Duke fan I am not, but this is a pretty clever commercial. I have to say Christian Laettner was a pretty solid pro who flew under the radar.
[via BallHype]
Email
PrintComments
You didn't really just say
Laettner was a solid pro did you. When his name comes up only one word pops into my head. BUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by dungeness crabdribble on Mar 5, 2009 6:54 PM PST reply actions
Laettner was...
very similar to Shane Battier…
Very successful at Duke. Won POY, and a national championship. Drafted 3rd. Made NBA team better. Never all-star numbers, but always making a team better.
What team in the league wouldn’t want Battier on their team?? Now you look at Laettner, being a POY and 3rd pick behind Shaq and Zo and his numbers don’t look so hot, but he was a solid pro.
Laettner was far better than Shane Battier
At least stats-wise. He even made the All-Star team in 1997. Oddly enough he seems to have peaked after his rookie season where he put up about 18-9 with a pick and a swat.
Busts are more of the Ike Diogu, Patrick O’Bryant variety. Looks like Brandan Wright is headed there too.
by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 5, 2009 7:42 PM PST up reply actions
stats do not always provide the measure of an athlete, much less the man
CL proved to be “solid” in that he lasted longer than a cup of coffee in the association, but he was not admirable either as an opponent while a collegian nor as a teammate in the pros – his behavior vs Kentucky in that famous game was as deplorable as it was heroic and the tales of his professional decorum are little to brag about
BWright has yet to prove he’s going to have better stats than Laettner, and we all hope he’s either the starting or backup PF to help us get to the playoffs, but he’s already proved to be more of a man imo
Looks like Brandan Wright is headed there too.
Haha. Well done. We are talking about the same Brandan Wright who just turned 21 and is shooting a career 55% fg while averaging 15.8 pts / 8.6 reb / 2.0 blocks / 1.0 to per 36 minutes? That’ll learn him to separate his shoulder!
As for Laettner: yeah, he was pretty much a textbook “solid pro,” but I agree with hardcore that he was also strangely loathsome. I would love to watch an alternate universe 10-game death-match involving a team comprised of all-time Tar Heels and one of all-time Blue Devils. I suspect the Dukies would be lucky to win a game.
Thing 1
by Sleepy Freud on Mar 5, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions
Brandan Wright Per 36 minutes: Great! Come back to me when he’s actually averaging anything close to that extrapolation in a full season.
Aside from the Duke-hatred (which I’m down with) why was Laettner so loathsome? All I’ve got on him is his Duke-ness.
by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 5, 2009 10:47 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah
I suppose it’s possible that his rate numbers could dip if he played more (he might have poor stamina, e.g.) but from everything I’ve read/heard, there’s no evidence to support that it’s likely. In the 2/17 BS report with Simmons, Hollinger said it’s more often the reverse: on average, players’ per minute numbers actually tend to improve when they play more minutes.
Either way, I think the burden is on you to show how it “looks like Wright is headed [towards bustville]” when all he’s done in the time he’s been given (900 total minutes) is play well, at least offensively. And again … he’s 21, and not even in his man-body yet.
As for Laettner: “loathsome” is a bit strong, but there was just something about him that made you want to root against him, no? I mean, look at his face!
(Hey Brady, some good Battier talk in that BS show, if you missed it…)
Thing 1
Maybe
I presume the Tar-heels would probably win if you pitted them as NBA talents. But MJ, VC, stackhouse, Rasheed, etc. weren’t really any better in college than Laettner, Redick, Battier, Brand, Williams, Boozer, Dunleavy (yikes), etc. Take all-time Tar-Heels in their college prime vs. Devils in their college prime, and you’ve got an extremely awesome game.
In the pros, UNC has had a knack for producing superstars, whereas Duke generally has good role players/ good but not great players – Battier, Boozer, etc.
Furthermore, Laettner is the only player in NCAA history to start in final fours all four years of his career. And one of only four players in NCAA history to play in final fours all four years. Two of the other three went to Duke.
Just felt like pointing that out… ;)
Good point
I was talking about the NBA versions of those guys. The college versions, as you say, would be a better matchup, though I suspect that’s largely due to Coach K.
