Andrew Wiggins Decision: Why Kansas Had to Be the Choice for His Legacy
It’s difficult to imagine that his legacy was weighing on the mind of Andrew Wiggins when he decided he would play his college basketball at Kansas.
This is a guy who didn’t want his announcement on television. He wanted only one reporter—the local newspaper guy—to be there, and there were no hats (that we know of) involved. Wiggins is different from the new-age, attention-starved prospects in that way.
The great ones are always different in some sort of way.
Calling Wiggins great is a little premature, but the possibility is there. And the one thing all the great ones share is that they care about their legacy. It drives them. There’s a reason LeBron James went to the Heat. There’s a reason Kevin Durant told Sports Illustrated recently he didn’t want to be second anymore. There’s a reason Kobe Bryant is still chasing after that sixth ring (In 10 years if it came out that Michael Jordan tried to sabotage Bryant’s pursuit, would anyone be surprised?).
The great ones are all a little nutty, and they care about this kind of stuff.
That’s why Wiggins to Kansas makes sense.
At Kentucky, Wiggins would have been part of the greatest recruiting class of all time, but that’s what history would have remembered most—that he was simply part of the greatest recruiting class of all time.
At North Carolina, you live in the shadow of Michael Jordan.
At Florida State, you are a temporary distraction from the next college football season.
At Kansas, Wiggins gets the historically great basketball program. He gets to play with a team that is talented enough to have a great season. He gets to play for a great coach. And he gets to be a player who when you say Kansas in 10 years, the first person the current generation will associate with the school is Wiggins.
Kansas has an amazing tradition, but the best player in the history of the school is Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain played his college ball a long time ago. Many basketball fans probably have no idea Chamberlain was a Jayhawk.
After that, Danny Manning is next on the list. Knee problems kept Manning from becoming a basketball legend.
Paul Pierce is the greatest pro in the modern era from Kansas, but Pierce was not a can’t-miss prospect. He was a made man. He was the 10th pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and he never got past the Elite Eight at Kansas.
Bill Self has had some great players in his first 10 seasons at KU, but none of them have come in with this much hype. Even Ben McLemore was sort of an under-the-radar recruit, and he wasn’t even the best player on KU‘s team this past year.
McLemore‘s development and his pro potential had to improve Self’s pitch to Wiggins. It probably proved to him that he could come to Kansas and still be the top pick in the 2014 draft.
But doubt is not something that creeps into the minds of the great ones. They are concerned with being great.
At Kansas, Wiggins has that chance to start a legacy. He has the chance to put together a season that will be historically relevant.
Wiggins will also play on the court named after James Naismith, the inventor of the game. Naismith is from Canada. So is Wiggins. That will be a nice lead-in to the story of his career.
Maybe thinking that an 18-year-old kid cares about the history of the game is a bit preposterous. Or maybe Wiggins is in fact a little bit nutty.
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Alvin Gentry Is the Perfect Choice to Turn Charlotte Bobcats
Now that the Charlotte Bobcats are looking for their sixth coach in their short eight-year history, Michael Jordan and the rest of the team’s front office are looking to get it right this time.
Charlotte has only appeared in the playoffs once in their history, but Alvin Gentry may just be the person to get them back there.
There have only been two coaches to interview for the position—next will be Gentry, who will interview on Thursday. The other candidates to interview so far are Nate Tibbetts, who is currently an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson.
For one, Gentry brings some experience to the otherwise young roster for the Bobcats. Gentry, 35, has coached in the NBA for a total of 12 seasons for 12 years, most recently for the Phoenix Suns.
Most fans will say the detractor for Gentry is his past experience. Outside of two trips to the playoffs, Gentry doesn’t have much experience in the postseason.
However, he did make it to the Western Conference Finals in 2010 with the Suns. His run with the Suns eventually came to an end this year after going 13-28 before he was fired.
Despite that, Gentry is honestly one of the best, and most feasible, candidates for the Bobcats to land. There will always be fans who call for a pickup such as one of the Van Gundy brothers or Phil Jackson, but they aren’t the most realistic picks for a team that has struggled recently like the Bobcats.
At this point, Gentry looks like the most feasible option, and he has a great shot at leading Charlotte back to the playoffs.
