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Wednesday, 01 July 2009 |
By Matthew Maurer
It's been a long road more than two years in the making, but the wait is almost over. It's time to get excited about draft history all over again!
In just a few short weeks you will have access to an additional 1,100 player profiles that can only be found on The Draft Review as I present each and every 3rd and 4th round draft selection dating back to 1950. This comes complete with photos, vitals, and game statistics, plus feature stories on select players that you won't hear about anywhere else.
But the work doesn't stop there. I'm moving on to the 5th and 6th rounds and will continue my work until all players in each of the 21 rounds is made available to you. Much like the work involved with rounds three and four, my ongoing efforts to expand historical references beyond what others have made available takes time, money, diligence, and a ton of coffee!
I'm dedicated to producing the most exhaustive NBA draft history resource that cannot be matched and also look forward to sharing players' personal stories - the tragic, the heartwarming, and the celebratory.
Thanks for being a fan of The Draft Review. Stick around for the ride because there's more to come!
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Thursday, 25 June 2009 |
Sin #7: Politics and Pedigree
Like most things in life the NBA draft does not come without politics, which can sometimes be the driving force behind draft selections that don't add up. And when it comes to a player's pedigree, politics almost always seems to be in the mix. Pedigree is generally defined as "a known line of descent". In the basketball world pedigree can translate into the college a player attended, his past accomplishments in high school, or who his parents are. Unfortunately, pedigree appears to boost certain players on draft night and contributes to quality players being selected lower on the board or left totally undrafted.
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009 |
Sin #6: USA vs. The World
Every draft usually has a solid core group of international players that are legit NBA prospects, but far too many times rationale gets thrown out the window, imprudence arises, and good U.S. prospects are overlooked in the name of foreign fanaticism. I'm not putting all foreign prospects into one basket to imply that they don't measure up, but it seems as if the common theory at some point in the draft is to sacrifice an American for an international player who is tall with moderate fundamentals.
Take into account Peter Fehse, who the Seattle Supersonics virtually took sight unseen in the 2002 NBA Draft. Sure, the youngster has above average ball handling and shooting ability, but Dirk Nowitzki he’s not. Fehse played in Germany's third division, which is terrible.
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Tuesday, 23 June 2009 |
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Sin #5: "Hype-nitis"
How many times do fans get duped into a draft story
about a player that no one has ever heard of? Some take it hook, line and sinker, contracting a bad case of "Hype-nitis". The symptoms of this dangerous condition cause one to scour the Internet for stats and YouTube clips on the purported phenom, while joining in forum threads about the latest sensation.
It happens all the time and the best (or shall I say, ridiculous) part of these articles is the anonymous source. For example, the writer may say, “An NBA scout that I found at the game told me this player is as good as anyone in the draft.” It's beyond me why these media outlets attach anonymous sources to their articles as if it gives their story more validity. Their sources usually turn out to be as reliable as a Nigerian email scam. | | This item includes 2 comments |
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Monday, 22 June 2009 |
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Sin #4: "I want a big man too..."
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Podkolzin
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The NBA is obsessed with size. The center position is very hard to fill and this demand sometimes makes dreaded examples of GMs in their quest to find the next great big man. This has no doubt led to some draft day busts. Who could forget the amazing story of Pavel Podkolzin, whose tales spun by ESPN writer Chad Ford were greatly published and exaggerated. Despite limited basketball ability or experience, Podkolzin was taken with the 21st pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Not only did he look raw, but he was greatly out matched on the NBA level. Despite a first round flyer and 6 games in a two year NBA career the Podkolzin project was abandoned. One thing is for sure - 3 million dollars should get you more than 6 games if you’re an NBA team.
Although I understand the philosophy behind drafting big men, which is the old adage that you can teach skill but can’t teach height, the disparity between projects that succeed versus projects that fail is huge. | | No comments for this item |
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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
Sin #3: "He’s working out with ..."
Most agents make it a point to mention who their players are training with as if the athlete will become significantly better. Make no mistake that trainers like Tim Grover, David Thorpe, and Joe Abunassar do a great service, but the general idea that these guys are going to take projected players and catapult them up the draft board can be foolish. You always hear about the improvements in athleticism and diet which are all great, but at the same time it doesn’t amount to a whole new player.
