NBA Combine - Stauskas Shows Athleticism
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/05/nik_stauskas_displays_athletic.html
Stauskas tied Kentucky's James Young for fifth in running vertical jump at 35.5 inches, ahead of Devyn Marble (Iowa), Jordan McRae (Tennessee), Dante Exum (International player; Australia), Joe Harris (Virginia), Lamar Patterson (Pittsburgh), Jabari Brown (Missouri) and Jordan Adams (UCLA).
Moreover, Stauskas ranked sixth among shooting guards in standing vertical leap at 29.0 inches, seventh in the shuttle run (2.92 seconds), ninth in the three-quarter court sprint and 11th in the lane agility drill (10.79 seconds).
Looking at the live updated scoreboard displaying each player's vertical leap, one participant turned and quipped, "There ain't no way Nik Stauskas can jump higher than me."
But he did, indeed.
than just a shooter!
Oh yeah
a ball-handler for sure!
Glenn Robinson III had a 41.5-inch vertical jump, which was only second-best among prospects; Oklahoma State's Markel Brown and Arizona State's Jahii Carson both recorded 43.5 inches.
But Robinson's 36.5-inch standing vertical leap matched Brown's for the highest of the day.
And he was disappointed by those numbers.... lol
If two players are tied at the top, isn't the next best player the "third-best"? I can haz math?
He had the third best height recorded. The guys who tied for first had the first two.
So, somewhere in Cleveland, there is a reporter named Jody Valade you should take this up with.
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/05/glenn_robinson_iii_falls_short.html
Depends on how you look at it. Two people recorded the same height, so he's the 3rd best performer, but GRIII's leap was the 2nd highest, um, height. 43.5 and 43.5 are not two different numbers.
and the 50th guy jumps 39, he can claim to have the 2nd highest jump?
But no one ever looks at it that way. GRIII's height was the third highest height because there were two heights higher. That's very simple. 43.5 and 43.5 aren't two different numbers, but they are two different measurements. One is 43.5 by Guy 1 and one is 43.5 by Guy 2. There are three measurements discussed here, and GRIII's is the third best.
Good morning Kanye
"There ain't no way Nik Stauskas can jump higher than me."
That's racist, obvious black player.
Jokes on you. It was Doug McDermott.
Yeah, I got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell ya - to anyone who believes Dougie McBuckets said that.
McDermott hit 36.5 inches to Stauskas' 35.5.
It's debatable. What I said was meant to be funny, not serious.
Hand 1 - More than 75% of players in the NBA are black. So it would be obvious that a black player would say that about Nik, since...
Hand 2 - The stigma of "white men can't jump" is probably supported by factual evidence, although I don't want to Google that right now.
field events tend to be dominated by white guys. I'd guess there is a similar breakdown of elite field athletes (white to non-white, that is).
I'd like to see some data on that. I did a quick search and didn't find anything comparing field events. Track events on the other hand have been very scrutinized in this way.
I would argue that HJ is more about technique and height (well, leg length) than it is about jumping ability. Obviously, the athleticism needs to be there. But there is a lot of technique involved, and the biggest thing is just having freakishly long legs. So in comparing "jumping ability" the high jump is a poor indicator.
I think you probably mean stereotype rather than stigma, but that is one that has always bothered me somewhat. As a 6' white man I wouldn't say I'm vertically challenged, but I'm not giant. Still, because of my verticle leap I was able to play university volleyball at the power position which was pretty rare for a guy my height. I don't know what my highest jump ever was, but the highest I was measured at was at a Canada games camp when it measured at 42 inches and I didn't feel like I was jumping well that day.
At that camp my brother (who was a setter and 5'9") out jumped me at 43.5 inch verticle and one other guy posted a 44" verticle. All of us were white. In fact, that is a sport where jumping is just as, if not more important than it is in basketball and it is not domintated by african american's.
So I guess what i'm trying to say is people may argue that the african american population is more athletic in general than others, they shouldn't assume that means white people can't jump. Basketball isn't the only sport that requires people to jump and in those sports white people have proven that stereotype to be false.
canadian airborne.