He has experience coaching more experienced players on the Suns, which he could apply to the Bobcats. Right now, Kemba Walker is Charlotte’s best player at point guard.
Perhaps he could use his experience coaching Steve Nash to help Walker grow. And at 23, Walker certainly has a lot of time to improve his game.
The main difference between Nash and Walker is that Nash is more of an assist man, whereas Walker has been more focused on scoring lately, averaging 17 points per game and only five assists.
Gentry could come in and encourage Walker to spread the ball around more to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gerald Henderson.
As previously mentioned, Gentry also brings experience to this Bobcats team that is very young. The average age of their starting five is 22.6, and bringing in a coach that has no head coaching experience in the NBA such as Sampson would only hold back the team from growing.
Charlotte already tried that with Mike Dunlap this year, only to see him go 21-61.
Perhaps what Gentry is most experienced in is dealing with inexperience.
During the 2001-02 season, Gentry’s best with the Los Angeles Clippers, he had Elton Brand as his leading scorer. Brand was 23 at the time.
Gentry also had Quentin Richardson starting at small forward, who was 22 during that season.
When interviewed by the Charlotte Observer, Gentry said his Clippers teams remind him of the current Bobcats roster.
“It reminds me a little bit of the teams I had in L.A.,” he said to the Observer. “Young players, very energetic guys,’ Gentry said. ‘Kemba (Walker) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have a lot of potential and (Gerald) Henderson has started to really establish himself as a pro.”
Charlotte certainly isn’t ready to contend for an NBA title right away. They need to grow for many years.
Therefore, the Bobcats don’t need an X’s and O’s guy, but they do need a good eye for talent, which is exactly what Gentry can do best.
His win-loss record isn’t that impressive, but it could certainly improve over time, along with the rest of the Bobcats.
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How Andrew Wiggins Would Impact Each Potential College Choice
Andrew Wiggins has the college basketball world abuzz with his decision as to where he’ll be playing next year, which is likely to made at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford.
Wiggins—widely considered the best high school player since this guy called LeBron James—has a mountain of hype surrounding him—making the decision as to where he’s playing basketball next year a big one. It’s the type of decision that could completely change the college basketball landscape, with the team that lands his services potentially becoming title favorites in 2013.
That might seem like an overreaction, but it’s not. The kid is that good.
So where’s Wiggins going to be playing next year?
Well, for that, you’ll have to tune in to his announcement around lunch time on Tuesday, but there’s four key programs thought to be in the mix for the star
Read on to see who they are, and how Wiggins’ arrival could impact them in 2013.
Florida State University Seminoles
Wiggins is going to be a star wherever he ends up next season, but at Florida State, he would be the undisputed go-to option from the opening tip.
FSU has the allure of having good friends in the program, and for the Seminoles, it would be the biggest commit in a long time. After all, they are the only program out of the four mentioned that haven’t won a National Championship, and it would definitely get them back in the media spotlight.
Statistically, Florida State ranked outside the top 100 in terms of offensively efficiency in 2012—something that having Wiggins would definitely change.
Be that in terms of scoring or in terms of rebounding, Wiggins would be able to transform the Seminoles from being another middle-of-the-road team in 2012 to a team with some serious underdog status. What’s more, they would be more than capable knocking off the top programs around the country with his arrival, and could well make a surprise run once they get going later in the year.
Kansas Jayhawks
Having lost star Ben McLemore to the NBA draft this year, signing Wiggins would be a huge recruit for Kansas, and one that could allow them to continue to compete at the highest level in 2013.
Allen Fieldhouse would be buzzing again, for the Jayhawks would be national title contenders again—despite losing several of their starters. And with their sound defense and good recruiting so far, Wiggins’ offensive skills would definitely be welcomed.
Eric Bossi of Rivals.com writes (via USA Today):
Kansas, maybe even more than Florida State, is a place he could make an immediate impact. They don’t really have that true high flyer. He could also, theoretically, play power forward for them because he’s so quick and athletic.
Kansas would again be competitive for a Big 12 title and, depending on the cohesion it develops early on, could well enter March Madness as a No. 1 seed.
The presence of Wiggins would rejuvenate this young team into an explosive offense powerhouse that is more than capable of getting the job done.
