Are there any other NBA players that began his career playing a small role in a team only to breakout when given a much bigger responsibility/role? Tmac was used primarily as a defensive stopper back in Toronto. He used to average 2 blocks a game in 99-2000 season, only to have his career blow through the roof when given the primary role in Orlando. Not saying he didn't have a big role in Toronto, but he wasn't the main option for a team back then. If I could give a mental example (correct me if I'm wrong), he was like a now Michael Pietrus or a Travis Outlaw back in his pre-superstar days. Imagine the idea of Pietrus or Outlaw carrying a team. Now I am wondering if there are any players out in the NBA that can blow up like Tmac did. Von Wafer definitely comes to mind. He has some potential. The best example I can think of is Hedo Turkoglu. I honestly think that if he was given the main role when he was young, he would be a superstar. Yes I am crazy. I really thought he was the most important Magic player in the playoffs, in terms of facilitating. You see, most superstars in this league were already hyped to be superstars. Kobe, Duncan, Lebron, Wade. Tmac wasn't. Imagine Morey snagging us one undervalued player only to turn like LeBron. Oh I can dream right...
You know TMac didn't go straight from Toronto to Houston, right? When we picked him up from Orlando, he WAS touted as some sort of prodigy player. Don't fool yourself.
Sorry, missed this sentence. I'll try to look for examples, but I believe that there are probably some other guys that had some quiet years before really exploding. It's less noticeable in basketball, but in the NHL and MLB, for example, guys usually have to get used to the speed and intensity of the pro game.
usually there are role players who eventually become all-stars, but not usually superstars. i know wade wasnt predicted to be a star so i guess he's sort of similar.
So basically in a way, the like growth of Tmac happens very rare in this league. I believe there are two types of players when entering the league. You are touted a superstar or not. If you are not superstar-worthy, you are simply a role player, even if you are a great one, to a superstar. Most of the time, in terms of probability, hyped superstars tend to be a bust more than a role player becoming a surprise superstar.
Von Wafer will always be a role player his whole entire career. His IQ is not that good to turn him into a star. I mean Sasha shut him down. The way Travis Outlaw and Mikeal played, I don't think they will be superstars. If you watch closely to the way Tmac played back in Toronto, you know this kid has talent. The way he handles the ball, the way he passes, the way he moves, just the way he plays you know he has some serious talent. It was smooth, it was silky and it was fun to watch. I think the closest one to Tmac is Danny Granger or Kevin Durant because they have some mad talents. Von Wafer....He have a nice shot and he can dunk. But his decision making is horrible. Ever watch him on a fast break? This guy would run on a break with 2 other teammates and one defender and what do he do? Cause a turnover. I just don't think Von have enough talent to be a star. I don't even think he would even be as good as JR Smith and JR Smith is about the same age as Von.
I agree that duncan & james is ready to be nba star when they join nba. And james is a very special case, you can look at his face. XD But kobe, like tmac & many high school guys, also need some time to grow.
I think you're right. There really isn't much long-term development of players in the NBA. You can usually pretty accurately predict what sort of player they are statistically by their 3rd season. I guess I'm just used to other sports where development curves are a lot longer (particularly goalies in hockey, batting in baseball, and rushing in football) because the speed of the game changes so much at the pro level. The NBA is pretty different in that respect.
Definitely. That one happens all the time in this league. I am looking for role-player to superstar growth. I dont know about the Wade thing. I am sure though that Riley thought he has the potential to be a franchise player. Mike Kupchak wanted him in the package for Shaq but Riley refused because he thought Wade would compliment Shaq very well.
well, michael redd is pretty close. he came to the bucks and played behind ray allen. i think he was mostly a defensive player. but he worked on his shot and he became a sharpshooter and an all star level after jesus shuttlesworth left. gilbert arenas would be someone id point out too. but wasnt he a starter on his rookie season and he blew up just like wade and brandon roy?
Tmac stayed in Toronto for only 3 seasons. I don't think the Raptors management knew what Tmac could bring. I guess they thought he would hinder Vince's development, i dont know. correct me if im wrong. I think sometimes luck and team management has something to do with it. I mean there is probably some dumb-ass coach or scout in the NBA that fails to see that they have a player with hidden talent IN THEIR TEAM but fail to see it and use it wisely. Perhaps they know 'then' player has talent but refused to let him blossom. Or sometimes, some players are too much of a headcase to realize his potential (insert JR. Smith) But yeah if Granger keeps up this upcoming season, he will def come on his own. I wouldnt put Durant on the same trajectory. Durant was already hyped to be a great superstar.
Do you remember what is the role of Nowitzki, Billups, Nash, Joe Johnson, Redd, ... when they join nba. In my view, kobe become star after oneal join la.
Jermaine O'Neal? I don't know if you would consider him a superstar though. But he was hidden in the Blazers bench and never played, then hit it big with the Pacers..
There ya go Arenas. To think that guy was drafted on the second round wow. Similarity-wise, the guy is injury-cursed like ours
tmac came out of highschool and so he progressed each year. jermaine oneal came out of highschool and didnt do anything until the blazers got rid of him. most guys out of highschool or freshman year of college take time to develop
was gonna name him too. was a nobody behind sheed. but when sheed left, he suddenly developed into one of the game's best big mans back then
Theres 3 ways I see players turning into stars: 1.) He enters a system which maximizes his particular set of skills and he shines, ala Billups going to Detroit, Nash to the Suns, etc. 2.) A weak system where one player takes the majority of the shots and dominates the ball, Francis in Houston, AI in Philly, etc. 3.) Natural development by coaches, Durant, Granger, Roy, etc.
i think devin harris and kevin martin can be considered the same. devin harris wasnt as good with dallas as when he was handed the nets. same for kevin martin. he needed all of the old guys of sacto to leave to really show his potential. caron butler was an afterthought with the miami trio of wade and odom. was pretty good when he played with arenas and jamison, but really took off when arenas got injured. if he was given a franchise of his own, im sure he can be a superstar. same for iguodala. he just needed iverson out of philly to really blossom. i think daequan cook is another player that can blossom into a good player if he just didnt play behind d.wade. the guy is 6'5' has decent handles, can rebound and can shoot the 3.
Ben Wallace. He came into the league undrafted and anchored that Detroit defensive team against the much talented Lakers. He gave up about 5 inchs and still played him well although some credit has to be given to Kobe for not passing him the ball.
