I guess this is why I don't watch NBA (until final 2 rounds of playoffs) and consider the league somewhat not real high level b-ball

[K_TIME]

Look at the draft

1. 3 of the top 5 picks played in a glorified pickup bball league (many times to not showcase their warts in college).
2. Anthony Black (who at least had the balls to go to college.) drafted 6th. Long kid and good athlete. 13 pts, 5 boards, 4 ass vs. 3 TO and he shot 45% FG and 30% 3pt. And raving he's a defender...Arkansas got scored on at will and the bald headed kid was their only plus defender IMO. Heck Reeves tore them a new one and he was the only dude along with Oscar that could score.
3. Derek Lively goes #12....the dude literally averaged 5 pts, 5 reb and 2.5 blocks....Seriously? The dude is as soft as tissue paper. Duke getting blasted in the paint in tourney only hightlights how lack of a presence he truly is.
4. The 2 Michigan wings that got drafted ...Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin....pretty 'meh' kids but both go #11 and #15 respectively. I think Jett Howard is decent as he's at least 6'8 but dang. 14pts a game, Neither can rebound to save their life, pretty inefficient shooters, both as apt to have a TO vs. create an assist, etc... And Michigan was a terrible defensive team...so I'm imagining not defensive stoppers
5. Brandin Podkiemski....goes to Illini and was a mess. 1.4 pts a game....goes to Santa Clara and now he is a 1st rounder.
6. I'll go on record and argue Marcus Sasser from Houston who was picked #25 by Pistons will be a top 10 player in this draft when it's all said and done.

Final UK interest comment. To not draft Oscar is just abysmal. I'd argue today alone he's way better than Miami Heat backup C in Cody Zeller. This draft was heavy on guards and wings....not a ton of bigs to compare. But any world where you draft Chris Livingston and Oscar goes undrafted....I'm sorry. This only shows how different the NBA game is and is watching so many teams run a glorified 3pt shooting contest. If you call that modern b-ball...so be it. But I'd argue the NBA rule changes are artificially changing the game to more of a International style of play where rugged athleticism and all around skills have lesser value. I am not sure whta I am watching is great basketball. This is one of the worst talent of drafts I can remember.

 

[dmacforheisman]

Devo Davis was Arkansas' best defender pretty easily IMO (got ejected in the second UK game though). Walsh fouled way too much.

Black was a good defender but his problem was with smaller guards who could use their quickness to blow by him since he's so tall. The funny thing is the NBA doesn't have as many of those types of guards so I could see him actually getting better at on-ball defense at the next level when he's guarding more of a Cade Cunningham type more similar to his build.

 

[kydmb99]

I've lost interest in the league for a multitude of reasons:

1) The foray into social justice politics
2) Style of play
3) This could be because I'm 35 years old now but the league just seems like a bunch of kids now.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger]

It's the best league with the best players in the world. What a take, "Not real high level basketball". All because you think you can evaluate players better than they can? That probably sounds more asshole-ish than I intend, but I mean c'mon.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It's the best league with the best players in the world. What a take, "Not real high level basketball". All because you think you can evaluate players better than they can? That probably sounds more asshole-ish than I intend, but I mean c'mon.

Yeah, if the NBA is not high level then what is?

 

[DraftCat]

You'd see the players potential more in college if the current rules didn't suck so much.

The paint being clogged
Charge calls
Smaller 3 point line

All the above and more make the college game barely watchable

 

[king of cali]

Look at the draft

1. 3 of the top 5 picks played in a glorified pickup bball league (many times to not showcase their warts in college).
2. Anthony Black (who at least had the balls to go to college.) drafted 6th. Long kid and good athlete. 13 pts, 5 boards, 4 ass vs. 3 TO and he shot 45% FG and 30% 3pt. And raving he's a defender...Arkansas got scored on at will and the bald headed kid was their only plus defender IMO. Heck Reeves tore them a new one and he was the only dude along with Oscar that could score.
3. Derek Lively goes #12....the dude literally averaged 5 pts, 5 reb and 2.5 blocks....Seriously? The dude is as soft as tissue paper. Duke getting blasted in the paint in tourney only hightlights how lack of a presence he truly is.
4. The 2 Michigan wings that got drafted ...Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin....pretty 'meh' kids but both go #11 and #15 respectively. I think Jett Howard is decent as he's at least 6'8 but dang. 14pts a game, Neither can rebound to save their life, pretty inefficient shooters, both as apt to have a TO vs. create an assist, etc... And Michigan was a terrible defensive team...so I'm imagining not defensive stoppers
5. Brandin Podkiemski....goes to Illini and was a mess. 1.4 pts a game....goes to Santa Clara and now he is a 1st rounder.
6. I'll go on record and argue Marcus Sasser from Houston who was picked #25 by Pistons will be a top 10 player in this draft when it's all said and done.