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009 |
The NBA draft is a career breaker or maker for many people involved. For some GMs and scouts it will spell the end of a career after selecting players that under perform. For others, it will catapult them to genius status when bringing on board underrated players. Regardless of this, many NBA personnel still practice foolish trends that are high risk high reward moves. Over the course of the next couple of days we will explore these trends – The Seven Deadly Sins of the NBA Draft. | | No comments for this item |
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Saturday, 16 May 2009 |
On Friday, May 15, 2009, Wayman Tisdale passed away at the age of 44 after a courageous two year battle with bone cancer.
On the Court
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Tisdale
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Tisdale was selected 2nd overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. His 12 year NBA career also included time with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. During that time he averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Tisdale was a reliable low post scorer and regarded as a great teammate and solid competitor. His best days were his early years with Sacramento. He was an excellent fit for former coach Dick Motta’s forward oriented offense.
The Oklahoma alum’s collegiate career is as impressive as it gets. Tisdale was a three time Big Eight Player of the Year and the first in college basketball history to be named first team all American in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. He left school for the NBA after his junior season and still holds Oklahoma’s record for all time points and rebounds. His college career was so profound that it propelled him into the College Basketball Hall of Fame 2009.
Off the Court
Tisdale’s story is one example of several important reasons I founded The Draft Review. It’s obviously vital to chronicle players’ careers with background information and statistics, yet I find it as equally important to understand who the players are on a personal level and how success or tragedy shaped their lives.
About two years ago I approached Tisdale for an interview. He politely responded by telling me that he wasn’t feeling well and he would be back in touch after things improved. It wasn’t until after this quick email exchange that I learned of Tisdale’s fight with cancer and the chemotherapy he had recent undergone. This brought back memories of a family member who had also undergone chemo and reminded me of the challenges involved in recovering from this difficult procedure.
In September 2008 Tisdale’s right leg was amputated after two attempts at chemotherapy failed. At that time TDR posted a video of the once majestic 6-9 forward, who was physically not the same, yet shined through with his engaging and passionate personality. Tisdale’s video message to fans was truly inspiring and ended with him in song as he strummed his guitar.
I remained hopeful for Tisdale and still looked forward to speaking with him, but the difficult memory of my relative kept me from contacting him again. It just didn’t seem appropriate at the time. After the amputation there was news of Tisdale’s attendance at an Oklahoma Thunder game and his later announcement of 21-date national concert tour, which stemmed from his successful post basketball career as a noted Contemporary Jazz musician with numerous record releases.
On the day of Tisdale’s death, it was actually my wife that called to give me the news. It seemed so abrupt and I was shocked, especially because I thought everything was going well for him. I shed some tears for Wayman Tisdale, not for the basketball player or jazz musician, but for the man that he was - young, inspiring, joyous, passionate, and full of hope.
The Draft Review remembers Wayman Tisdale.
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Sunday, 03 May 2009 |
NBA draft history is in the making yet again as the early entry list boasts Kazakhstani, Hungarian and Estonian natives for the first time ever. But do these trailblazers seriously have an honest shot at a draft night selection? Let's take a closer look Anton Ponomarev, Adam Hanga, and Tanel Kurbas.
Anton Ponomarev
Borat put Kazakhstan on the map and Anton Ponomarev is right behind him. The 6-foot-9 combo forward is known throughout Asia as the “Asian Nowitzki” for his ability to put the ball on the floor and shoot off the dribble. While he still has a way to go to gain full confidence in this lofty comparison, his young age of 20 gives him a window of opportunity to develop.
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Ponomarev
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If there is anything that hinders his draft stock it's the poor competition he plays against. Kazakhstan’s basketball league, while much improved, is a long ways from its Asian cousin China. Ponomarev may also be viewed as the Ricky Rubio of the Asian basketball community because he's played professionally since the ripe age of 16. Non-scout observers, such as ESPN's Chad Ford, have said he is unlikely to be drafted, but it's pretty obvious that Ford has never seen Ponomarev play.
