I dislike using steals as a significant statistic, but they do have some basis as a player.
As a freshman, Andre Igoudala only averaged 19 mpg compared to Young averaging 32 mpg. Igoudala did average 32 as a sophomore, but he was a year younger. Hard to compare that. Anyways, as a freshman, Igoudala averaged double the amount of steals that Young currently is. Young isn't shooting a great percentage currently, but he is a good shooter. Igoudala has never been a good shooter. There offensive games are incredibly different, I mean, just watch them play. Igoudala is an athletic freak, creates for others, does literally everything on the court...score, rebound, defend, pass...everything. I cannot say the same about Young. I'm not sure why you think they're similar, but they're not.
First of all: Both entered their freshman years at age 18. So there was no age difference. I also said that he's Iguodala with a better jumpshot. At least I wanted to say that as I'm too lazy to recheck my initial post.
Young has the physical tools to be the best defensive SG in the NBA. I've recently tried to find out a little bit more since he's one of my "darlings" in this draft. None does highlights for him and I've only watched 2 Kentucky games this season. But what I've seen there is that he really tries to defend, is quick on his feet. Watch any interview with him and you won't find one where he doesn't say how he values defending and that he has to improve on that end. I've been seeing exactly that in the limited footage I've seen. He started the year with better percentages and I think it has a lot to do with the Harrison twins that you can't see his strengths right away. Everyone prepared vs them a lot more and then noticed it's Randle and Young who are going to carry the offensive load for Kentucky. They looked at their roster and saw: "We have nothing to put against Randle, so we simply focus on shutting down Young and play a zone so Randle is forced to make a pass which he doesn't do consistently yet." That's a problem for Kentucky and 1 reason why Young averages 7 threes a game, that he converts at a 34.3% ratio. His trueshooting is 53.7% and eFG% is at 51.4. At his highschool I really liked the fact that he had courtvision and always considered passing as a good option(which is IMO rare at highschool). At Kentucky playing with both (ball dominant) Harrisons and a Randle in the post you won't see his playmaking skills so much but in the NBA he'll get a chance again to create for others.
Both guys are really fast and bouncy, even though Young doesn't have any strength yet, but transition is a strength of both. Young's rebounding isn't where I expected it to be, but a 15 RPG highschooler is definately capable of getting more than 5/40min as rebounding is usually the stat that translates best from highschool to college to the NBA or Europe or Asia or wherever.
So let me sum together:
Young:
-improving defender with terrific physical tools
-willing passer
-good rebounder
-long range volume shooter
-has hops and good in transition
Iggy:
-terrific defender with terrific tools
-point foward
-very good rebounder for his size
-improving 3 point shooter(steady development and he's really hitting the open 3s at a high rate lately 48.3% on 4.8 tries in the 12/13 playoffs and 47.9% on 3.7 tries through 13 games this season)
-vertical athlete and strong in transition
So I'm not saying they're too similar now, but they'll eventually get there. Especially if Young ups his defensive consistently.
It appears that way. Right now I'd take Aaron before Andrew. At least he can give you 20/nt (he can) and you lose very little otherwise.
I'm not that high on any of the UK players this year, tbh.
So you're butthurt about losing your gambling money on the perfect season?
I think Kentucky is right there! Their core consists of four freshman and their bench is giving them not too much(I remember someone raving about Marcus Lee and Dakari Johnson and Alex Poythress...)
Especially Poythress I wouldn't touch with a pick before 45 right now.
I think 1 thing with Andrew and Aaron was that they're both sophomore aged right now(turned 19 in october). That extra year and basically being the only highschool team with 2 first rounder on the team might have made things look too easy. They have obviously room to improve and I wouldn't be too hard on them early on. If they're still looking questionable after the conference schedule you can be either happy they're going to stay a 2nd year or they'll be obtainable with the Golden State pick...Win Win!
lol
This.
I've been saying this for a while now, James Young = Nick Young.
Just listen to 1 interview of each of them and you'll maybe hear how different these guys are. If James Young ends up anywhere close to Nick Young I'll start cutting myself and I wouldn't touch Nick Young before the 20s while with James I want him around #10. How can you compare 1 guy who's a hero baller and another guy who's a teamplayer and willing defender. Puzzling...
Dicky V at 1.50min: "I just think he's gotta get HUNGRIER"
I would say "I told you so" but I'm wayyyyy too polite & respectful for that.
Heard that part too and totally expected a reaction...
