Dakari/Nazr

[EvilMD]

Is there a valid comparison to be made between Dakari Johnson and Nazr Mohammed? A lot of the things we say about Dakari...can't jump, can't put the ball on the floor...my memory is that Nazr was kind of the same way. Yes or no?

 

[W_Heisenberg]

I think Nazr was a little more athletic and had better footwork. Both have good hands. I think it's a somewhat fair comparison...I could see DJ hanging around the league for 10-15 years, never a starter or star but getting decent minutes as he further develops. Didn't he reclassify when he came here? He's very young, lot's of upside.

 

[Bluegrassking]

There are probably some valid areas of comparison but I don't think they are overly similar players other than physical measurable height with Nazr being a little shorter, speed seems similar though I'm going from 20 year old memory, limited vertical but skill and basketball aptitude wise I want to say they are fairly different. Nazr had better footwork by many lightyear and better than most any guy his size not named Duncan. Big Naz had significantly better hands, more range (like reliable at least to 8-10 feet, a much better arsenal and more natural set of offensive moves, and while he was not an AD or even a Magloire I'd say he was a better than solid defender both individually and in the team concept.

Simply put, Mohammad was a much better and smoother all around player even as a freshman he just needed to be in Pitino shape to see regular and serious PT.
By the time he was a sophomore he was at least 2-4 years ahead of where Dakari is today, maybe more.
Nazr was at least one level ahead, in my opinion.

 

[EvilMD]

I don't remember Nazr being that great at UK. Kind of a flashes of brilliance type of guy. When I think of Dakari it's like a Jekyll/Hyde thing. He dominated Louisville in the 2014 tourney. But the first half of that year and in long stretches this year he looked terrible. Hopefully he can get some PT and find some consistency to his game.

 

[KyFaninNC]

Not even close. Nazr played ABOVE the rim, had a sweet hook, blocked shots, athletic.

 

[jte123]

Dakari got his shot blocked way to much for his size and fumbled the ball a lot. Wish him the best.

 

[bthaunert]

I don't remember Nazr being that great at UK. Kind of a flashes of brilliance type of guy. When I think of Dakari it's like a Jekyll/Hyde thing. He dominated Louisville in the 2014 tourney. But the first half of that year and in long stretches this year he looked terrible. Hopefully he can get some PT and find some consistency to his game.

Nazr was a 12/7 guy his junior year in about 20mpg, so he put up some pretty good numbers for the amount of time he played. He was First team All SEC that year too.

 

[EvilMD]

The question is, what would Dakari's numbers be with 20 mins a game? He seemed like he regressed with less PT.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Dakari is no where close to Nazr.
He was much more athletic, skilled, and better bb IQ.

 

[LmdCat]

I don't remember Nazr being that great at UK. Kind of a flashes of brilliance type of guy. When I think of Dakari it's like a Jekyll/Hyde thing. He dominated Louisville in the 2014 tourney. But the first half of that year and in long stretches this year he looked terrible. Hopefully he can get some PT and find some consistency to his game.

You should have your memory checked.

 

[EvilMD]

He barely got drafted in the first round.

 

[Ripcord65]

Nazi was coached into having some pretty good post moves. Dakari was not. End of story.

 

[GOING FOR #9]

No comparison but size

 

[UKWildcats#8]

No, Nazr was a lot better overall by the time he left. He improved...DJ regressed. I still don't get what happened to him. The only thing I can figure is the weight loss made him forgot how to move and throw his body around and go up strong. Hopefully a team can work with him for a few years and he can be a good backup big man.

 

[OSOK]

Nazr weight around 300 pounds when he came to UK. He then went on a Diet.

NO comparison their freshman year. Heck, he was playing on the JV team.

 

[EvilMD]

Bigs need PT more than anybody. When Dakari was getting it at the end of his first year, you see the result. When he lost a lot of it to WCS and Karl, he went back to what he had been before.

 

[catrecruit]

Not even close. Nazr played ABOVE the rim, had a sweet hook, blocked shots, athletic.

Ummm....Nazr NOT athletic...at all

Just incredibly soft hands and learned how to use his body to shield defenders from a deadly baby jump-hook

 

[UKCats2000]

Nazr much better hands and seemed to get every rebound. Also much more skilled offensively. I mean there was a song remake ('gettin jiggy with it') about Nazr around tournament time, that should tell you something.