It may be a bit complicated since they’re technically the identical sport, however school basketball and NBA basketball could not be extra totally different.
That is one main cause why success on the school stage is not any assure of success as a professional. Of this previous season’s 5 consensus first-team NCAA All-People, just one (first total decide Cooper Flagg) was chosen within the lottery of June’s NBA Draft. Nationwide champion Walter Clayton Jr. was taken at No. 18, whereas Auburn’s Johni Broome dropped to the Philadelphia 76ers early within the second spherical. Alabama star Mark Sears went undrafted, whereas Purdue’s Braden Smith elected to return for his senior yr.
Just one 2022 first-team All-American, Keegan Murray, receives common NBA taking part in time.
The dissonance is loud, and it is smart if you actually dig into the variations in fashion of play and the talent units required to succeed at every stage. Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe, chosen third total, spoke on that precise topic when he just lately joined teammate Paul George on the “Podcast P” show. Whereas averaging 15 factors, six rebounds and three assists per recreation in his solely season at Baylor, Edgecombe earned second-team All-Large 12 honors — a powerful feat — however he did not make any of the All-American groups.
The 20-year-old Bahamas native defined why his manufacturing on the school stage is not essentially commensurate together with his standing as an NBA prospect.
“I hate school basketball, personally,” Edgecombe stated. “Some folks find it irresistible. I do not. There have been two facilities, two bigs sitting within the paint. I gotta to get to the cup — it was exhausting. It was unhealthy. I am like, ‘Bro, I bought no house to function.’
” … However now, the spacing within the NBA. It is so significantly better. Plus you are taking part in with elite gamers. … For me, it is a better recreation.”
You want solely examine about 5 seconds of any school basketball recreation to an NBA recreation to see that the spacing is totally totally different. The NBA has a defensive three-second rule that forestalls large males from tenting out in the important thing to guard the rim, whereas school doesn’t. As Edgecombe famous, that makes attending to the basket extremely troublesome. The NBA 3-point line can also be deeper than its school counterpart, and the widespread taking pictures accuracy by the professionals creates numerous floor for defenses to cowl.
So how did it work out for Edgecombe taking part in the NBA fashion throughout summer time league? Nicely, the house seems to have helped his efficiency within the paint. The rookie shot 10 for 17 (59%) on the rim in his two summer time league appearances (one in Salt Lake Metropolis, one in Las Vegas), in comparison with 54% throughout his time at Baylor, per Synergy Sports activities.
You may see right here as Edgecombe blows previous an even bigger defender on a swap, there may be no person ready for him on the rim as he throws down a strong end.
And whereas the chances weren’t there on his 3-point makes an attempt (2 for 13 in his two video games), he was “unguarded” on 67% of his catch-and-shoot makes an attempt, per Synergy. At Baylor, that was the case solely 37% of the time.
Simply take a look at the room he has on this above-the-break 3-point try in the course of the Las Vegas Summer time League.
Distinction that with this claustrophobic Baylor possession from the Large 12 match, which leaves Edgecombe to drive up a closely contested 3-point try.
Edgecombe is an elite athlete who ought to make a right away defensive influence for the Sixers, so taking pictures and playmaking will probably decide his ceiling. The distinction in spacing between school and the NBA ought to go a good distance in making each of these issues a bit extra manageable.
It also needs to assist that Edgecombe will not be taking part in a recreation he hates.