He's always worked hard."

"I'm not worried about that (the NBA)," Durant said. "I love playing in college. I know I'm having fun in college. I'm not sure I would have fun in the NBA." [READ]

when in doubt, let ma and pa decide. sounds like he's opening the door for the blameless exit. well played.

It appears that Danny Ainge likes Kevin Durant, too.

http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showpost.php?p=161963&postcount=51

Apparently Durant will not be one of the greatest of all time because his team bowed out to a football school in the second round and killed my bracket. F!

Durant's gonna need at least two years with an NBA strength trainer before he'll be effective. After that, then we'll see.

Durant's gonna need at least two years with an NBA strength trainer before he'll be effective. After that, then we'll see.

Read post #53

Thorpe is basically an NBA trainer

Lots of action in a thread about a skinny basketball player who just admitted that he didn't "play as hard as I could have" throughout the entire season.

Depends what positon he's playing. As a small forward, he'll be fine. However, PF or C he'll get his ass pushed around all day long.

That being said, he IS still growing, and has a good 3 or 4 years before he's all grown up. Maybe that's what Thorpe was talking about.

I'm listening to Gator and Karsh devote an enitre show to this kid.
I'm thinking that if he was an 18 year old lefthanded pitcher who just got handed 2 Mill and skipped college, they wouldn't say shit about it.

Depends what positon he's playing. As a small forward, he'll be fine. However, PF or C he'll get his ass pushed around all day long.

That being said, he IS still growing, and has a good 3 or 4 years before he's all grown up. Maybe that's what Thorpe was talking about.

Durant is not even close to a PF or Center. He'll never come close to touching those positions at the next level. He's a SG/SF. The fact that he has size and can rebound doesn't make him an interior player.

Here you go b-diddy, expect Oden's announcement soon, too.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2007/news/story?id=2831655


Report: Durant to enter NBA draft

ESPN.com news services

Texas freshman Kevin Durant will declare for the NBA draft, the Dallas Morning News reports, citing two unnamed sources close to the Longhorns basketball program.

A news conference has been scheduled for 5 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reports. Durant plans on finishing the spring semester rather than withdrawing from the university, Katz reports.

yep, looks like both are in.

so yea, im completely wrong.

but heres something im not wrong about:

neither of these dudes are all time greats-to-be. durant is going to be alot closer to mcgrady/garnett than he will be to bird/magic. oden's offensive game will always be stunted.

im very dissapointed. too bad stern didnt get his two year rule in. i guess i really underestimated the whispering in the ear. durant really didnt stand a chance after nike got to him. i guess its pretty hard, too, to say i want to stay in school when your parents want their hundred thousand dollar cars and 5 million dollar mansions.

they both go in and everyone loses. oh well.

yep, looks like both are in.

so yea, im completely wrong.

but heres something im not wrong about:

neither of these dudes are all time greats-to-be. durant is going to be alot closer to mcgrady/garnett than he will be to bird/magic. oden's offensive game will always be stunted.

How do you figure???!!!!! What on Earth other than a pessimistic attitude tells you that Durant and Oden won't be special? What do you base that on? These are two of the most dominant freshmen bball players the country has ever seen. You don't think they'll be special? I'll take that bet. Both will be NBA All Stars by their 3rd season for sure.

How do you figure???!!!!! What on Earth other than a pessimistic attitude tells you that Durant and Oden won't be special? What do you base that on? These are two of the most dominant freshmen bball players the country has ever seen. You don't think they'll be special? I'll take that bet. Both will be NBA All Stars by their 3rd season for sure.

That would make them McGrady/KG.

well, i did say durant will be on par with garnett/mcgrady... which about puts him in the allstar game pretty soon. but my money says he doesnt win anything in the nba. dude lost ten games and was out of the tourney inthe first weekend. that makes me question whether he's a winner. some of the most talented guys in the nba never win anything. look at the hs'ers. mcgrady: nothing. garnett: 2 rounds, but as soon as cassell went down they were done. since then hes missed the playoffs 3(!) times. howis that possible? grant hill, who had a pretty mediocre team at time himself, never missed the playoffs. and that was when the east was pretty damn tough itself. look at kobe. 3 rings with shaq, then he missed playoffs, out in the first round, and he might miss the playoffs again. eddy curry, tyson chnadler, kwame brown.

im sure oden will be real good too. i think he'll even be an exception, like lebron, where hes so talented it doesnt matter. but i doubt he wins 3 rings like duncan. and i doubt he ever has a complete game like duncan, too.

i think college bball is the most important aspect of becoming a great basketball player. hs bball, for star players, is a charade at this point. complete joke. and these guys spend so much time at nike camps that playing the team game, and more importantly respecting the difference between a win and loss, gets lost on them.

if these 2 stayed 1 or 2 more years, my money would be on both of them being top 20 nba all time guys. now im saying they put up great numbers, but the accomplishments wont be there like they should be. instead of larry bird its mcgrady.

just my 2 cents.