Make no mistake, the NBA is aware of this young star. In 2005, current Thunder GM Sam Presti, while part of San Antonio Spurs front office staff, received tape on Ponomarev. Many close to the situation hope that he will move forward and progress with his basketball career by playing in China’s top professional league, the CBA. It's highly unlikely that he will stay in the draft with one more year of eligibility remaining until his draft class is automatically enrolled. Sadly, it has been rumored that the Kazakhstan league is doing everything in its power to keep him from moving.
Anton Ponomarev is a rising talent that shows; anyone who disagrees does not possess the scouts' eye. Hopefully Ponomarev can increase his upper body strength and, most importantly, meet up against better competition by playing in China.
Adam Hanga
Hungary enters the early entry list with Adam Hanga, an unusual nominee. When you look at the silky 6-7 Hungarian who favors Tony Parker in appearance, you may not believe that he's Hungarian. But Hanga is the son of a Hungarian mother and an African father, and is the most talented player in Hungarian basketball.
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Hanga
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Hanga isn't well known to the masses. I've been following him since he was 11 years-old when a contact of mine put his name on a list of who he considered the top international youth prospects. Since this time Hanga has slowly put together his game, but not without some pitfalls.
He's a tremendous athlete, but his perimeter shooting and defense could stand improvement. The NBA is a long shot at the moment as his draft class is two years away. By 2011 his window of opportunity could be much larger. Much like Ponomarev, Hanga’s poor competition level makes him suspect to onlookers. He's labeled by some as a poor mans Nicholas Batum.
While in France, Batum suffered the same issues as Hanga. He appeared too passive and out of focus during stretches of games. Hanga shows promise, but if he is to secure himself in the draft and follow fellow Hungarian and former free agent Kornel David to the NBA, he needs to demonstrate growth as a player. With Hanga's ball handling, explosiveness, and feel for the game he has the potential for a successful pro career. The future is in his hands.
Tanel Kurbas
Tanel Kurbas is making the jump to the NBA, but where the hell is Estonia? It's located right above Latvia by the Baltic Sea and, like Latvia, was one of the 15 countries to claim independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Kurbas is a solid blend of athleticism and fundamentals. He does many things well, but doesn't really stand out in a particular area. Offensively, Kurbas shows promise, but isn’t a solid ball handler or perimeter shooter. He moves well without the ball, but is limited offensively depending on where he is on the floor. He's shown the ability to defend at a solid level, which could be the primary staple of his game. Kurbas getting drafted is a serious long shot. He probably declared at the urging of his agent. In 2010 he will be automatically eligible for the draft, but as his 1988 class expires, so will Tanel's hope for a draft selection. For the fact checkers, yes, Estonia does have draftee Martin Muursepp, but he was automatically eligible, not an early entry draftee.
With all the complaining about the number of early entries I think it’s one of the things that makes the draft a great event. On the international level there are players that can just jump into your TV screen and make you say, "who's that"?
A perfect example of this is Ejike Ugboaja from Nigeria, who declared for the 2006 NBA Draft with little fanfare. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected the power forward in the second round, 55th pick overall. Only a small handful of people knew who he was on draft night. With any luck maybe one of these three could be next. Only this time you will know exactly who they are! See you on draft night. | | No comments for this item |
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Wednesday, 29 April 2009 |
On Monday, April 27, 2009, Glen "Gondo" Gondrezick passed away at the age of 53 due to complications from a heart transplant he underwent in September 2008.
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Gondo
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Gondrezick was selected 26th overall in the 1977 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He had a solid 6-year NBA career with the Knicks and Denver Nuggets before heading off to Italy for two years. The Colorado native was a fan favorite while playing for his hometown Denver team. Gondrezick wasn't known as a player of tremendous athletic talent, but he more than made up for this with toughness and an all out aggressive style of play.
The UNLV alum was a key member in their first Final Four appearance in 1977. Gondrezick was one of the players Jerry Tarkanian signed during his inaugural coaching season at UNLV. In Gondrezick's four years at UNLV Tarkanian had an 86% winning average. One of the most memorable wins came against San Francisco College, who was the number one team in the land. The win firmly cemented UNLV as an up and coming power on the college basketball landscape. Gondrezick's play was so instrumental that his jersey was retired by the school in 1997. He is currently ranked 16th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,311 points and ninth with 831 career rebounds.
