Spurs Select Kyle Anderson in the 2014 NBA Draft (30th Overall)

[Interrohater]

Not really surprising. We're more than ten years down the road and can't form consensus opinions on Tony and Manu.

There are rare situations where we have all agreed. He who shall not be named and the Centerpiece. Otherwise, you're absolutely right. In any event, we have never agreed on how good players are, only how bad they are.

[Obstructed_View]

I've seen no SL games. So I came on here to get a quick summary of how Anderson is doing, and, well...he's either the next Magic Johnson or never going to make an NBA roster, depending on who I believe!

My own fault for being too busy/lazy to watch the games, but it's still impossible to know how he's doing based on the variety of opinions on this thread.

I didn't think I'd missed a page of this thread, but obviously I missed where anyone said he was the next Magic Johnson. It was his own college coach, Bill Walton and Vitale that have made that comparison. In addition, I've yet to see anyone who actually admitted to watching the games who says he's never going to make an NBA roster. I'd wager that I've spent about as much time watching him play as anyone over the last couple of weeks, and I think he's going to be a solid pro, which is about all you can reasonably hope for from the last pick in the first round.

If you want to know how he's doing, you might filter out the opinions of the people who don't' watch the games. He has great vision and an impressive knowledge of the game, which gives him an advantage that mitigates his limited athleticism. He's not putting up amazing numbers because he's playing small forward and his teammates have done a good job of moving the ball in one out of three games.

[xmas1997]

I didn't think I'd missed a page of this thread, but obviously I missed where anyone said he was the next Magic Johnson. It was his own college coach, Bill Walton and Vitale that have made that comparison. In addition, I've yet to see anyone who actually admitted to watching the games who says he's never going to make an NBA roster. I'd wager that I've spent about as much time watching him play as anyone over the last couple of weeks, and I think he's going to be a solid pro, which is about all you can reasonably hope for from the last pick in the first round.

If you want to know how he's doing, you might filter out the opinions of the people who don't' watch the games. He has great vision and an impressive knowledge of the game, which gives him an advantage that mitigates his limited athleticism. He's not putting up amazing numbers because he's playing small forward and his teammates have done a good job of moving the ball in one out of three games.

This is true, some of us are actually watching the games and posting analytical reviews like Obstructed_View, and others of us have watched countless interviews, highlight reels and read other interviews and critiques.
And then there are those who post opinions based on nothing, having neither seen nor read anything.
It is pretty easy to sift the wheat from the chaff.

[Obstructed_View]

People excited about Kyle Anderson
Bill Walton "He's a comet shooting across the universe in the Pacific Northwest."
Vitale “Should be a lock top 15 – Kyle is a mini version of MagicJohnson & that is high praise.”
Bob Hurley Sr "Modern-day Magic Johnson"
Bobby Hurley "If you think about what his potential is and his upside is, I think it's as high as any player who has stepped in the door,”
Lebron James "One of the next big things in basketball."
Kevin Durant "The best player in the country."

People less than excited about Kyle Anderson
Tholdren "I haven't watched (the game) yet."
Richie "I soured on him in the run up to the draft."


Probably waiting until the end of summer league to either hang his jersey in the rafters or to trade him to the Phoenix Mercury would be the best plan.

[xmas1997]

People excited about Kyle Anderson
Bill Walton "He's a comet shooting across the universe in the Pacific Northwest."
Vitale “Should be a lock top 15 – Kyle is a mini version of MagicJohnson & that is high praise.”
Bob Hurley Sr "Modern-day Magic Johnson"
Bobby Hurley "If you think about what his potential is and his upside is, I think it's as high as any player who has stepped in the door,”
Lebron James "One of the next big things in basketball."
Kevin Durant "The best player in the country."

People less than excited about Kyle Anderson
Tholdren "I haven't watched (the game) yet."
Richie "I soured on him in the run up to the draft."


Probably waiting until the end of summer league to either hang his jersey in the rafters or to trade him to the Phoenix Mercury would be the best plan.

Lets not forget some of the things Steve Alford UCLA head basketball coach had to say: “He’s unique because there just aren’t a lot of guys that size who can play the point, ... You look at his numbers, as far as how much he has the ball in his hands, his assists, his turnovers and he’s shooting the ball much better. I just think he’s a unique player that you don’t see very often. To have a 6-9 point guard, I know it’s helped us because you make people think about how they’re going to match up to you right away having a guy like that.”

[Mel_13]

Ken Rodriguez piece on Kyle (including a San Antonio connection):

http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/14...amily_athletes

[xmas1997]

Ken Rodriguez piece on Kyle (including a San Antonio connection):

http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/14...amily_athletes

Wow, Mel, great find, fantastic article!
Props to you!