I did not expect those numbers, but good for him! Cemented his lottery selection.
however I find that even other white guys tend to be surprised when a white dude can jump like that. Good for Nik--stuff like that should put away any concerns about drafting him high. Everyone already knows he's an elite shooter.
If everyone already knew that, then why would they feel the need to remind us so much?
I don't think it's racist. There was a rather unfortunate area of commerce in our country's history that resulted in African-Americans generally possessing superior athleticism to the rest of the world's demographics (although to be fair, the athleticism of our country as a whole is now being eroded at each generation thanks to the widespread prevalence of industrial toxins and the like). I always think about just how dominate the US would be in soccer if a lot of the 3* running back and wide receiver athletes that never make it to the pros in football were pushed to play soccer at a young age instead.
The NCAA is the most prevalent remaining bastion of that institution, providing minimally sufficient access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education in exchange for a highly profitable workforce. I'm certain that, at the highest levels, there's a sinister, racist element involved with that.
Apparently Chad Ford likes Nik as a point guard prospect. At his size, if GMs agree with Chad, Nik could jump up draft boards ahead of Smart. Also, I saw he was mocked to Detroit by someone.
Hmmm, I don't agree with that. IMO Nik's handle is good for a 6'6" guy, but it's not NBA point guard good.
Nik is a good passer which would make him a good PG. He just needs more speed and better D to guard the NBA PG.
Your handle doesn't have to be that great...
The Pacers have been operating for what, 3 years without a true PG?
Grevis Vasquez played 2/3 in college and he's a 1/2 in the NBA. This is who I've compared Nik to for over a year now. Vasquez with a better shot.
Stauskas could easily play some point guard in the NBA. All you have to do is get the ball up the floor and start the offense.
The biggest reason he would struggle isn't ballhandling...it's DEFENDING the other PG. No way Stauskas could defend Westbrook, Paul, Conley, Wall, Irving, or the majority of NBA PGs. Offensively he'd be fine except in pressure situations.
Ballhandling is the most overrated attribute to NBA point guards. Just because they can dribble really well doesn't mean they need to. It means they handle the ball and get paid to do it for a living...they're going to be really good at it.
Ballhandling is overrated, taking care of the ball is underrated. You don't have to be some fancy dribbler with crossovers and a bunch of other ball skills to be a successful NBA PG. It's not the Globetrotters. You need to protect the ball and run an offense. Stauskas can do that...but he can't defend an NBA PG.
Nik isn't playing PG.
Thanks. Not I know it's true.
Crawford doesn't play PG in the NBA...Collison is their backup to Paul.
You guys are so dismissive without having a CLUE what you're talking about.
Stauskas could absolutely play some PG in the NBA. I use the Grevis Vasquez example again. All you have to do is get the ball up the floor and start the offense, which in the NBA is typically sets and spacing.
He's not a full time PG, but it's not becuase of his handle...it's for 2 reasons.
#1 - He can't guard the PG position
#2 - He needs to be off the ball more so teams can better use HIS offense
...all of this "he can't play PG" shit is just that, shit, of the bull variety.
He's not a full-time PG, but he can play PG just as much as Vaquez, Stephenson/George Hill do.
LeVert is learning to do that right now for Michigan, or he was last year until it wasn't need with Walton/Albrecht playing so well. THJ learned at Michigan and it literally won 3 games for us because Burke was being double teamed on the inbound or on the bench with fouls. We don't get past VCU in the tournament if THJ doesn't play PG in the first half when the Rams went deny heavy on Burke. Tim brought the ball up, called the plays out and got the offense started...isn't what what you want a PG to do?
We need to quit acting like you have to be Chris Paul with the basketball in your hands in order to play the position.
If Vasquez and Lance Stephenson...even Durant and LeBron James at 6'8, 260 can play some PG, I'm pretty sure Nik Stauskas can too. Not full time, but I'd have no problem putting him there.
He's not JJ Redick or Ray Allen even though he can shoot like them.
Dude, just stop. Crawford has STARTED long stretches at the 1 when Paul was out...