Final UK interest comment. To not draft Oscar is just abysmal. I'd argue today alone he's way better than Miami Heat backup C in Cody Zeller. This draft was heavy on guards and wings....not a ton of bigs to compare. But any world where you draft Chris Livingston and Oscar goes undrafted....I'm sorry. This only shows how different the NBA game is and is watching so many teams run a glorified 3pt shooting contest. If you call that modern b-ball...so be it. But I'd argue the NBA rule changes are artificially changing the game to more of an International style of play where rugged athleticism and all around skills have lesser value. I am not sure whta I am watching is great basketball. This is one of the worst talent of drafts I can remember.

1. That’s just a silly take. If your warts will show in college they will show in the G League where the competition is much better and everyone is playing to move up.

The rest of the post is just blah and not worth responding to…

 

[UK90]

I’m just cracking up at the notion that by far the best basketball league in the entire world is “not real high level b-ball.”

So, tell me 0P, what do you consider to be high level basketball if not the NBA?

 

[MWes11]

I've lost interest in the league for a multitude of reasons:

1) The foray into social justice politics
2) Style of play
3) This could be because I'm 35 years old now but the league just seems like a bunch of kids now.

Just curious if you feel the same way about the NFL?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Just curious if you feel the same way about the NFL?

NFL isn't high level football, ask the OP.

 

[bbncal02]

You'd see the players potential more in college if the current rules didn't suck so much.

The paint being clogged
Charge calls
Smaller 3 point line

All the above and more make the college game barely watchable

This.

If the court matached the NBA ones, it would be a much better game to watch.

The clogging of the lane has particularly hurt us over the years.

 

[JDHoss]

Look at the draft

1. 3 of the top 5 picks played in a glorified pickup bball league (many times to not showcase their warts in college).
2. Anthony Black (who at least had the balls to go to college.) drafted 6th. Long kid and good athlete. 13 pts, 5 boards, 4 ass vs. 3 TO and he shot 45% FG and 30% 3pt. And raving he's a defender...Arkansas got scored on at will and the bald headed kid was their only plus defender IMO. Heck Reeves tore them a new one and he was the only dude along with Oscar that could score.
3. Derek Lively goes #12....the dude literally averaged 5 pts, 5 reb and 2.5 blocks....Seriously? The dude is as soft as tissue paper. Duke getting blasted in the paint in tourney only hightlights how lack of a presence he truly is.
4. The 2 Michigan wings that got drafted ...Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin....pretty 'meh' kids but both go #11 and #15 respectively. I think Jett Howard is decent as he's at least 6'8 but dang. 14pts a game, Neither can rebound to save their life, pretty inefficient shooters, both as apt to have a TO vs. create an assist, etc... And Michigan was a terrible defensive team...so I'm imagining not defensive stoppers
5. Brandin Podkiemski....goes to Illini and was a mess. 1.4 pts a game....goes to Santa Clara and now he is a 1st rounder.
6. I'll go on record and argue Marcus Sasser from Houston who was picked #25 by Pistons will be a top 10 player in this draft when it's all said and done.

Final UK interest comment. To not draft Oscar is just abysmal. I'd argue today alone he's way better than Miami Heat backup C in Cody Zeller. This draft was heavy on guards and wings....not a ton of bigs to compare. But any world where you draft Chris Livingston and Oscar goes undrafted....I'm sorry. This only shows how different the NBA game is and is watching so many teams run a glorified 3pt shooting contest. If you call that modern b-ball...so be it. But I'd argue the NBA rule changes are artificially changing the game to more of a International style of play where rugged athleticism and all around skills have lesser value. I am not sure whta I am watching is great basketball. This is one of the worst talent of drafts I can remember.

Serious question. If you consider the NBA to be "somewhat not real high level b-ball", what level do you consider the utter garbage that the NCAA trots out on the floor and calls it basketball to be?

 

[shaudyshaud]

Couldn’t you say this about literally every single draft in any sport ? I can’t think of one draft where there wasn’t players that never panned out .

 

[K_TIME]

Serious question. If you consider the NBA to be "somewhat not real high level b-ball", what level do you consider the utter garbage that the NCAA trots out on the floor and calls it basketball to be?

College bball is eons inferior to the 80s and 90s.

