Anthony Davis: Phenom or Flop

Anthony Davis was by far the most dominant big man in college basketball last season.  Even though he only managed 6 points in the title game, many commentators and writers felt that Davis “led” the Kentucky Wildcats to their 8th NCAA Men’s Div. 1 Basketball Championship.  This feeling materialized in the form of the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award.

Call me crazy, but this guy has Greg Oden written all over him.  Someone this tall and lanky is bound to have joint and ligament issues in his career.  It hit Oden right out of the gate, who knows when it will hit Anthony Davis.  Also like Oden, we have only seen Davis play one season (in college nevertheless).  Impressive?  Yes.  Comprehensive?  No.  One cannot look past his uncanny abilities around the hoop, not only outreaching smaller players for rebounds but also out-maneuvering and out-timing larger players who are boxing him out.  For his size, he also owns a decent jumper and respectable ball-handling skills.

I hear these accolades all the time.  I question how well his game will translate to the big stage for the same reason why Tim Tebow had a 170.8 passer rating in college but a 75.1 passer rating in the NFL: not everything translates.

He won’t stuff Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant the way he did to every unfortunate guard who made his way near the basket.  He can expect his blocked shots to go way, way down.  He will, no doubt, get his (the man has a 7′ 3″ wingspan for crying out loud).  Davis’ swagger will be in short supply, however, after he gets posterized for the first time in the NBA.

Davis’ insane rebounding numbers are another stat that can expect a shock of reality.  In a league where men–mind you, Davis is 19 years old–make a living off positioning under the hoop, the Chicago native can expect a torrent of physical and mental adversity.  Sure, it doesn’t hurt having a monstrous wingspan, but you’re crazy to think, even with the four inch height advantage, that the 6’10″ Davis could grab a rebound from someone like Dennis Rodman.

What do you get when you bring Davis’ rebounds and blocks down to earth?  Not a number 1 overall draft pick, that’s for sure.  I’m not hating by any means.  I know, very well, that some athletic intangibles are simply unteachable and that Davis already has many of them under his belt.  And I also realize pitting Davis against one of the greatest rebounders of all-time is a bit unfair; but hey, we were trying to compare LeBron to Jordan the minute he got drafted.  All’s fair in love and war…and sports opinion pieces.