[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

Just curious, but can some older users (older than me at least lol) explain to me what exactly was the hype surrounding this guy during high school? What were his expectations? Who were people comparing him to? Saw him play on a game to game basis during his run with Lakers and he’s a solid athlete with a great body with great mobility but not a tremendous physical specimen so I was still confused on what scouts saw in this guy. Can some older users help me out

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

I think the fact that he was so Mich bigger and athletic than everyone he played against in high school is made him so desireable to scouts. Also he came straight out of high school in an era where highly ranked recruits who came out of high school were were at that age that nba franchises love them at, fresh out of the 12th grade if a player chose that route. This era before one and done was great for guys like kwame and others who might have been even worse as they could capitalize on their high school dominance right away without having their defiencicies shown up in college against players just at fast, strong and athletic.

Remember samardo Samuels? He was ranked the number 1 or 2 guy in his class coming out of high school, & after 2 decent not great years at Louisville he got drafted in the 2nd round and fizzled out of the nba for in I forget, it was a year or 2. Had the one & done rule not been implemented I think he would have been drafted in the 1st round.

 

 

 

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

I think the fact that he was so Mich bigger and athletic than everyone he played against in high school is made him so desireable to scouts. Also he came straight out of high school in an era where highly ranked recruits who came out of high school were were at that age that nba franchises love them at, fresh out of the 12th grade if a player chose that route. This era before one and done was great for guys like kwame and others who might have been even worse as they could capitalize on their high school dominance right away without having their defiencicies shown up in college against players just at fast, strong and athletic.

Remember samardo Samuels? He was ranked the number 1 or 2 guy in his class coming out of high school, & after 2 decent not great years at Louisville he got drafted in the 2nd round and fizzled out of the nba for in I forget, it was a year or 2. Had the one & done rule not been implemented I think he would have been drafted in the 1st round.

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 That was an era when the scouting wasn’t as advanced. I remember hearing all types of crazy comparisons thrown around, saying kwame brown was the next Garnett, that he had guard skills and 3 point range and all types of stuff. I had never actually seen him play prior to the draft. When I did I automatically realized he was way overhyped and a major project.

Those early 2000s drafts that were filled with high school players and European players were kind of a crapshoot and players often got drafted more on hype than anything in a lot of cases. After the success of guys like Garnett, webber, etc gms were looking for the next big thing. Brown was someone who fit the physical dimensions and could be sold as the next big thing, but lacked the work ethic and skills. Same thing could be said for someone like darko, in comparison to nowitski or gasol. It only took a few games of watching him play to realize he wouldn’t be that type of player.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 That was an era when the scouting wasn’t as advanced. I remember hearing all types of crazy comparisons thrown around, saying kwame brown was the next Garnett, that he had guard skills and 3 point range and all types of stuff. I had never actually seen him play prior to the draft. When I did I automatically realized he was way overhyped and a major project.

Those early 2000s drafts that were filled with high school players and European players were kind of a crapshoot and players often got drafted more on hype than anything in a lot of cases. After the success of guys like Garnett, webber, etc gms were looking for the next big thing. Brown was someone who fit the physical dimensions and could be sold as the next big thing, but lacked the work ethic and skills. Same thing could be said for someone like darko, in comparison to nowitski or gasol. It only took a few games of watching him play to realize he wouldn’t be that type of player.

[GBeeParticipant]

 Outside of his small hands he pretty much had the prototype body and athleticism for an NBA big.  Quick feet, agile, ran the floor well, quick leaper, good explosion off of face ups, had a naturally strong build with good balance.  Off the court he was supposedly a good kid with a good family. Appeared smart, well spoken.

Skill-wise he was raw, he could face up and blow by and he actually had a pretty decent looking stroke, but the comparisons to guys like KG were unfounded.  KG was supremely skilled compared to Kwame at the same stage, but KG coming out of prep school was just skin and bones.  Kwame had the body to compete right away, at least physically.  He just turned out to be a mentally fragile nervous ninny.  His stroke not translating into anything hurt his face up potential. That was supposed to be a given in time bc he had a solid stroke, but that never came to be.  He also never had a great feel for the post because he rushed his moves and got flustered by defensive pressure.  That word "flustered" pretty much describes Kwame’s offensive game in a nutshell.  He got nervous and because he was nervous he didn’t have the patience to read his defender or the team defense.  It’s kinda like watching Andre Drummond now when he’s put in a position to make a scoring move as opposed to just finishing.  What Drummond has that Kwame didn’t was big soft mitts.  Kwame had relatively small hands and struggled with catching balls early (again, nervous and rushing his moves, moving before he caught the ball, etc) so that limited his offensive game even more as a roller and straight up finisher.  Defensively he was solid, even plus later in his career, but the guy had zero confidence in his offensive game.

[GBeeParticipant]

 Outside of his small hands he pretty much had the prototype body and athleticism for an NBA big.  Quick feet, agile, ran the floor well, quick leaper, good explosion off of face ups, had a naturally strong build with good balance.  Off the court he was supposedly a good kid with a good family. Appeared smart, well spoken.