North Carolina Tar Heels
With James Michael McAdoo opting to stay on for another year, North Carolina finds itself in a particularly strong position if they can secure Wiggins.
Not only would have they have an explosive frontcourt in Roy Williams’ push-the-pace offense, they’d have arguably the most explosive offensive player in the league—capable of dominating inside and in transition, as well as racking up plenty of boards at either end of the court.
Marcus Paige is a pass-first guy in the backcourt who could establish a great connection with Wiggins—turning the Tar Heels into the team to beat next season. Moreover, it would give UNC a huge advantage over their rivals Duke, who have picked up top prospect Jabari Parker for the year ahead, and could establish a thrilling rivalry between Wiggins and Parker at an individual level also.
It’s perhaps a stretch to say that they’re title contenders, but they’re definitely capable of making a strong run in the NCAA Tournament, given the experience that many of their players will have and the fact they’ve got a guy like Wiggins on their roster.
Kentucky Wildcats
However, the strongest impact that Wiggins could have next year would be at Kentucky—and it’s not even close. In the eyes of many, the Wildcats are already the team to beat for the National Championship thanks to their strong recruiting class. Adding in Wiggins would simply confirm that fact even more, and create one of the most most star-studded lineups seen since the Fab Five.
Yes, the Wildcats would be that good next season.
John Calipari‘s team would have at least six first-round draft prospects on hand, and that could only mean big things for the Huntington Prep star.
For at Kentucky, opposing teams can’t afford to double-team him every time he gets the ball in good positions—like they could do if he was at FSU, for example.
Wiggins would thrive in a dribble-drive offense like Kentucky’s, and most likely playing at small-forward, could have an impact both as a scorer and a creator.
He’s unlikely to do that anywhere else, for they would likely need his scoring skills more than anything; yet at Kentucky, they’ve already got plenty of go-to options.
If he wants to win a title, Kentucky is the place to go, for with Wiggins in their roster, the Wildcats would be tremendously difficult to shut down in 2013.
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OKC Thunder Choosing Serge Ibaka over James Harden Proving to Be Wrong Choice
The James Harden-less Oklahoma City Thunder are changing the way NBA teams need look at superstar ultimatums.
Sans Russell Westbrook, and left to rely on Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin to assist the undoubtedly exhausted Kevin Durant, the Thunder are no longer in the position of power they hoped to be in against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Oklahoma City has found itself in a 2-1 hole against one of the best defensive teams in the league and its offense has bordered on anemic. The Thunder have failed to eclipse 100 points in three consecutive games, which is now their longest streak of the season.
To be fair to the Grizzlies, they were 2-1 against the Thunder during the regular a season and held them to under 100 points in two of those three contests. It’s difficult to score on them. Their rotations are flawless, they guard the three-point shot well and both Mr. T and I pity the fool not named Kevin Durant who attempts to attack the rim with Marc Gasol safeguarding the paint.
Still, more was expected of the Thunder. To be more specific, more was expected of Ibaka and Martin.
Through the first three games of the series, Ibaka is averaging 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds on 30.8 percent shooting. This comes after he averaged a career-high 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds on 57.3 percent shooting during the regular season.
Martin hasn’t been much better. He’s averaging 14.7 points on 38.1 percent shooting a night. He is knocking down 40 percent of his three-point attempts, but that has meant very little.
And so, once again, we’re left wondering if the Thunder didn’t make the wrong decision retaining Ibaka over Harden.
I pondered the answer to this very question while Oklahoma City attempted to stave off an epic meltdown against the Houston Rockets. I came to conclude that the Thunder made the right decision. If they had to pick one—I still maintain they could have kept both—Ibaka filled a need, and Martin could replace much of Harden’s scoring.
To a large extent, I still believe just this. Had the Thunder known that Westbrook would tear his meniscus, of course they would have held onto Harden. But they didn’t know. How could they? No team in the NBA is capable of making those predictions. And you can’t build your team in fear. If you did, you’d find a reason not to do just about everything.
In conjunction with not being able to foresee the unpredictable, there were numbers to support my claim. Statistically speaking, the Thunder were better on both ends of the floor this season than they were last, numbers that I won’t get into detail with here because they’re nearly irrelevant here (you can take a gander at them here, though).