Just because that's what KG and McGrady did, doesn't mean they end up the same.

I haven't seen a Center like Oden since Ewing and I don't know that I've ever seen a freshman like Durant. I don't get why people love to hate. What have you seen from these kids to make you be so pessimistic and call them just another non championship NBA talent? Why not get excited about new talent and give them a chance to do something special? They have both given us every reason to be optimisitic about their futures.

I would be curious to see Oden against legitimate bigs. Sadly, there are very few left in the NBA even. Oden has a ton of potential, the same potential any strong, athletic, focused 7 footer has. He has shown some ability while playing with an absolutely stacked lineup. But put him on the Grizzlies or Celtics and I'm still not sure what he's capable of. There are some centers in the NBA right now that would eat him alive, and not all of them are all that good. But that's not to say he can't become great. He certainly has that ability.
Durant has shown a lot more. There are questions about his size but he showed against bigger people that he could handle it and score from absolutely anywhere. I look at what Adam Morrison did last year. He did not have an NBA body and he was still able to put up respectable numbers. Durant has all of Morrison's abilitly plus much more athleticism, intensity and speed. Given all of that, I certainly think Durant could be a 20 and 8 guy next season and run away with Rookie of the Year. Oden should be about 14 and 10.

I don't get why people love to hate.


Comparing someone to KG is hating now? Mother fucks sake. He's top 50 of all time. Give us your career expectations, would ya?

KEVIN GARNETT is in the All Time top 50? WHY?

Comparing someone to KG is hating now? Mother fucks sake. He's top 50 of all time. Give us your career expectations, would ya?

Garnett is not one of the top 50 all time. I don't really know what mother fucks sake means...? When others compared him to KG, I'm assuming they are saying he's just going to be another talented player to never win anything.

I would be curious to see Oden against legitimate bigs. Sadly, there are very few left in the NBA even. Oden has a ton of potential, the same potential any strong, athletic, focused 7 footer has. He has shown some ability while playing with an absolutely stacked lineup. But put him on the Grizzlies or Celtics and I'm still not sure what he's capable of. There are some centers in the NBA right now that would eat him alive, and not all of them are all that good. But that's not to say he can't become great. He certainly has that ability.
Durant has shown a lot more. There are questions about his size but he showed against bigger people that he could handle it and score from absolutely anywhere. I look at what Adam Morrison did last year. He did not have an NBA body and he was still able to put up respectable numbers. Durant has all of Morrison's abilitly plus much more athleticism, intensity and speed. Given all of that, I certainly think Durant could be a 20 and 8 guy next season and run away with Rookie of the Year. Oden should be about 14 and 10.

For those of you that don't believe Oden is as good as advertised, watch him in person one time. I didn't truly understand just how good he was until I did that.

Jethro, you claim that some centers in the NBA would eat him alive. I'm not so sure. I've never seen Oden get eaten alive yet in his career. I've watched teams throw big man after big man at him and all Oden did was swat that shit back where it came from. Might NBA talent cause him problems? maybe But, I don't get haters claiming he's going to get eatin' up when its never happened before. I believe he'll be excellent next year regardless of the team he's on.

I'm not saying Hibbert is as good or will be as good as Oden, but Hibbert seems to be really flying under the radar IMO.

There is no reason that he shouldn't go top 6 or 7 in a league starved for big men.

I'd still take Durant over Oden, as I said earlier in the thread, Oden looks very good, but Durant looks amazing.

i think hibbert looks like a talented stiff. he's big though, which justifies a high pick. but i dont see any ASG's in his future.

Hype aside, what are the big differences that you guys see in Oden's and Hibbert's game?

(don't count the beard, either)

Hype aside, what are the big differences that you guys see in Oden's and Hibbert's game?

(don't count the beard, either)

Oden is more athletic. Stronger. Better shot block/defender. Slightly better offensive game. IMO

I'd take Hibbert later in the first round though.