[look_at_g_shred]

My KA

[Hoops Czar]

I have no idea where these quotes are coming from, but Magic Johnson? Magic posted a 10.5 WS and a .180 WS/48 his rookie season. There's a reason he was the number one overall pick in the 1979 draft. I haven't seen that out of KA but since Kevin Durant thinks he's the best player in the country, and KD has no reason to lie about that, I'm going to keep my eyes wide open when he takes the court. My expectations for this can't miss phenom are through the roof for this kid. I just hope he can live up to all this hype.

[Obstructed_View]

I posted who said those quotes. Took like 2 minutes to find. I would really recommend watching him play rather than relying on the opinions of posters who haven't tuned into summer league yet.

[xmas1997]

I have no idea where these quotes are coming from, but Magic Johnson? Magic posted a 10.5 WS and a .180 WS/48 his rookie season. There's a reason he was the number one overall pick in the 1979 draft. I haven't seen that out of KA but since Kevin Durant thinks he's the best player in the country, and KD has no reason to lie about that, I'm going to keep my eyes wide open when he takes the court. My expectations for this can't miss phenom are through the roof for this kid. I just hope he can live up to all this hype.

Some have used the M word to describe him, but that may be a reach. Magic was one of a kind in my book, still you should check this kid out, he may surprise you.
I, too, hope he lives up to the hype, it would bode well for the Spurs.

[SpursFan86]

Comparing him to Magic doesn't mean that we're expecting him to be the next Magic lol. I seriously doubt anyone here is predicting KA will end up being a 3-time FMVP HoF point guard. Some people are just pointing out that the similarites in both of their games.

[slick'81]

Is he as talented as magic overall no but at 6'8 and likes playing the 1-2 u can't help but make comparisons.by the way he's probably closer athletically to magic then diaw when they first came in the league

[Dex]

Not really surprising. We're more than ten years down the road and can't form consensus opinions on Tony and Manu.

[Obstructed_View]

Magic didn't dominate people with his speed or quickness, he used his length and vision, and later, his bulk. I'm not counting future MVP trophies any more than anyone else, but he does have some basketball skills that should allow him to function in the NBA. Worst case for him going forward is that he becomes a Euroleague legend.

[SpursFan86]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...-kyle-anderson

[tholdren]

Magic and Diaw were both probably considerably more athletic, but it is difficult to quantify some aspects as I am unaware of lane agility tests, etc for Magic's era. And, Anderson refused to do them pre-draft because he thought the focus on his times would distract from his positives and hurt his draft position. Sort of an admission that they would be bad, but since they weren't done, it leaves some plausible deniability. I could be wrong about that, too, but I am pretty sure I read that somewhere.

100% true

[HI-FI]

^
fkn kent

[kobyz]

Some have used the M word to describe him, but that may be a reach. Magic was one of a kind in my book, still you should check this kid out, he may surprise you.
I, too, hope he lives up to the hype, it would bode well for the Spurs.

Maybe they compare him to Aids Magic, not pre Aids Magic...

[spurraider21]

^
fkn kent

[xmas1997]

Maybe they compare him to Aids Magic, not pre Aids Magic...

You must not know much about Sean Elliott because he compares him to a "poor-mans Magic Johnson after watching him play a few times in college last year and says he will easily break into the rotation this year!

[kobyz]

You must not know much about Sean Elliott because he compares him to a "poor-mans Magic Johnson after watching him play a few times in college last year and says he will easily break into the rotation this year!

i surely hope he could become our backup 3 next season, i cheer for him, i loved seeing him play at college, he is such a unique player, but that is also the reason i feel he is two years away from being effective nba player, usually players who have a unique skills and some phisical limitations it takes them time to translate their game to the big league and feeling comfortable...

[xmas1997]

i surely hope he could become our backup 3 next season, i cheer for him, i loved seeing him play at college, he is such a unique player, but that is also the reason i feel he is two years away from being effective nba player, usually players who have a unique skills and some phisical limitations it takes them time to translate their game to the big league...

Generally this is because they rely too much on pure athleticism IMHO.
They sure as don't have his basketball smarts.
He might well be the smartest player on the Spurs right now.

[ABC]

He might well be the smartest player on the Spurs right now.

You might want to edit that before someone else comes in here and reads it... Oops, too late. I quoted it.

[Obstructed_View]

You might want to edit that before someone else comes in here and reads it... Oops, too late. I quoted it.

Did anyone else on the Spurs have Anderson's basketball IQ at 20? Maybe Boris. It's not all that outrageous. There may be other things that derail Anderson's career, but basketball smarts is not one of them.