Much of Oklahoma City’s increased (numerical) success had to do with Durant and Westbrook evolving. Without Harden, the two were forced to take their games to the next level, a transcendence they may not have undergone had their second-unit safety-net not been sent to Houston. Knowing how well Ibaka (and Martin) had played during the regular season in association with the team’s not-so-subtle advancements only served as further proof that the Thunder made the right decision.
As we watch Ibaka play like he ate the bones, though, I’m compelled to reconsider my original stance.
I still believe the Thunder made the right decision—based on how they were thinking. They didn’t deal Harden because they thought Ibaka had a higher ceiling; they just understood that Ibaka filled a need, and Harden was a luxury.
So their flaw wasn’t in their logic, it’s how they got there. The Thunder chose satisfying a need over a more prolific talent—please don’t even attempt to argue that Ibaka has more potential—when they perhaps should have chosen the latter over the former.
Again, Oklahoma City couldn’t have predicted that Westbrook would go down. But when dealing with an ultimatum that the Thunder themselves imposed, you have to consider the move from all angles.
From there, you have to ask: Who would you rather build around?
The answer? Harden.
Ibaka is talented, without a doubt. But he’s not someone you build your team around. He’s a complementary piece who capitalizes off the presence of superstars on the offensive end. Which isn’t an insult.
Very few big men are capable of carrying teams on their own nowadays. The three-point shot has changed things; stretch forwards have changed things. It’s a guard/wing’s league now.
Over the course of the regular season, the Thunder were able to withstand the subtle disadvantages that came with being Harden-less. Come the playoffs, when the rotations are shortened and, yes, when a top-10 superstar goes down for the season, they’re not able to be cloaked as easily. Or even at all.
With Harden, the Thunder would be in a better position to beat the Grizzlies, to contend for a championship, than they are now. Harden can’t be removed from the offense the way Ibaka can. He creates his own shot and makes plays for his teammates while Ibaka isn’t known for doing either.
Ibaka—the league’s leading shot-blocker—is more talented defensively, but Oklahoma City isn’t known for its defense. The Thunder ranked fourth in defensive efficiency during the regular season, but their success is predicated upon the ability to score. Harden can do that better than Ibaka (and Martin).
Did the Thunder’s depth chart need Ibaka more than it did Harden?
Absolutely. And by that account, the Thunder made the right decision choosing Ibaka over Harden.
After watching how the Thunder have—how Ibaka has—struggled in the face of adversity, however, it’s become clear that Oklahoma City may have just been providing the right answer to the wrong question.
*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.
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Is Nate McMillan the Right Choice for Detroit Pistons’ Next Coach?
With Phil Jackson on board as a consultant, the Detroit Pistons and general manager Joe Dumars are searching for their next head coach. And they have already interviewed the man who is the best fit for the job, Nate McMillan.
McMillan, the former Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers head coach, last coached in the NBA in 2012. Much like the situation he would be coming into in Detroit, McMillan has been part of a successful rebuilding process.
He has taken five teams to the playoffs, and has been an assistant coach on two U.S. Olympic teams. His previous coaching experience is just what the Pistons should be looking for in their next head coach.
Rebuilding Experience
In 2005, McMillan took over a Blazers team that was in the midst of a massive overhaul. They won just 21 games during his first season with the team, the fewest in the NBA.
With McMillan’s coaching stability and an influx of young talent, the Blazers steadily improved. They won 32 games in 2006-07, 41 in 07-08 and 54 in 08-09.
He was able to have that success by improving them incrementally each season. The 05-06 Blazers ranked dead-last in offensive rating but they improved in each of the next three seasons. They went from 20th (2006-07) to 14th (2007-08) to the top-rated offense in 2008-09. Their defensive rating improved each season as well, as they jumped from 28th to 13th over that same span.
The current Pistons are further along in the rebuilding process than the Blazers roster that McMillan joined, but they are eerily similar to the 06-07 ‘Blazers:
2006-07 Blazers (32-50)
- 94.1 points per game (29th)
- 98.4 points against (14th)
- 105.1 offensive rating (20th)
- 109.9 defensive rating (26th)
2012-13 Pistons (29-53)
- 94.9 points per game (22nd)
- 98.8 points against (18th)
- 103.8 offensive rating (21st)
- 108.1 defensive rating (24th)
This doesn’t mean that McMillan would take the Pistons and turn them into a .500 team next season. He did have Brandon Roy’s fantastic rookie season helping him out in Portland.