Hibbert is a great example. You may be right about seeing him in person. But he wasn't always the best big man on the floor this season. At times Hibbert and Horford, to give two examples, outplayed him. Yes, they'll both be lottery picks, but not the NBA's best.

If he were in the lineup right now and I had to win a series, I would take several NBA centers over him:
Dwight Howard
Shaq
Bosh
Sheed
Duncan
Stoudamire
Jermaine O'Neal
Boozer
Camby - maybe
Yao - maybe

Many of those guys play PF as well, but have all played Center at one time or another this season and could all match up with Oden in 7 months. He'll certainly make an impact and win plenty of battles, but he's not going to be dominant as a rookie. For starters, unless Stern anoints him under the Dwayne Wade foul rules, he'll have to figure out how to stay in games. Next, he'll have to go through the daily grind of games when a soft opponent is Pao Gasol, not Courtney Sims. When he does that in a few years, he'll be one of the best.

Okay, first of all you are comparing a 19 year old kid to NBA veterans. I never said Oden was better than all the NBA All Star Centers right now. He's 19! But you give him a few years and he'll be dominant.

Second, I don't know which games you were watching but Hibbert and Horford did not outplay Oden. The game plan for both of those teams was to attack Oden possession after possession and it didn't work. Horford could not finish at all on Oden. He ended up scoring some, but it wasn't inside with Oden defending. Hibbert vs. Oden looked like Grand Am vs. Corvette at times.

BTW, you did not throw out Carlos Boozer or Camby over Oden. No way did you say that.

Jethro, how come you're always hating on the college stars? Reggie Bush, Troy Smith/Ginn/& Co., Neitzel, etc.

KEVIN GARNETT is in the All Time top 50? WHY?


Because he is one of the 50 best in the history of the sport. This point is beyond arguement unless you are strictly considering titles and little else. If Barkley and Malone are in your top 50, Garnett is as well. His best team mate has been either Latrell, Sam, or Starburry, take your pick.

He's the only guy to ever get 20-10-5 for 6 consecutive seasons, he's been on the all D team for the past 6 years, he plays every game, and he may be the most versitile player in league history.


Look, if you want to make him 51, then whatever, but its outright stupid to think you wouldn't look at his career, compare it to others, and make him one of the GOAT.

Garnett is not one of the top 50 all time. I don't really know what mother fucks sake means...? When others compared him to KG, I'm assuming they are saying he's just going to be another talented player to never win anything.


Yes he is, you and zip are jerkoffs. It means "fucks sake", but while fucking your mother. I had assumed when someone compared basketball players they were comparing basketball players. No one has a fucking clue if he's going to win titles, but we can discuss his talent relative to players in the league today.

Well, on Garnett, I'm going to put that old "Do he makes otha muthafuckas on his team better" out there, and have to say "No. No he does not"
Now, no one can win a title by himself, so I really don't count titles as part of a muthafuckas repertoire, but they do help.
Top 50, or one of the GOAT's is heady stuff, and if you think he's there, then more power to ya. I tend to think a guy should go beyond playing the numbers game. I really don't think it's that big a deal for a 6'10 guy who is THE Playa on his team to go for 20-10 every night. If Garnett is Top 50 already, the NBA is historically weak in individual talent, then.

Ok, you just said that KG doesn't make others on his team better, and I'm going to take your "plays the numbers game" thing as calling him selfish. This despite the fact he is the best in the league at making others better, and is considered one of the least selfish/most team oriented guys in the league.

Garnett doesn't put up 20-10 anyway, he puts up stats that no player ever has.

Would you agree that kg is a top 8 pf?

Hermy...do you need a hug? I think Garnett is very good. However, Barkley and Malone are in a different category than Garnett. Never thought F bombs would be thrown around on WTF when it came to Kevin Garnett, weird.

I thought we were talking Durant...then Oden...now Garnett?

Did he make the 50 All Time List, seriously don't know, but I'm doubting it.

I do not need a hug. I hope that you are not suggesting someone else needs to lighten up.

The 50 list came out in 97. Slam had one in '03 and he was #70 something. Since then he's had 3 more monster years.

I don't get how Barkley is that much better than KG that he's in a different category.

Debusschere and Shayes were PFs on the top 50, and I'd say KG rates well with them.

Pippen was on the top 50 list. KG is far better than Pippen ever was. "But Pippen has rings." Put KG on those teams with MJ, and Phil as the coach, and he gets the rings with ease. Remember everyone gravy training on Houston? Barkely trying to get his ring? Pippen going for another? With the Blazers too? Ddin't happen.
The top 50 list was shaky when it came out. It was an amazing marketing ploy for David Stern and his boys. But the flaws in comparing people across generations were abundant. It still exists today.

