He was the best PF in Eueope. He was NEVER the best player in Euroleague, much less "the best player in the world not in the NBA" as the Rockets organization keeps implying through Rockets writers and announcers. In fact, Spanoulis is considered a superior talent in Europe. There should be know high expectation for Luis Scola at all. He is an Argentian Mark Madsen. Not bad, but just a solid role playing backup 4/5 hustle and heart player. Remember Madseon won championships with the Lakers and could help Shaq at times. But this BS lies from the Rockets about Scola was a great player is nonsense. He was NEVER considered the top player in Europe, much less "best player in the world outside the NBA", which is what the hype machine kept saying. Not only that The Chronicle on numerous times said he was the 3 time Euroleague MVP which is a blatant lie. The Rockets announcers call him the 2 time Euroleague MVP which is also a blatant lie. He was the 2 time MVP of Spanish league. He also played on a team that NEVER won a Euroleague title. Another comparison is Spanoulis played/plays on the best team in Europe. So people should be a little more realistic with Scola. Spanoulis is much better at the same age than Scola, had a much better rookie capmpain in Euroleague, etc. The differnece is Scola is getting good PT and playing every game and now plays for a coach that will allow him to develop, none of which was true for Spanoulis under Van Gundy. But the point to remember is, Scola is not even the same talent as Spanoulis. He's not even a "superstar" in Euroleague. He was NEVER considered a "superstar" in Euroleague. He was the best PF the last two years he was there. That's it. FACT he was a top 5 player in Euroleague. So maybe just maybe Rockets fans can get it through their heads. Luis Scola will be a solid backup PF that is it. Stop putting unrealistic and stupid over-hyped expectations on him.
People aimlessly defending Scola is being biased here. There is no such thing as a "bad comparison" between two athletes. Yi is hands down playing better than Scola right now and most likely will be doing it in the future as well. No amount of "OUR TEAM IS TOO DEEP" or "BUCKS TEAM IS TERRIBLE" can change anything Take pleasure in the fact that we're the better team and give Yi the props he deserves.
You have selective memory about what you have read. Yes there were people hyped on Yi's potential but there were even more people said he was going to be a huge bust. Perhaps, due to the hands of fate, you happened to only have read all the potential predictions but none of the bust predictions? Or perhaps you just chose to bring up whatever fits your argument?
Are you sure he can't compete with Chuck and Scola? Last time I checked, he score more than (Chuck and scola combined)x2, and grabbed almost twice as many rebounds. His potential is clearly way beyond Chuck's - I don't think any coach in the NBA NBA will overlook that.
So top 5 doesn't warrant him to be a superstar? I thought ppl here call at least 10 guys in the NBA as superstars(not to mention the so-called mega stars)
Scola was never Euroleague MVP... many times it has been said, many times I have corrected posters when they reapeated that (wrong) information. But he was the best power forward in Europe, and one of the best players outside the NBA. He has been in the Euroleague First team and was the MVP of arguably the best national league outside the NBA. The claim the Spanoulis is considered a better talent is just a very subjective opinion of yours, that I find laughable. There should be high expectations with Scola, because he has the talent to be a very good role player in the NBA. Once he adjusts to the new league, he will show it.