However, it does show that McMillan has been previously successful in a situation much like the Pistons’ current one. And while they likely won’t find the next Roy this summer, they will have a lottery pick and cap space to improve their roster.
Young Rosters
Like most teams in a rebuilding process, McMillan coached a very young group of players in his first few years in Portland. What he did that was most impressive was to develop that young core into a winning team.
In the 2008-09 season, McMillan won 54 games with a roster that had no player over 30 that played more than 35 minutes all season. Of the 11 players who played significant minutes, only three were even 25 years old.
The Pistons are in a position to be just like that Blazers team. Their best player, Greg Monroe, is just 22. Their past two lottery picks, Andre Drummond and Brandon Knight, are 19 and 21, respectively. Whoever they draft in June will make a fourth core player 22 or younger.
McMillan’s success with an extremely young group of players, and his willingness to play them, makes him a unique candidate.
Slow Pace
With Monroe and Drummond, the Pistons have one of the best young frontcourt duos in the NBA. As they continue to develop, their size will be a major advantage over a majority of the NBA, especially as many teams experiment with small-ball lineups.
That being said, the Pistons will need to maximize that advantage as much as possible. Running a slow-paced offense through the post will fit them best; the Pistons won’t win many track meets as presently assembled.
McMillan often ran his offense through a young LaMarcus Aldridge with the Blazers, and they had the most efficient offense in the NBA in 08-09.
In fact, the Blazers were among the three slowest-playing teams in the league each season McMillan coached in Portland.
As long as Monroe and Drummond are in Detroit, they will need a coach that is willing to play at a slow pace. Other teams with great big-man duos, such as Memphis, Indiana and Chicago, are all among the slowest-playing in the league.
Olympic Experience
McMillan has been an assistant for the U.S. Olympic basketball team under Mike Krzyzewski since 2006, now having coached in the last two Olympics.
Not only will that experience be extremely valuable to him in his growth as a coach, but it could make the Pistons a more attractive destination for top free agents.
This doesn’t mean that LeBron James will be rushing to sign in Detroit next summer, but there were almost 40 players on the U.S. Olympic roster from 2010-12. This summer there are several players the Pistons could target in free agency that have played for the U.S., including Andre Iguodala, O.J. Mayo and Tyreke Evans.
Whether it is this summer or in the future, McMillan’s Olympic relationships could help the Pistons bring in a major free agent. His coaching, coupled with a young and talented roster, would make Detroit a fairly attractive place to play basketball.
McMillan has more experience than any other prospective coach who has interviewed with the Pistons, and he is the only one to have successfully undergone a rebuilding process. His style of basketball would fit the Pistons very well, and he has proven to be successful in the NBA before.
The Pistons need to not over-think their coaching search and offer Nate McMillan a contract, before another organization beats them to it.
*All statistics via basketball-reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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Andrew Wiggins: Latest Buzz on Recruit’s Impending College Choice
Andrew Wiggins still does not have his college choice ironed out for next season, but with little time between now and the summer, the feeling is starting to emerge that we could have a decision very soon.
Wiggins, the overall No. 1 player in the nation in the 2013 class (according to 247Sports), has held us hostage for the last few months as other stars have started to give us the scoop on which college they will officially attend.
He gets the right to hold us hostage because his talent is so great. As Jeff Goodman pontificated on Twitter, he feels Wiggins would have been the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft—even though the list is littered with All-Star caliber names:
Right now, all we know about Wiggins is that his choice has been nailed down to four different schools—North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State and Kansas—and that the Canadian standout has been in no hurry to pronounce a favorite or really give us any hint at all about his personal selection process.
Goodman maybe said it best with his recent tweet on any scoop he had heard about Wiggins’ choice:
As it has been throughout the process, it’s just too early to tell.
That won’t stop us from speculating on the latest buzz about where Wiggins is going to land, and right now, rumors are starting to leak about a player who many feel will be a consensus All-American by the end of the 2013-14 college basketball season (ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan is among them).