But the reason why we're having this conversation is that KG is one of the best in the game. He has changed the way people his size play the game. He was the first right out of high school and the one who proved it could be done. Pistons boards everywhere have drooled over him for years. The biggest criticism on KG is that he makes way too much money, not that his game doesn't support it but that it has placed a financial handicap on the franchise. As for maing other players better, he absolutely does. Marbury's years with him were arguably the best of his career. Same for Wally, and so on.

So the point is that KG is that good. And yet people were offended that Durant could be compared to KG. Like it was a cut on Durant or something. 99.99999% of all college forwards wish they could be mentioned in the same sentence as KG. It's quite a complement for someone who hasn't scored a single point in the NBA yet.

garnett has arguably been the best (imo, 2nd best) pf in an era that is also arguably the best era for pf's.

individual talent alone, garnett would easilly make my top 50 talents. but his career doesnt even come close to top 50 careers. that was my point atleast.

incidentally, conley sr says that he is lined up to be oden's agent, and also says oden is still undecided about going pro.

I am going to recuse myself. I could NOT care less about Kevin Garnett, or where he ranks as a basketball player.
Just wake me up when he does something significant.

So you must be a huge Steve Kerr, Robert Horry fan? Not nearly as good but with a knack for doing something more significant given the moment?

Umm..Say, I'VE got an idea:
Let's have Robert Horry and Steve Kerr compare their title rings with Kevin Garnetts title rings!
Also, let's have Horry and Kerr compare their playoff highlights to Garnetts!
OOPS!

Anyone that tries to criticize Kevin Garnett's game or his career comes off looking like a boob IMO.

The only fault that I can find with Garnett is that he is too loyal to a piece of shit franchise. He should have demanded out of there a long time ago.

Unfortunately, his career is going to be marred by playing for Minnesota. He has wasted the prime of his career playing for a dickhead (McHale) that crippled an already challenged franchise for years with that Joe Smith debacle.

If KG wasn't such a class act, he might just have a ring or three by now with another franchise.

If the Celtics get Durant, I wonder if they will finally trade Pierce?

Boobs do look pretty nice, ya gotta admit.
But for Garnett to be cut some slack out of loyalty is something I don't really buy. If I'm a player, I WANT a ring, so if my team bags it, I'm outta there. Maybe it says something about a guy who is not hungry enough to do all he can to get a championship.

some people say garnett doesnt elevate his game for the playoffs.

but i think its the missing three playoffs in a row, mixed with 7 consecutive 1st round exits that garner the criticism. the accomplishments dont match the talent.

If the Celtics get Durant, I wonder if they will finally trade Pierce?
I doubt it. What can they get? His value was a lot higher 2 years ago. They need a Center. They need to win the lotto or have Memphis take Durant so they can get Oden. Then you have a post player (Oden), a creator (PP), and a 3 point shooter to kick out to (Wally).

Even then they'd be smart to swap PP for a younger and better character scorer that will pass to Oden and not be a whiner.

Nazr to Boston for Pierce. Book it.

Durant just won his 3rd straight NBA scoring title, yet all you punks do is mock the Doc.

Throwing stones at the castle.

No wonder all of the "good posters" left.

#smh

Many mocked him.

^ I like the way you mock him/

I don't know if many of you have had the time to check out Kevin Durant this year. For those who haven't, he's a 6'8-6'9 Freshman for Texas. While Oden gets all of the hype and will be the #1 pick in next year's NBA Draft, I believe Durant deserves just as much praise.

There is absolutely nothing this kid can't do. He's averaging 24 pts and 10 boards. That was before he dropped 37 pts and 15 rebs on #14 OSU last night. He can beat defenders off the dribble with silky smooth moves, he is lights out from behind the three point line, he can post defenders up and has a perfect right handed half hook, and he can rebound very well.

The last guy I saw this dominant in college basketball was Melo and he has Melo beat. He is better as a freshman than Melo was as a freshman. If Durant was at North Carolina or Duke, he'd be getting covers of magazines right now. Mark it down now, Kevin Durant will not only be a great NBA player, but he will be one of the greatest players in NBA history.

The great "Baker", gentlemen.

Didn't I compare him to Luol Deng?

Man, you think I'm bad now but I was the worst in my early days on here.