[Anton123Participant]

I know the guy has been written off as a bust 100 times already, but it seems he is working on his game quite a lot.
The fact tat they post stuff about him on OKC’s official website basically means they haven’t given up on him yet. And according to the interview he knows what he needs to work on and he’s doing it. As a OKC fan I still have hope.
What do you people think?
http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/catchingupmullens_100527.html

[delfamParticipant]

Not sure why people would call him a bust, he is only 20 years old and didn’t get much time to play in the NBA, but in the D-League he averaged 15 points which is pretty good. He has all the talent and athleticism in the world so if he continues to work hard I don’t see why he can’t be great in this league.

[ChrispyParticipant]

“B.J” has never been known as a hard worker. In fact, if you remember, that was one of the BIG knocks against him before the draft last year. He played absolutely no defense outside of some weakside roatations and was constantly lost on D even in basic 2-3 zone, let alone man to man rotations. He needed “a good deal of self-discipline with his work ethic if he’s to reach his potential”- DraftExpress.com- and “will need to answer questions about work ethic”- chicagonow.com. The bust label will always be in play for a guy with his size and athletic ability who shows very little effort to improve. By the way, he averaged 15 a game in the D league on only 45 % shooting. A seven foot, athletic guy shooting 45%????? C’mon. And a 1-3 assist/turnover ratio. In the D league. Against guys who weren’t drafted. hmmmm…………

[Anton123Participant]

The reason for the 45% was probably because he shot plenty threes

At least he sounds as if he wants to work hard, I mean everybody changes and realizes stuff everyday, why can’t he be one of them? The first thing he said when asked what he was working on was defense, that’s good

[NashyMingParticipant]

BJ Mullens was just a Rookie, it would be too early to call him a bust and Thunder would be stupid to give up on him already (which they are not, so they are certainly looking forward to see him develop into a solid center).

Big men usually takes at least 3 years to become a contributor in the NBA. Mullens is even more raw than most average rookie big men, it may take him 5 to 6 years in order to develop into a solid center. If he’s willing to put in the efforts and improve on his game.

Or else, he can become Patrick O’Bryant v2.0. I believe POB will be out of the league, but he can still get a decent contract in Euro and hopefully develop him game enough to come back to the NBA.

[the I in winParticipant]

He needs time, before the nba he might have played against 5 people his height in his life. He has been used to playing against guys 6 inches shorter than him. The simple little hook shots he did in high school and college don’t work anymore.

[sheltwon3Participant]

He has all the skils and a decent NBA body so it is on him. I believe he can at least be a solid bk up. I thought the pick was prettty good but a lot of people even before they saw him play were saying bust.

[JoeWolf1]

I looked at Mullins’ player profile from the D-League and he only shot 35 3 pointers, and shockingly made 15 of them for a .429%.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

He could develop into Joel Pryzbila type later down the road. I remember Pryzbilla was labeled a bust his first couple of years, and now hes become a very good back up center (before he got hurt this year).

[Kiwifan94Participant]

Mullens is athletic and has solid potential but he settles for to many jumpers. This is why IMO he gets the bad rep instead of posting and getting down low he settles for a mid rang jumper. I think he can develop into a solid player because like stated he is only 20 years old and does have skills to develop.

[GreenLanternParticipant]

Yes people need to back off Mullens right now (and Thabeet for that matter). These guys are younger than most of the young posters on this site for crying out loud. Bigs take time as many people have noted, because when they get to the NBA, it’s the first time they have faced players their size that are actually as good or better than them. I don’t think Mullens will ever develop into a no-brainer starter, but I’m actually confident he will be a good backup/rotation big, ala Brad Miller or a Diop.

[canesboy6Participant]

He is big and sorta athletic, but he isn’t very coordinated. He looks bad when he plays, doesn’t do anything well basketballwise. He looked bad at Ohio State and didn’t improve.

I just don’t see a starter.

[DeAndreParticipant]

Not a bust yet, it will take 4 or 5 years to be a bust
Unless your’e picked ahead a superstar of course.
Alot of players didnt have good rookie seasons.
Kobe,Tracy McGrady,Dirk, etc

[mgreener_34Participant]

If he’s not a banger then why would he live in the paint? People need to stop knocking him for not being a force in the paint and calling him a bust. He was drafted in the late first round by a team that needs a stretch big man (ala Nenad) No one expected him to come in and be a all star, back to the basket starter. He’s a bench player, and could become a very good one at that in OKC where everyone works hard. Dwight Howard has been in the league for years now, and he still looks like he doesn’t know what to do on offense. But yet we all unanimously say he’s the best center in the league why? BECAUSE OF DEFENSE! give BJ some time, and if he works on that D im sure OKC won’t care if he’s a bust or not.

[ChrispyParticipant]

If he won’t be in the paint, what is the point of selecting a large, athletic center? Okur plays outside because he has to. He has no athletic ability to speak of and has trouble getting his shot off inside. Mullens is huge and mobile, but has never even been close to being in proper condition, getting winded two times up the court. He doesn’t like to bang and is always off balance. When I see a big guy, regardless of athletic ability, who is off balance and is so sorely lacking in basketball IQ I get very worried about his future. In this case, because he is an ecellent off the floor athlete for his size I become extra worried. Will he ever even be able to come close to maximizing his athletic potential? Doubtful. Yes he is young, but he a) doesn’t get it, b) has never been known to work hard, c) has very low bball IQ and awareness and d) has poor coordination outside of run and jump activities. Side to side? Recovery? Center of balance? Non-existent. Not a bust yet, but in the future…definitely.

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

why ppl consider him bust:
1-because even after his disappointing college season there was some hype surrounding him,he didn’t live with their expectations
2-there was a lot of ppl think he will be a bust before the draft ,he has done nothing yet to change their opinions
3-ppl judge fast,people don’t wait
4-his draft day trade doesn’t look good right now,Roddy b for now looks far better than BJ

is he a bust?
no,he has few years before we can say he is a bust,and tbh I will never consider the 24th pick a bust ,may be a wrong pick but a lot of guys drafted that late don’t make any impact

[JoeWolf1]

khaled a d, I completely agree with you about someone being picked #24 not being a bust. That is a pretty low risk pick, and tons of guys in the 20’s just don’t pan out. I think people still hold Mullins to the hype he had coming out of high school, not necessarily the player who was drafted in 2009. He is gifted in size and athleticism, but you’re right, at #24 thats not really a bust, just a guy who didn’t work out, but he’s got a few years before you can close the book on him.

[Author]

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