The first comes from Kentucky Recruiting on Twitter, who has heard whispers of Wiggins’ mother preparing to make a trip down to West Virginia (where Wiggins plays his high school ball) over the weekend. If that’s the case, a decision could be coming soon:
Then again, it could just be for Mother’s Day—that’s how unpredictable this saga has been.
However, there are other rumors floating around that substantiate the idea that Wiggins is closer to an announcement that ever before. One such rumor comes from one of the four men dying to coach him in college.
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was a speaker at a Tar Heel Tour event on Tuesday, in which he answered questions about current, former and future players who were of interest to the crowd in Durham.
Scout.com had a write-up about the line of questioning concerning Wiggins, and Williams’ answer about when the saga will end confirms that Wiggins could give us a firm decision within the next few days:
The crowd erupted in laughter and Williams sheepishly responded, “25 percent. Four in a hundred is 25.” He followed it up by saying, “I have no earthly idea.”
“Every time you’re looking at that ticker and it says ‘recruit,’ I sort of get up a little bit,” Williams said. He closed by saying that the signing period ended on May 15th and that he “expected it would be done by then.”
Although it’s not exactly a glowing confirmation that Wiggins’ choice is coming soon, Williams brings up an excellent point—the NCAA deadline for a recruit to sign is May 15, and that could end up being the breaking point for what seems like an eternity of speculation about the nation’s top recruit.
It’s almost a certainty that he gets things done before then.
Then again, who really knows?
It’s an uncertainty that has followed Wiggins throughout the process, and it likely won’t change before he puts his pen to paper and changes the fortunes of a program forever (or one year, most likely).
While Williams was vocal about Wiggins on Tuesday, other sources are discounting North Carolina as a realistic option for the best player still on the board. Point guard Nate Britt, forward Isaiah Hicks and center Kennedy Meeks are all already on campus, and the Tar Heels return 10 guys from the 2012-13 team.
As Matt Jones reported on Twitter, UNC is a distant fourth in some chatter surrounding Wiggins’ status:
As the Tar Heels, Jayhawks, Seminoles and Wildcats all await Wiggins’ decision in the next few days, the world will do the same. When you’re the best player in the nation, that kind of collective holding of breaths just seems to follow your every move.
The stories will likely change for now, but only UNC is hurt by the recent rumors surrounding his college choice—and even that is a stretch.
Wiggins’ choice is just one of those things that you only know when you hear it from his mouth. Even then, we might double check our sources to confirm.
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Why Stan Van Gundy Is the Perfect Choice for Next Milwaukee Bucks Coach
Already faced with a flurry of important questions that need careful answering in the offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks now need to begin searching for a new head coach.
They shouldn’t have to go too far down their list though to find the right choice, because Stan Van Gundy fits the bill.
After Jim Boylan was relieved of his coaching duties last week, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports quickly tweeted the following:
And whether or not Van Gundy will show mutual interest, he’s the perfect choice for the franchise moving forward.
After a year off, the former Orlando Magic head coach might have the itch to get back into the game.
During his five-year stint with the Magic, Van Gundy went 259-135 and led them to the 2009 NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals in 2010.
More impressive than his record, though, was the success he had with the rosters he was given. Even with Dwight Howard, the Magic teams he coached were far from great.
Not only that, but Howard seemingly thrived in Van Gundy’s system.
In three seasons prior to his arrival, Howard averaged 15.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Those numbers elevated to 20.6, 13.9 and 2.4 in five seasons playing under Van Gundy.
That’s not to say that he’s responsible for Howard’s growth as a player, but he was without question a large part of it.
Some might want to compare the coaching styles and personalities of Van Gundy and former Bucks coach Scott Skiles, but that stems from their visible demeanor more than anything.
Van Gundy is a much better coach in terms of Xs and Os.
In Orlando, he never had a great deal of talent outside of Howard.
In fact, Howard’s partners in crime for the majority of his time with the Magic were Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.
While both were good, they’re far from great—and the success those teams had shows that Van Gundy’s coaching style is designed for success despite not always having multiple, elite talents on the roster.
And that’s precisely why he would be a good fit in Milwaukee.
Van Gundy commands the attention of his players and expects them to be disciplined.
A players’ poll from the April 23, 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated will always be used in arguments as to why he’s not the right guy for the job, but it’s really something that should be taken with a grain of salt.
