Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckeyeskickbuttocks
One of my biggest beefs with the NBA is that I cannot take seriously a professional league that is so easily accessible to kids who were playing High School the year before... It got so bad you didn't have the rare KG or LBJ... you had stiffs like .... well.. damn near every other HS to NBA jump... And, the overall level of the game deteriorated as a result..if you ask me.
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Actually, the success rate of players drafted straight out of high school is relatively high, probably a little higher than college draft picks. Take the 2005 NBA Draft for example:
6. Martell Webster- has started to play better this year, only averaging 10.7 ppg and 4 rpg, which is not what you expect out of a #6 overall, so we can call him a bust.
10. Andrew Bynum- 2nd best young center in the game, would have been an all-star if not for the injury, probably would have been taken top-3 if there were a re-draft.
18. Gerald Green- averaged 10 points last season, got stuck on the bench in Minnesota behind other players and was traded to Houston and then cut, but sure to be signed as an unrestricted free agent this off-season. Similar stats to those players drafted around him, but still a disappointment.
34. C.J. Miles- only averaging 5 ppg, but he has been stuck behind Kyle Korver this season. Showing definite signs of improvement.
40. Monta Ellis- Most Improved Player last season and averaging 20 ppg as starting SG.
45. Louis Williams- averaging 11.5 ppg and 3 apg backing up Andre Miller.
49. Andray Blatche- Averaging 7 points 5 boards backing up Brendan Haywood.
56. Amir Johnson- averaging 3 points and 4 rebounds backing up Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell.
Of all these players, there is no one who I would call a "stiff." Green is currently not playing, but that was due more to Houston having a full roster than his lack of talent, and he will land a pretty nice contract next season. Bynum and Ellis will be all-stars for years to come. Webster has been solid but hasn't really lived up to his billing as the #6 overall.
Kwame Brown leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth in terms of most high school players, but overall high school players have been very productive for their draft position.