Being void of UK basketball the last week, have turned to the NBA to see how our guys are doing. What struck me is the high-level performance of the players who have been a part of our teams SINCE 2015.
Everyone always points to 2015 as the most talented team of the Cal era, but when looking at professional production of members of that squad, can we really say that anymore? Sure it was the best collection of RECRUITS in the 21st century, but were they really that talented? Karl and Devin are the only guys on that team who are making major impacts in the NBA. WCS has been a nice rotational guy, and Trey Lyles is barely averaging 2 ppg and holding onto his roster spot. Nobody else on that team, who should be in their basketball primes, is even on a roster only 5 years later.
If look at the statistics of Kentucky guys currently in the NBA, it's predominantly guys SINCE the 2015 squad. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 teams specifically. It feels like there has been a talent deficiency since 2015, but can we really say that?
2017: Bam and Fox are max-contract stars. Monk just dropped 36 last night. Hell, even Mulder has carved out a roster spot with Golden State.
2018: Shai is averaging 20 ppg all-star, Hami 12 ppg, PJ 12ppg and 7rpg, Knox and Vanderbilt aren't starters (6 ppg and 6 rpg), but have their roles carved out. Wenyen and Nick are even hanging onto rosters spots.
2019: Nick and PJ already disclosed above. Add Herro (17ppg), Keldon (15ppg) and Quickley (13 ppg).
I think you can make a good argument that Cal's teams in 2017 - 2019 were actually deeper with professional talent than his first five years. Early years were TOP heavy (AD, Cousins, Wall, Randle, Karl) but most of the starters on Cal's early teams never really had any longevity in the NBA.
I don't really have much of a punchline here (LOL), just found it somewhat fascinating. This board, myself included, highlights talent gaps for our "underachievement" since 2015, but the production on the professional level doesn't back that up. Maybe we don't give Cal enough credit for his early years? Produced historic levels of success with top recruits but not necessarily rosters full of NBA-staying power levels of talent. Conversely, the last three (tournament) years were major letdowns given how much talent was on the roster.
I just can't make sense of any of it. Go Cats!