2009 NBA All-Summer League Team
If you know me, then you know I'm fanatical about basketball. To that effect, I've been watching the NBA Summer League, where rookies, promising prospects, journeymen, unknowns, and D-Leaguer's all converge for competition as exciting as the NBA season itself. In these games, we can truly see who the best of the year's draft class are among their peers, which non-rookies teams should be looking out for, and which players have been shitting their pants when they should have been shitting on other players. Here's my All-Summer League Team:
Anthony Randolph
This man, in all honesty is going to be an All-Star in the near future. He's everything Lamar Odom should have been: intense, competitive, and smart. In fact, even Lamar Odom admitted that watching Randolph was like looking in the mirror, and that he could become a star. Dude dropped a then-record (until his teammate Anthony Morrow beat it with 47) 42 points in this clip, with a dazzling array of post moves, dribbling, and jump shots. Randolph is incredibly versatile. I wouldn't be surprised if he catches a lot of teams off-guard.
Blake Griffin
This is a no-brainer. Blake is outclassing all of the big men in this year's draft class by lightyears. The thing that makes him so special is how polished he is for a rookie. His body control is unbelievable for a player so bulky, and he's too fast for that frame. He also has amazing range for a big man. If this guy isn't an All-Star by next season, then the NBA should dismantle.
Demar Derozan
Demar Derozan was drafted simply off potential at number nine, but is quickly showing that he deserved that position. He had a slow one-and-done season at USC, but exploded in the Pac-10 Tourney. Toronto is definitely pleased with him already, as fans have been calling him "Heir Canada". Corny as that is, he might just be the next Vince Carter. This guy is a freak of nature. If you don't believe me, Youtube this man and look at the unbelievable dunks he has.
Tyreke Evans & Brandon Jennings
I put these two together because the highlight video features them both going at each other. Both of these guys have faced criticism in more than one capacity; Jennings for going overseas and Evans for not being 'prototypical'. Both of them however are MONSTERS and... you know what? Just watch the video...
That's it for my All-Summer League Team. Check back in for the WORST of the Summer League...
Anthony Randolph
This man, in all honesty is going to be an All-Star in the near future. He's everything Lamar Odom should have been: intense, competitive, and smart. In fact, even Lamar Odom admitted that watching Randolph was like looking in the mirror, and that he could become a star. Dude dropped a then-record (until his teammate Anthony Morrow beat it with 47) 42 points in this clip, with a dazzling array of post moves, dribbling, and jump shots. Randolph is incredibly versatile. I wouldn't be surprised if he catches a lot of teams off-guard.
Blake Griffin
This is a no-brainer. Blake is outclassing all of the big men in this year's draft class by lightyears. The thing that makes him so special is how polished he is for a rookie. His body control is unbelievable for a player so bulky, and he's too fast for that frame. He also has amazing range for a big man. If this guy isn't an All-Star by next season, then the NBA should dismantle.
Demar Derozan
Demar Derozan was drafted simply off potential at number nine, but is quickly showing that he deserved that position. He had a slow one-and-done season at USC, but exploded in the Pac-10 Tourney. Toronto is definitely pleased with him already, as fans have been calling him "Heir Canada". Corny as that is, he might just be the next Vince Carter. This guy is a freak of nature. If you don't believe me, Youtube this man and look at the unbelievable dunks he has.
Tyreke Evans & Brandon Jennings
I put these two together because the highlight video features them both going at each other. Both of these guys have faced criticism in more than one capacity; Jennings for going overseas and Evans for not being 'prototypical'. Both of them however are MONSTERS and... you know what? Just watch the video...
That's it for my All-Summer League Team. Check back in for the WORST of the Summer League...