I’d argue NBA js just a much inferior product compared to years past

1. Do you really Jokic would score 30+ night on Olajuwon and centers in year past? Or better yet those guys would get their numbers in him as well….but he’s considered the best player in the world today.
2. The rules have totally changed the game

I’m not going to argue rhe greatness of Lebron and Curry would not shine in any era…but you’re about to see Jordan Poole score 20+ a night and he’s not a legit starting level player Jalen Green is putting up points ( very inefficient)

To see dudes play on overtime elite league and go high is a joke. Dude sitting out 30 games is common not a rarity

You can like it all you want…..all level of bball are just a terrible product IMO

 

[Titpwhami2014]

I think people tend to forget the purpose of an NBA GM is to draft a player based on their potential. What they will be vs. what they currently are. You can’t always look at a one and done, or an OT Elite prospect, and judge them based on what they produced their one and only year. The GM’s don’t always get it right, but more times than not they do. For every Devin Booker that surprises us, there are three KATs or AD’s who are fairly easy to peg.

Last night’s draft was one of the least surprising in terms of where players were selected. There wasn’t one pick that truly stood out as too
high or two low. Sonogo from UConn was mildly surprising because he can shoot it a little but at the end of the day he’s a 6’8 center.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

College bball is eons inferior to the 80s and 90s.

I’d argue NBA js just a much inferior product compared to years past

1. Do you really Jokic would score 30+ night on Olajuwon and centers in year past? Or better yet those guys would get their numbers in him as well….but he’s considered the best player in the world today.
2. The rules have totally changed the game

I’m not going to argue rhe greatness of Lebron and Curry would not shine in any era…but you’re about to see Jordan Poole score 20+ a night and he’s not a legit starting level player Jalen Green is putting up points ( very inefficient)

To see dudes play on overtime elite league and go high is a joke. Dude sitting out 30 games is common not a rarity

You can like it all you want…..all level of bball are just a terrible product IMO

You can say this about every sport. Nfl isn't as good as it was in the 90s or even early 2000s either.

 

[2Dope15]

Devo Davis was Arkansas' best defender pretty easily IMO (got ejected in the second UK game though). Walsh fouled way too much.

Black was a good defender but his problem was with smaller guards who could use their quickness to blow by him since he's so tall. The funny thing is the NBA doesn't have as many of those types of guards so I could see him actually getting better at on-ball defense at the next level when he's guarding more of a Cade Cunningham type more similar to his build.

I think his hair slowed him down.

 

[CNJ1966]

Refs let them walk too much to suit me. I can hardly stand to watch it. 3-4 steps, changing pivot foot, dragging or lifting up pivot foot...they’ve bastardized the game. Traveling happens almost every other trip down the court. And the worst part is it’s beginning to filter down to college.

 

[cats#1again]

Look at the draft

1. 3 of the top 5 picks played in a glorified pickup bball league (many times to not showcase their warts in college).
2. Anthony Black (who at least had the balls to go to college.) drafted 6th. Long kid and good athlete. 13 pts, 5 boards, 4 ass vs. 3 TO and he shot 45% FG and 30% 3pt. And raving he's a defender...Arkansas got scored on at will and the bald headed kid was their only plus defender IMO. Heck Reeves tore them a new one and he was the only dude along with Oscar that could score.
3. Derek Lively goes #12....the dude literally averaged 5 pts, 5 reb and 2.5 blocks....Seriously? The dude is as soft as tissue paper. Duke getting blasted in the paint in tourney only hightlights how lack of a presence he truly is.
4. The 2 Michigan wings that got drafted ...Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin....pretty 'meh' kids but both go #11 and #15 respectively. I think Jett Howard is decent as he's at least 6'8 but dang. 14pts a game, Neither can rebound to save their life, pretty inefficient shooters, both as apt to have a TO vs. create an assist, etc... And Michigan was a terrible defensive team...so I'm imagining not defensive stoppers
5. Brandin Podkiemski....goes to Illini and was a mess. 1.4 pts a game....goes to Santa Clara and now he is a 1st rounder.
6. I'll go on record and argue Marcus Sasser from Houston who was picked #25 by Pistons will be a top 10 player in this draft when it's all said and done.

Final UK interest comment. To not draft Oscar is just abysmal. I'd argue today alone he's way better than Miami Heat backup C in Cody Zeller. This draft was heavy on guards and wings....not a ton of bigs to compare. But any world where you draft Chris Livingston and Oscar goes undrafted....I'm sorry. This only shows how different the NBA game is and is watching so many teams run a glorified 3pt shooting contest. If you call that modern b-ball...so be it. But I'd argue the NBA rule changes are artificially changing the game to more of a International style of play where rugged athleticism and all around skills have lesser value. I am not sure whta I am watching is great basketball. This is one of the worst talent of drafts I can remember.

