http://finance.yahoo.com/news/one-play-shows-why-nba-172756021.html
The kid can do everything he should and shouldn't be able to do. Just wow.
The kid can do everything he should and shouldn't be able to do. Just wow.
AD will go down as the best who ever played at UK.
- Thread starter BigBlueFanGA
- Start date
I think its best to let Davis earn his own reputation. Folks are doing a "Tiger Woods" on him. There were fans of Tiger that were ready to proclaim him the best golfer that ever lived after a single Masters win. They would nearly fight about it. Of course, while Tiger was a fabulous golfer, he is one of many great players and the chances of him earning the GOAT golfing title look pretty glum today.
One thing we can agree on. Davis is having an outrageous early career which continues at an astounding pace. I'm hoping it continues.
One thing we can agree on. Davis is having an outrageous early career which continues at an astounding pace. I'm hoping it continues.
If Anthony can end up making as good of an argument to "greatest ever" that Tiger has I will be pleased.
Just worried about his shoulders. Injuries have tanked many a career - Derrick Rose is a good example.
30/10
It could happen this year for AD. Alvin Gentry is an offensive-minded coach whose main job right now is to find ways to utilize AD. His main goal, and the goal of the entire franchise, is to make AD want to stay there as long as possible. In the 2 games the Pelicans have played in the preseason, AD has averaged almost a point a minute, and I think that's going to transfer to the regular season.
It could happen this year for AD. Alvin Gentry is an offensive-minded coach whose main job right now is to find ways to utilize AD. His main goal, and the goal of the entire franchise, is to make AD want to stay there as long as possible. In the 2 games the Pelicans have played in the preseason, AD has averaged almost a point a minute, and I think that's going to transfer to the regular season.
I still think Woods is the best... more money titles, more scoring titles, more player of the year awards. More total pga tour wins that nicklaus. More seasons with five or more wins than anyone else. Ppl want to say nicklaus bc he has more majors...but does that also mean ucla is better than UK?
Sorry to derail the thread.
AD will be UK's most iconic player ever , to date for all of UK's history we have never had a player that was synonymous with UK on a national or global level . We just haven't had a star big enough in the NBA and that's where a players notoriety is built . Davis will be our Alcindor , Jordan , Johnson or Wilt .
This is just nonsense. Nobody was proclaiming Tiger the best ever after only "a single" Masters win, BUT there certainly were some making such proclamations after he'd won FOURTEEN MAJORS in less than 12 years, and after he won the PGA Player of the Year Award a record ELEVEN TIMES, more than any golfer in the sports history. And all before reaching his mid 30s.
While there is a degree of truth to your point--the last six years of Tiger's career certainly has been quite a letdown from what came before--you're being misleading about the facts. There was plenty more basis for those proclamations than you make it sound.
What the pelicans need to do is what the bulls did for Jordan. Shoot 25-35x per game and have a huge marketing gimmick on being the best ever and surround him with a very good supporting cast. Oh and get a shoe company to promote him in every commercial and get others say wheaties for example to have posters of him in every box and you can collect all 10. Lol
AD should have his own rafter. He won everything you can win as a college player. Swept the awards. He is the greatest player I ever saw in college. Made plays that defied gravity and best of all he was money on both ends at crunch time.
Even better than Issel?
Of course Issel (sadly) never got a college title to his name.
It should be noted I was born way after Issel retired from the game, so no bias here.
Of course Issel (sadly) never got a college title to his name.
It should be noted I was born way after Issel retired from the game, so no bias here.
AD needs an NBA title to elevate his legacy, he needs to pull a power move like LeBron and form a big 3 of his own. Imagine AD teaming with Durant and Wall in Washington, or make a young super 3 with Wiggins and KAT. Not sure if will happen in in New Orleans for him but he is reaching the point other Stars should want to come play with him.
Huh? Did you actually read my post? Clearly not.
There wasn't that basis after his first Masters which was my point. The talking heads crowned him the following week. And fans were following their lead. Hell, the Woods fan boys cried about any skeptics on talk radio for weeks and weeks after that first major. And I did refer to Woods as a fabulous golfer. I apologize as that's a big word. Just so you know, fabulous >> good. Woods did not deserve the title of GOAT after his first or his last major, however. Career records can't be broken in a day or a year or even a few years.
Similar with Davis early in his career, which was my point. He needs to be allowed to amass that long record. The best that Kentucky has ever offered is a bitterly tough standard and The Horse set the bar high. Let's let Davis earn it. To frivolously give it and have him fall short due to injury or action just sets him up for failure. He deserves better.
Woods is a helluva golfer. I can't put him above the Golden Bear, though. That's not really my point. I just think Davis needs to be allowed to make his own case.
AD no longer has a case to make as his eligibility is over at UK. He was the greatest Cat that ever put on a uniform albeit for one brief season. He won everything that can be won, went #1 in the draft, won and Olympic gold medal, and is well within the discussion of being the best NBA player in this era.
he's closing in on losing in the NBA Finals 4 times like LeBron? Top 5 NBA players All Time have multiple Championships, let's get one first and I'd love to see it.
I would say 2 things about AD:
1. He's the most accomplished player ever in a UK uniform. Despite playing only 1 year, the accolades he got and leading us to a title are the best ever at UK.
2. He is well on his way to having the most successful pro career of any player in UK history.
However, I do think there is a distinction between most accomplished and greatest player. I think there were possibly better college players at UK during their time (a lot of people will disagree with this). I think if you look at guys like Issel and Mashburn, they could be in discussion for better college player, but they also both played 3 years, which gives them a huge advantage over AD. Had AD stayed 3 years, he could possibly be the most celebrated college player ever...that's how freaking skilled he was. I do know this, his one year at UK will go down as greatest single season and I don't think anyone could top it.