I remember once back in ’86 or so I compiled a list of two all-star teams, one comprised of what was then the “old guard” (Bird, Magic, Dr. J, Kareem, et al.) and one of the new kids (Jordan, Mullin, Hakeem, et al.) and asked my fellow hoops-nerd brother who he thought would win. He pondered it for about three seconds and replied, “Jordan would win.” That phrase pretty much applies to all comparisons involving MJ, including the hypothetical death-match of Duke and UNC alums.
Still can’t figure out exactly what makes Duke so loathsome to me, as I like Coach K and don’t mind a few of their alums (Brand, Maggs, et al.) Best I can tell it’s some cross-country projection of my ingrained Cal pride / Stanford loathing. Also, one of my closest friends went to UNC, as did two of my immediate family … as did Jordan (who I worshipped more than I should have given how much I try to avoid the mainstream) … as did JAE, the MJ of GSoM…
Thing 1
No Doubt
The NBA heels trump the dukies.
Haha, I loved that story. so very true.
Furthermore, I feel like you have to hate duke, or you have to love them. I can understand both sides of the fence, although it annoys me when people hate and lack respect. Hardcore devil fan that I am, I have so much respect for UNC, past, present, and future.
As for me…I’m kind of the only one in my immediate family that really likes basketball. So my uncle, Duke alum and season ticket holder jumped on the opportunity to grab a basketball nut before anyone else could. When you’re 10 and your uncle is sending you autographs of Shane Battier, pictures of him with Coach K, and telling you next time you visit you can shoot around in Cameron (which I did), it’s kind of hard not to be a fan….
Haha
"Jordan would win."
That’s a great story. I’ll probably tell that one and take credit for it as my own at some point in the future.
Thing 2
Superstar*
My bad, Atma, I meant to say superstar numbers. I knew he was an all-star, and as a hard core duke fan (minority, yaaay), I’m quite proud of that :)
Laettner was a super-solid player. It’s not really his fault that he made an amazing shot in college that was a larger highlight than anything he (or anyone??) ever did in the NBA
Christian "Mr. Gold Medal" Laettner
Brandon Jennings. A Warrior in 09.
With the 6th Pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the SF Giants pick Donovan Tate.
Andre Smith in Silver & Black in 2009.
Wow! Its amazing how much support players get when they aren't Warriors.
Can you imagine if we would have drafted Laettner third in the draft? Heads would have rolled. This board would have been all over Rowell, Mullin and Nellie for drafting a complete bust 3rd in the draft. Yet here it is, a non Warrior who is supported for being a solid pro? Solid Pro? If he was a Warrior he would be getting hammered. Funny how our fans support other teams players much more than they do their own. Thats just solid!
by dungeness crabdribble on Mar 6, 2009 7:37 AM PST reply actions
Dude.
Check out his NBA numbers. He was pretty much a textbook “solid pro.” If anything, that’s understating his performance in the association. What would you say he is, if not a solid pro? Liquid? Gas? Anti-matter?
Thing 1
Dude!
You do not draft 3rd in hopes of getting a solid pro. If we would have drafted him you would have been the frist hammering the team for drafting him. At least be consitant. You have some kind of man crush on him?
by dungeness crabdribble on Mar 6, 2009 8:34 AM PST up reply actions
Haha. Nice try.
You didn’t really just say Laettner was a solid pro did you. When his name comes up only one word pops into my head. BUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— The Esteemed Dr. Crabdizzle
Thing 1
Furthermore...
Let’s look at past #3 picks…
2008 – O.J. Mayo
2007 – Al Horford
2006 – Adam Morrison
2005 – Deron Williams
2004 – Ben Gordon
2003 – Carmelo Anthony
2002 – Mike Dunleavy
2001 – Pau Gasol
2000 – Darius Miles
1999 – Baron Davis
1998 – Raef Lafrentz
1997 – Chauncey Billups
1996 – Shareef Abdur-Rahim
1995 – Jerry Stackhouse
1994 – Grant Hill
1993 – Penny Hardaway
The #3 pick is not supposed to equate to a superstar. There are some very solid players there – Hardaway, Hill, etc., but it is clear that #3 picks are not supposed to be spectacular. Laettner was an all-star, that is very solid. Just because he cut his career short doesn’t mean he’s a bust…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"UNSTOPPABLE BABY!"
Golden State Warriors rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavericks' bench, after hitting a lay-up during a 29-point loss (2000)
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Most Commented
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
