Heat picking up Duncan's contract; he's gonna be a millionaire
The Heat bringing Butler in brought them within $1 million of the cap, so I think this basically guarantees Robinson a roster spot. Robinson is on a partially guaranteed $1.4 million standard contract for 2019-20, with $250,000 already guaranteed. This brings it to $1 million guaranteed.
So Robinson completes the biggest leap of any UM basketball player I've ever seen. Has to be top 10 in terms of guys in the NBA to do this. I'm sure there are other players to make the jump from non-D1 obscurity but this is pretty huge.
Congrats to Duncan. His meteoric rise has been special - another Beilein legacy to remember fondly. Juwan has big shoes to fill, but he also has big feet - so I like his chances...
Great for him! Congrats Duncan. Go Blue!
Great news for Duncan. Ben Wallance comes to mind as Virginia Union was DII and turned into starter on NBA champion.
Who is this Ben "Wallance" guy? Don't recall the name.
Wallance played with Tayshaun Prinnce and Rip Hamilnton or the Pinstons.
Hamilinton was the founding father who invented corn rows.
I love how you added the extra n's then autocorrect changed the n in the word on to an r.
Not your point I'm sure, but "starter on NBA champion" really undersells Ben Wallace.
4-time All Star, 4-time DPOY, won multiple rebounding and blocks titles. All NBA 2nd & 3rd teams. 5 time All Defense first team, Number retired by the Pistons, etc., etc.
(Gonggggggggggg)
Probably the best pure rebounder since Rodman; perhaps in the top-5 of all time with Rodman, Unseld, Russel, and . . . idunno, someone else who also couldn't rely on height advantage.
Charles "The Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley, who famously said that any idiot can score but it takes a real man to rebound. Charles is about 6'4".
Barkley
I'd add Dennis Rodman. Cooke County College (JC) to Southeast Oklahoma State (Div II) to this:
- 5x NBA champion (1989–1990, 1996–1998)
- 2x NBA All-Star (1990, 1992)
- 2x All-NBA Third Team (1992, 1995)
- 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1991)
- 7x NBA All-Defensive First Team (1989–1993, 1995, 1996)
- 7x NBA rebounding champion (1992–1998)
- No. 10 retired by Detroit Pistons
Good, but the other guys were undrafted FA. Rodman was drafted in the 2nd round.
And he was drafted because the great Will Robinson pounded the table and Jack McCloskey listened. Robinson was a magnificent story:
Only black basketball coach in Detroit for 16 seasons
Won the state title in 1967 with Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson
First black head coach in NCAA Division 1 basketball. Doug Collins played for him.
Scouted for the Pistons for almost 30 years and unearthed Joe Dumars and Rodman
Mentored hundreds of young men
Lived to 96
And a real gentleman which I can attest to having had the privilege of sharing a meal with him in 1997.
Is he in the Hall of Fame yet? He should be. I always thought he was one of the most underrated players of all-time. I don't know if the Bulls win all three of that second 3-peat, especially against Utah, if they don't have Rodman.
Lebron James didn't even go to college and he turned out pretty good.
Terry Porter and Devean George were both D3 players who got taken in the first rd
Scottie Pippen was decent at DII Central Arkansas, he turned out OK
He was fine when he didn't have a migraine.
So happy for the young man. Hard work and perseverance......and a dead-eye from 25'
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Great Gif.
I never would have imagined this when he first transferred. I'm so happy for him, talk about hard work paying off.
Kalkaska? I used to work in Kalkaska.
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Imagine 6 years ago, he was a good high school player getting to play some college ball at a small school. Fast forward he’s played for two conference tournament championship teams, and played in the NCG, now has a million dollar contract in the NBA. What a crazy rise he’s had; such deserved.
That recent video was fantastic... contrast it with his last game in AA, and it leaves one very bewildered.... congrats to him.. he really looked like a legitimate NBA player in that video.
Or Scottie Pippen, coming from NAIA school (at the time) Central Arkansas University.
Yeah, but not really. He was the 5th overall pick in the draft. If you are just picking guys from small colleges, why not go to HS picks?
Not just a shooter!
Good for you, Duncan.
He May turn out to be Beilein biggest success story.
Amazing! So glad for Duncan!
Summer League, mayn! He didn't hit at the same % he did in the D League last year (where he shot an absurd 48%) but he hit some shots, played some D, and generally contributed.
Rickey Green? He played 2 years of JC ball - that (JC BB) isn't really a thing anymore with other options nowadays. But yeah... counterpoint and I think an even larger leap/talent... Rickey Green.
Not to judge Duncan yet... but Rickey Green is a fellow Wolverine to model.
What a story behind Duncan, glad to see his work is paying off (literally)!
That’s terrific. Congrats to him! Well deserved!
Jimmy Butler springs to mind. Homeless as a child/teen to Juco, to Marquette, to All-NBA.
Duncan is one of the most impressive items on Beilein's Michigan resume. D3 to the NBA.