Chris Livingston upside is far greater than Oscars ever was. Plus he's 4 years younger

 

[NociHTTP]

Some in here are revealing themselves to be much greater NBA fans than UK fans. I suppose that's okay.

 

[RunninRichie]

The NBA is awful. No loyalty, no rivalries, players too busy worried about off the court stuff. No one chases a legacy anymore. It's all about the money. Players insulting and getting in fights with fans. Some of the most entitled, whiny, players anywhere on the planet.

 

[BillyJoeCat-fan]

College bball is eons inferior to the 80s and 90s.

I’d argue NBA js just a much inferior product compared to years past

1. Do you really Jokic would score 30+ night on Olajuwon and centers in year past? Or better yet those guys would get their numbers in him as well….but he’s considered the best player in the world today.
2. The rules have totally changed the game

I’m not going to argue rhe greatness of Lebron and Curry would not shine in any era…but you’re about to see Jordan Poole score 20+ a night and he’s not a legit starting level player Jalen Green is putting up points ( very inefficient)

To see dudes play on overtime elite league and go high is a joke. Dude sitting out 30 games is common not a rarity

You can like it all you want…..all level of bball are just a terrible product IMO

Although this is a better post, it's nowhere near the same thing as you said in your first post and especially the thread title - not real high level b-ball. That's just crazy. Also as someone else pointed out, most of these players (almost all after the first 4-5 each and every year) are being drafted as to what evaluators project (and hope) they can become, not what they can do for a team immediately.

 

[runt#69]

The NBA is a joke for me. I could care less about that league. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Greatestalltime]

Should everyone be allowed to express their every feeling? I think not.

 

[UKAlum88]

The NBA is awful. No loyalty, no rivalries, players too busy worried about off the court stuff. No one chases a legacy anymore. It's all about the money. Players insulting and getting in fights with fans. Some of the most entitled, whiny, players anywhere on the planet.

Ron Artest, Malice at the Palace??? 😂

I know what you mean but my mind immediately went to, Artest charging into the crowd of fans! Lol

 

[Aike]

Chris Livingston upside is far greater than Oscars ever was. Plus he's 4 years younger

In dog years maybe. Allegedly.

 

[Gametown_baller]

College bball is eons inferior to the 80s and 90s.

I’d argue NBA js just a much inferior product compared to years past

1. Do you really Jokic would score 30+ night on Olajuwon and centers in year past? Or better yet those guys would get their numbers in him as well….but he’s considered the best player in the world today.
2. The rules have totally changed the game

I’m not going to argue rhe greatness of Lebron and Curry would not shine in any era…but you’re about to see Jordan Poole score 20+ a night and he’s not a legit starting level player Jalen Green is putting up points ( very inefficient)

To see dudes play on overtime elite league and go high is a joke. Dude sitting out 30 games is common not a rarity

You can like it all you want…..all level of bball are just a terrible product IMO

Do I think Jokic would dominate the dream? No. Do I think he would hold his own? Absolutely. Tom Gugliotta averaged 14, 16, 20, 20 ppg from 1994-1998. I think Jokic would dominate him. Rik Smits 17,18,17,16 from 94-98. Jokic would dominate him. My guess is you know what Jokic looks like. You have never watched him play basketball

 

[Stan the caddy]

The NBA is a joke for me. I could care less about that league. Just my personal opinion.

So you could care less? Why don’t you?

 

[Wildcatsworld]

It's 5 on 5 'NBA Jams'. And it's now a made for social media league.

No teamwork, no definitive roles. They all do the same thing facilitated by being able to carry/palm the ball and walk all over the court. It's boring AF.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

All the nba sucks are fine and I hardly watch anything and not even much playoffs this years.

The op stating the highest professional league isn't high level of the sport is the dumb part of the thread.

 

[azubuikefan]

Not to be racist, but the nba’s decision to double down on the ghetto angle has been a huge disappointment and kept me away from the game. I understand that all goes back to our “friends” with the small hats, but I can’t justify giving them my money or time.

Wtf. Seriously gtfo. How is this bullshit post allowed?

 

[azubuikefan]

Not high level of basketball? Lol What's higher? College? Euro? Nba teams crush any other league. Also, people claiming no defense, rules, whatever clearly don't watch the NBA.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Wtf. Seriously gtfo. How is this bullshit post allowed?