Is Van Gundy vocal and boisterous? Absolutely.
Does he command a high level of discipline? Absolutely.
But at the same time, he’s level-headed and has a deep understanding—and almost a certain genius—about the game of basketball.
The Bucks could go the route of hiring an assistant like Kelvin Sampson, but that would be more of a gamble. With Van Gundy, you know what you’re going to get.
If he’s hired, though, there comes another question: Can he rein in someone like Brandon Jennings—if he remains in Milwaukee that is?
Maybe, maybe not.
That’s something that will be determined if and when the two ever are paired up. One thing that is certain, though, is that Van Gundy is an excellent coach.
His time in Orlando was marred by poor front-office decisions and the increasingly overblown ego of Howard.
In another article written by Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski shortly after J.J. Redick had been traded to the Bucks, the former Magic shooting guard lauded Van Gundy’s influence on him:
In Redick’s mind, the best thing that ever happened was getting drafted into Orlando with a coach who refused to insert him into the rotation. For two years, Van Gundy challenged him to become a more complete player and Redick thinks “a lot about what kind of career trajectory I would’ve had without Stan, and I’m grateful for what he did for me.”
“Those years in Orlando humbled me,” Redick said, “and gave me perspective on basketball and life.”
Those comments are in spite of the fact that the two didn’t always hit it off with one another when Van Gundy first arrived in Orlando.
Redick is a well-respected player who understands the concept of hard work.
And perhaps it’s those kind of players who best fit into Van Gundy’s system.
At the end of the day, only time will tell as to whether or not he becomes the next head coach in Milwaukee.
But the franchise should do everything in its power to make sure that he is.
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Metta World Peace Has Some Choice Words For Charles Barkley
The always outspoken Charles Barkley apparently irked Metta World Peace, and Metta let the world know about it on Twitter. Barkley mentioned on Sunday night the following in regards to the Lakers age, which is what Metta took exception to. “I like Metta World Peace but for him to think they can bring all those oldgeezers back & win…he’s wrong” We aren’t here to say who is correct or not, but we are anxiously awaiting Barkley’s response after Metta’s below rant. #bbpBox_329040325693808640 a { text-decoration:none; color:#F76300; }#bbpBox_329040325693808640 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }Charles Barkley never won so it is hard for him to understand what it takes to win.20 minutes ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@MettaWorldPeaceMetta World Peace#bbpBox_329040018180042753 a { text-decoration:none; color:#F76300; }#bbpBox_329040018180042753 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }The Spurs are older and still getting it done.Its all about chemistry. Micheal Jordan was 36 during…
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What Andrew Wiggins Should Be Looking for in His Choice of School
The college basketball recruiting world is now completely focused on Andrew Wiggins as people await his college decision. However, choosing a school is not an easy one.
According to 247 Sports, the small forward is the No. 1 recruit in the country and has narrowed his choice of programs to Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina and Florida State. Each one offers something different to make a top player want to go there.
However, Wiggins must limit his focus on things that are important.
For a player of his caliber, college will just be a one-year stepping-stone to the NBA. We do not have to be naive enough to believe he is choosing a school based on academic programs. He should join a team where he has the best chance to improve for the future.
Looking at each school equally, these are the factors that should play the biggest role in where Wiggins eventually signs his Letter of Intent.
Coaching to Develop His Game
As good as Wiggins is coming out of high school, he is not perfect. His athleticism and scoring ability give him loads of potential, but he still has room to grow as an all-around player.
Spending one year at the college level will allow him to further develop other areas of his game. If all goes according to plan, he will be able to fill up stat sheets in every category in the NBA.
He needs a coach that has proven the ability to get the most of his players and turn them into players that will succeed at the next level. Each remaining option excels at this, though in different respects.
Leonard Hamilton has given less-heralded players a chance to play in the NBA due to great defensive coaching. Chris Singleton and Toney Douglas are good examples of this, although the coach has not dealt with too many 5-star players.
Roy Williams has seen dozens of players get drafted, although the ones that leave early have tended to struggle in the NBA. Guys like Marvin Williams and Brandan Wright have not lived up to expectations since leaving North Carolina.