After leaving pro basketball for good Gondrezick went on to become the color commentator for UNLV basketball the past 17 years. In 2000 he learned that he had congenital heart disease, which slowly worsened until his heart only pumped at 9% capacity.
Glen Gondrezick is remembered by his family as a loving father and one of best practical jokers on or off the court. He is survived by his sons Travis and Kelan, and daughter his Britt.
The Draft Review remembers Glen Gondrezick. View his historical draft profile. | | This item includes 1 comment |
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009 |
The Spanish sensation, Ricky Rubio, has declared for the draft. And it's no surprise. This 18 year-old phenom has played, in arguably, one of the world's toughest basketball leagues since the tender age of 15 and evolved into one of the best in the world at his position. NBA teams clamored to follow the "La Pistola" and are jocking him like he's an eighties heartthrob. So they got their wish. Rubio is in the draft. But where's the media hate?
Some of us became quite cynical and frustrated by the NBA's bargaining agreement, as it ended the ability for traditional high school players to pursue an NBA contract. For the most part the rule has definitely been a source of great success. After all, watching Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant dominate the college game has been favorable for the league. It gives free, widespread marketing hype to upcoming star players and revitalized the excitement of the NBA draft.
This has worked tremendously and no one can argue its effectiveness, but what bothers me is the international market's lack of bad press and scrutiny. Few, if any, sports writers talk about how bad foreign players are, like Johan Petro, Pavel Podkolzin, Yaroslav Korolev, or Nikoloz Tskitishvili to name a few. All of these guys could have been in high school when they were drafted.
Consider Darko Milicic who is esteemed as serviceable while Kwame Brown is viewed as a complete disgrace. When you get right down to it they're both complete busts, but Milicic, the international guy, has somehow escaped the deeper fathoms of Bust-topia. Why?
And now the conversation has turned to John Wall possibly entering the draft as a fifth year high school player. Wall says all the right things in interviews because he's smart. He knows if he declares or even mentions that he is thinking about declaring there will be an orgy of hack writers talking about how bad of a pro he will be and what he is missing by not going to college. Meanwhile, international players have a free pass to openly talk about whatever they want because they never get any flack for it.
So Rubio is in the 2009 NBA draft. And I wonder where is the hate is, because if an American high school player declares it will be a Hater's Ball. | | No comments for this item |
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Monday, 02 March 2009 |
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The Phenom Wasteland
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It is a place desolate and barren where stories of abandoned phenom glory dwells. And I visited this dejected land in all its gloom to bring back the tales of former recruits who cast off their glory and squandered their talent to the Phenom Wastelands.
Clark Francis, Bob Gibbons, and Dave Telep are just a few of the gurus who make a living watching young men play basketball. They do a solid job of evaluating talent in the difficult and tedious task of grading and ranking 500-800 players each season. They have nailed quite a few prospects but there have also been some significant misses. So how do recruiting gurus go wrong when it comes to a top 25 national recruit who goes bust?
My visit to the Wasteland revealed that it's not what about what happens when the game is played. Rather, it is a lethal dose of bad luck, unfounded player hype, or poor decisions off the court.
It's easy to recall obvious Wasteland dwellers like Schea Cotton, Lenny Cooke, Jerod Ward, Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Fields. But this place also holds the obscure stories of five former top recruits who met with unpredictable and heartbreaking circumstances that derailed their journey to the NBA.
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Monday, 09 February 2009 |
 Like many who watch college basketball, fans naturally tend to lean toward supporting a powerhouse school or one of the best locally. Nowadays the typical NCAA tournament features UCLA blowing out a lower level college from an average conference. But if you turn back the clock 50 or 60 years neither UCLA, North Carolina, Louisville and many others in today's power conferences could stand toe to toe with yesterday's giants now fallen from grace.
Long Island University was easily one of the most dominant teams of the mid-thirties, forties and very early fifties that pioneered the game with an African American as its star player and a team loaded with Jewish talent. But a point shaving scandal would cause this giant's downfall. | | This item includes 2 comments |
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