A good question for sure. We have a lot of dumb rednecks and racists on this board sadly.

 

[K_TIME]

Look at the depth of proven players in the 1996 draft (and this wasn't a great draft) for top 20 picks.....compared to now. FOr sure we'll have to wait a bit to see how it pans out. But guys like Derek Lively at #12 or Grady Dick at #13.....those just don't strike me as really likely to do much of anything.

The college product is not even close to same level of ball in the 90s (and nobody can make a serious argument there)...so we are funneling a ton more kids into the league who aren't ready and more guys play in NBA rotations that would not have 20 years ago. Hence, my point that NBA product isn't the same level of product as years past IMO.

PLAYER	TEAM	AFFILIATION	YEAR	ROUND NUMBER	ROUND PICK	OVERALL PICK
Allen Iverson	Philadelphia 76ers	Georgetown	1996	1	1	1
Marcus Camby	Toronto Raptors	Massachusetts	1996	1	2	2
Shareef Abdur-Rahim	Vancouver Grizzlies	California	1996	1	3	3
Stephon Marbury	Milwaukee Bucks	Georgia Tech	1996	1	4	4
Ray Allen	Minnesota Timberwolves	Connecticut	1996	1	5	5
Antoine Walker	Boston Celtics	Kentucky	1996	1	6	6
Lorenzen Wright	Los Angeles Clippers	Memphis	1996	1	7	7
Kerry Kittles	New Jersey Nets	Villanova	1996	1	8	8
Samaki Walker	Dallas Mavericks	Louisville	1996	1	9	9
Erick Dampier	Indiana Pacers	Mississippi State	1996	1	10	10
Todd Fuller	Golden State Warriors	North Carolina State	1996	1	11	11
Vitaly Potapenko	Cleveland Cavaliers	Wright State	1996	1	12	12
Kobe Bryant	Charlotte Hornets	Lower Merion	1996	1	13	13
Peja Stojakovic	Sacramento Kings	P.A.O.K. B.C. (Greece)	1996	1	14	14
Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	Santa Clara	1996	1	15	15
Tony Delk	Charlotte Hornets	Kentucky	1996	1	16	16
Jermaine O'Neal	Portland Trail Blazers	Eau Claire	1996	1	17	17
John Wallace	New York Knicks	Syracuse	1996	1	18	18
Walter McCarty	New York Knicks	Kentucky	1996	1	19	19
Zydrunas Ilgauskas	Cleveland Cavaliers	LSU-Atletas (Lithuania)	1996	1	20

1. Spurs draft Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92)

2. Hornets draft Brandon Miller (Alabama)

3. Blazers draft Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)

4. Rockets draft Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)

5. Pistons draft Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)

6. Magic draft Anthony Black (Arkansas)

7. Pacers draft Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92) – Traded to Wizards

8. Wizards draft Jarace Walker (Houston) – Traded to Pacers

9. Jazz draft Taylor Hendricks (UCF)

10. Mavericks draft Cason Wallace (Kentucky) – Traded to Thunder

11. Magic draft Jett Howard (Michigan)

12. Thunder draft Dereck Lively II (Duke) – Traded to Mavericks

13. Raptors draft Gradey Dick (Kansas)

14. Pelicans draft Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut)

15. Hawks draft Kobe Bufkin (Michigan)

16. Jazz draft Keyonte George (Baylor)

17. Lakers draft Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana)

18. Heat draft Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA)

19. Warriors draft Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara)

20. Rockets draft Cam Whitmore (Villanova)

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Just curious if you feel the same way about the NFL?

I watch the NFL, but it’s very corrupt

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

A good question for sure. We have a lot of dumb rednecks and racists on this board sadly.

>Calling Kentuckians rednecks
>Joined in 2021

 

[king of cali]

Not to be racist, but the nba’s decision to double down on the ghetto angle has been a huge disappointment and kept me away from the game. I understand that all goes back to our “friends” with the small hats, but I can’t justify giving them my money or time.

WTF is the “ghetto angle”?

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

WTF is the “ghetto angle”?

91.36516°

 

[UKWildcats1987]

>Calling Kentuckians rednecks
>Joined in 2021

A lot of UK fans aren't in KY. I'm n TN and if you don't think there are a lot of racist redneck types in the south then keep on dreaming.

 

[bluedom44]

And we wonder why some recruits don't wanna come to Kentucky when you got all these racist hayseeds as fans and they're allowed to spew racist drivel on this board. I hope Tre Mitchell doesn't read this.