1. He's the most accomplished player ever in a UK uniform. Despite playing only 1 year, the accolades he got and leading us to a title are the best ever at UK.
2. He is well on his way to having the most successful pro career of any player in UK history.
However, I do think there is a distinction between most accomplished and greatest player. I think there were possibly better college players at UK during their time (a lot of people will disagree with this). I think if you look at guys like Issel and Mashburn, they could be in discussion for better college player, but they also both played 3 years, which gives them a huge advantage over AD. Had AD stayed 3 years, he could possibly be the most celebrated college player ever...that's how freaking skilled he was. I do know this, his one year at UK will go down as greatest single season and I don't think anyone could top it.
If Davis stays healthy, hes a future hall of fame type of talent. He's a top 3 player in the world right now. He is going to be a force in recruiting for us for a very long time. He's our Michael Jordan. Don't confuse what I'm saying. I'm not saying he will go down as good, or Ever be Jordan, but in recruiting, he's that type of force for our cats. Most kids coming up nowadays will be trying to model their game from Davis. The fact he led our cats to a title helps his case of being our best ever. To be in that group, I do believe you have to win a title. With LeBron getting older, Davis will take over being the best in the world.
Agree with UKbob..Big Dan was the best..Davis might someday be the best UK player to play in the NBA , but Dan was the best to ever play at UK..Record speaks for itself.
Davis has the potential to be one of (if not absolutely) the best to ever play in the NBA, from any school.
Davis is a Stud and could be the best to ever to play for the CATS once he's done. Dude took the Pelican's to the playoff's in the West already.
Davis will go down as best basketball player, but Issel's legacy is greater I think.
Although, Davis' single season at UK was ridiculously decorated... He took so many major awards, in addition to winning the championship and being Final Four MOP, and being the #1 pick in the draft.
Although, Davis' single season at UK was ridiculously decorated... He took so many major awards, in addition to winning the championship and being Final Four MOP, and being the #1 pick in the draft.
I was thinking same thing almost verbatim. Then I thought how much AD meant as a player. Mash and Dan didn't take the least amount of shots
As starters. They didn't
Win titles. AD had a dominate championship game without putting up numbers. Everyone knew he changes the game
For perspective let me toss out 2 names: Dan Issel was Frank Kaminsky with much more talent and 10 times more "tough". (Old Schoolers...Don't yell at me because I know it's not equitable). But like Frank, he played below the rim, had inside/outside skills, and was very fundamental.
In the pros, he was Dirk Norwitzki. Like Dirk...Dan was a volume scorer, but on defense he wasn't a stopper.
My point: I love Dan Issel, but Anthony Davis is the best talent who ever graced our campus. Not really a debatable point even for a Issel Disciple like me.
In the pros, he was Dirk Norwitzki. Like Dirk...Dan was a volume scorer, but on defense he wasn't a stopper.
My point: I love Dan Issel, but Anthony Davis is the best talent who ever graced our campus. Not really a debatable point even for a Issel Disciple like me.
Issel played in a time that had 6'5 centers and sometimes not a black player on the floor in college . It's not comparable to Davis' time but he did have better stats . However in a few years Davis will be considered by most as UK's greatest , right now most outside of UK don't even know who Issel is .
At UK, clearly, but what I said was AD will go down as the best who ever played here, not the best while he was here. If AD stays healthy, Issels NBA success will be dwarfed by AD.
My best guess at Anthony Davis's future best season stats:
30.0 per game
13 rebounds per game
4.0 blocks per game
3 assists per game
2 steals.'
'
'
Now go look at his stats last year. He doesn't have far to go.
I will say this though.....Davis can't guard Cousins. Ive seen it with my own eyes. Cant rebound over him either. One vs One I'm taking a motivated Demarcus Cousins. I'd say 21-14 in a game of 21
30.0 per game
13 rebounds per game
4.0 blocks per game
3 assists per game
2 steals.'
'
'
Now go look at his stats last year. He doesn't have far to go.
I will say this though.....Davis can't guard Cousins. Ive seen it with my own eyes. Cant rebound over him either. One vs One I'm taking a motivated Demarcus Cousins. I'd say 21-14 in a game of 21
I am not a young guy who has only been watching since Cal. The first team I really remember was the 78 team when I was 7. That being said.....AD is the GOAT in my eyes at UK. In one season he had more effect on the game and was more dominant than any player I have ever seen in college basketball.
Kinda funny to watch this. The answer is simple. Davis has posted the best single year for a Kentucky player at Kentucky. Issel has the best career. There's no logical debate here.
That said, the funny part is folks pushing the best player since they've started watching the game. In another 10 - 15 years, there'll be some other best player because they are active at that time. If Davis has a long shining career in the NBA, it might take longer.
In 30 - 50 years, it may be back to Issel because the stats will speak loudest as they do for Issel, unless someone posts bigger numbers. Fans are a fickle bunch. They need to say that the biggest and bestest have occurred in the span of their awareness. This is why we rely on numbers.
For a career at Kentucky, those numbers spell: HORSE.
That said, the funny part is folks pushing the best player since they've started watching the game. In another 10 - 15 years, there'll be some other best player because they are active at that time. If Davis has a long shining career in the NBA, it might take longer.
In 30 - 50 years, it may be back to Issel because the stats will speak loudest as they do for Issel, unless someone posts bigger numbers. Fans are a fickle bunch. They need to say that the biggest and bestest have occurred in the span of their awareness. This is why we rely on numbers.
For a career at Kentucky, those numbers spell: HORSE.