Similarly, Kansas’ Bill Self has done a much better job developing players over the long term. While Ben McLemore is expected to be taken in the top five of the 2013 NBA draft, both Xavier Henry and Josh Selby have struggled.
The person that has had the most success at getting great players to succeed is John Calipari at Kentucky. Obviously, he has had more opportunities as an excellent recruiter, but the results speak for themselves.
Wiggins can follow in the path of John Wall, Derrick Rose, DeMarcus Cousins and others who have successfully moved onto the next level after spending a season with Coach Cal.
Getting Enough Touches
When you are among the top players in the country, a coach is going to find time for you. However, the amount of opportunities on the floor will depend greatly on the amount of talent around you.
Great players usually want to play with other great players, but this tends to be competitive as everyone wants to showcase their own ability. Additionally, coaches want to make sure everyone gets enough time on the court to keep emotions high.
On a team that is competing for a title, a coach will also have a shorter leash when a young player makes a mistake. This could lead to either a loss of confidence or a more conservative style of play after being afraid to mess up.
North Carolina should feature plenty of veteran leaders next season that are certain to remain the focal point of the offense. Even with playing time, Wiggins would likely play more of a secondary role.
Kentucky will utilize mostly underclassmen, although the high-profile prospects are likely to fight for shots as each plans to showcase their talent for NBA scouts.
Kansas and Florida State, however, should give Wiggins plenty of freedom to shine. The Jayhawks lose all five starters from a year ago, and the Seminoles could use anyone who can score on the offensive end.
Either of these teams will allow the player to improve on the court and learn from mistakes as he goes.
Having a Good Comfort Level
Going to college is a dramatic change for many high school kids around the country. While Wiggins has already made one big move from Canada to West Virginia to play at Huntington Prep, there is still a big change when moving on to the next level.
Having familiarity with the people around you can make the transition much easier. This will lead to more success on the basketball court as the player has much more confidence.
The incoming recruiting class at Kentucky should be close by now after spending time together at numerous all-star games over the past few months. Wiggins played in the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, Nike Hoop Summit as well as other events.
Along the way, he likely spent time with Kentucky commits Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Julius Randle and others.
However, it is hard to compare these connections with that of Florida State. Both of Wiggins’ parents were student-athletes for the Seminoles, while current teammate Xavier Rathan-Mayes has already committed to the school.
Being with one of these programs would help make his college experience that much better.
Conclusion
Obviously, Wiggins has to make his own decision about where he wants to go. However, these are the factors that should be considered the most while he attempts to end this process.
If this is the case, Florida State and Kentucky appear to have an advantage over the competition.
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Andrew Wiggins’ College Choice Won’t Impact Star’s Draft Stock
Superstar prospect Andrew Wiggins is still preparing to make his highly anticipated decision on where he will play college basketball, but it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
Regardless of whether he chooses Kentucky, Kansas, Florida State or UNC, the swingman is going to be one of, if not, the first players off the board come the 2014 NBA draft.
Due to his unique combination of size, skill, athleticism and work ethic, Wiggins seems to be one of the surest things to come out of high school in years. He’s yet to even pick a school, but there’s already a strong buzz of him becoming the top pick in next June’s draft.
At 6’7”, the Huntington Prep star possesses the traditional height for a 3 in the modern NBA. He’s an elite athlete that can play above the rim, but doesn’t solely rely on those gifts to make an impact.
In fact, Wiggins utilizes his jump shot—which is reliable out to the three-point line—and above-average handle to create open looks for himself on a fairly regular basis. He has to work on setting up teammates, but that will come in time.
Whether he chooses to steal the show at a university such as Florida State or join the wealth of talent at Kentucky, Wiggins’ upside, ceiling and potential isn’t going to change.
It doesn’t matter if he winds up scoring 20 points per game and puts up insane numbers or dials it back and does whatever is needed to help his team, NBA scouts and general managers know this kid is destined for stardom at the next level.
Wiggins is currently resting after a drawn out All-Star circuit, in which the Canadian native traveled around the country for various exhibition games and showcases to display his talents, but he’s going to have to make his decision sooner than later.
Once he finally does, expect no more and no less than one season of excellent basketball from the young man. It would be downright shocking if he were to stick around campus after that, as he’s preordained to become a star in the NBA.
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