Skill-wise he was raw, he could face up and blow by and he actually had a pretty decent looking stroke, but the comparisons to guys like KG were unfounded.  KG was supremely skilled compared to Kwame at the same stage, but KG coming out of prep school was just skin and bones.  Kwame had the body to compete right away, at least physically.  He just turned out to be a mentally fragile nervous ninny.  His stroke not translating into anything hurt his face up potential. That was supposed to be a given in time bc he had a solid stroke, but that never came to be.  He also never had a great feel for the post because he rushed his moves and got flustered by defensive pressure.  That word "flustered" pretty much describes Kwame’s offensive game in a nutshell.  He got nervous and because he was nervous he didn’t have the patience to read his defender or the team defense.  It’s kinda like watching Andre Drummond now when he’s put in a position to make a scoring move as opposed to just finishing.  What Drummond has that Kwame didn’t was big soft mitts.  Kwame had relatively small hands and struggled with catching balls early (again, nervous and rushing his moves, moving before he caught the ball, etc) so that limited his offensive game even more as a roller and straight up finisher.  Defensively he was solid, even plus later in his career, but the guy had zero confidence in his offensive game.

[cabbycabParticipant]

He was solidified as the #1 pick when he purportedly killed Tyson Chandler during a 1 on 1 workout.  I never understood the early intrigue with this guy.  Just at a glance you can tell there is no " freak " factor like KG, Amare, or even Drummond.  

[cabbycabParticipant]

He was solidified as the #1 pick when he purportedly killed Tyson Chandler during a 1 on 1 workout.  I never understood the early intrigue with this guy.  Just at a glance you can tell there is no " freak " factor like KG, Amare, or even Drummond.  

[JR RyderParticipant]

I remember vividly during 2001 draft, the Wizards big board was said to have Kwame Brown #1 and Rodney White #2. I think he was chosen #1 was all due to the Wizards awful scouting team. I remember every mock draft and scouts having Kwame Brown as the 3rd high school prospect behind Curry and Chandler. You can blame the Wizards for all the Kwame Brown hype, because they were the only team that had Kwame #1 on their big board

[JR RyderParticipant]

I remember vividly during 2001 draft, the Wizards big board was said to have Kwame Brown #1 and Rodney White #2. I think he was chosen #1 was all due to the Wizards awful scouting team. I remember every mock draft and scouts having Kwame Brown as the 3rd high school prospect behind Curry and Chandler. You can blame the Wizards for all the Kwame Brown hype, because they were the only team that had Kwame #1 on their big board

[Rip255]

I think Kwame browns biggest issue was confidence and basketball IQ. 

Theyre both pretty hard things to scout for, especially in that era.

If a guy has major confidence issues, they wont surface until playing against superior players…even at NCAA levels.

He could have been a 14/8 guy in my opinion.

People hype up how he cant catch or shoot free throws etc.

Truth is, he just didnt want the ball. He was scared to make mistakes and played stiff and without flow. He probably looked good in practice and against Tyson Chandler in workouts.

Michael Olowokandi/Dangelo Russell are bigger busts in my opinion. 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Yea. Considering he hasn’t even played an NBA game yet I think it’s safe to consider dangelo Russell one of the biggest draft busts of all time.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Yea. Considering he hasn’t even played an NBA game yet I think it’s safe to consider dangelo Russell one of the biggest draft busts of all time.

[Rip255]

I think Kwame browns biggest issue was confidence and basketball IQ. 

Theyre both pretty hard things to scout for, especially in that era.

If a guy has major confidence issues, they wont surface until playing against superior players…even at NCAA levels.

He could have been a 14/8 guy in my opinion.

People hype up how he cant catch or shoot free throws etc.

Truth is, he just didnt want the ball. He was scared to make mistakes and played stiff and without flow. He probably looked good in practice and against Tyson Chandler in workouts.

Michael Olowokandi/Dangelo Russell are bigger busts in my opinion. 

 

[4ngetnmoreDUKEParticipant]

 DAngelo Russell I think will be a bust based on where he was drafted, ithink he is a better passing JR Smith, hes got un hus gead he us replacing Kobe meabing he is shooting alot thats not his jon he needs to make plays, Okafor is whi we shoupdve taken. Nit just cause im a Duke fan but this kid faced double teams every play this year Towns was one on one allbyear cause of his stacked teams and with size and help even on the offensive glass he had an advantage along with the otgers, okafor is a solidified passer, strong in the double team great post moves will be more one on one in the league and i think he dominates, which is what the Lakers needed, first we pass up on hiring phil with dantoni which fucked us for years to come, then we give my all time favorite player a ridiculous contract which fucked us, then we draft russell over the most dominating big in basketvall cause of defensive scares, WTF the front office in LA has got to go. #firekutpchak and kwabe brown was good but had small hands very tiny hands and uts affected him tremedously in the league with fast handed gaurds and needing to control the ball with contact in the post.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Smith and Russell play nothing alike. Literally no similarities in their games. Smith is a freak athlete who settles for long jumpers and never really put the effort in to be as good as he could. Russell is a weak athlete who passes the ball well and…. we don’t know what else yet. Have no idea how you came up with that comparison.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Smith and Russell play nothing alike. Literally no similarities in their games. Smith is a freak athlete who settles for long jumpers and never really put the effort in to be as good as he could. Russell is a weak athlete who passes the ball well and…. we don’t know what else yet. Have no idea how you came up with that comparison.

[4ngetnmoreDUKEParticipant]

 DAngelo Russell I think will be a bust based on where he was drafted, ithink he is a better passing JR Smith, hes got un hus gead he us replacing Kobe meabing he is shooting alot thats not his jon he needs to make plays, Okafor is whi we shoupdve taken. Nit just cause im a Duke fan but this kid faced double teams every play this year Towns was one on one allbyear cause of his stacked teams and with size and help even on the offensive glass he had an advantage along with the otgers, okafor is a solidified passer, strong in the double team great post moves will be more one on one in the league and i think he dominates, which is what the Lakers needed, first we pass up on hiring phil with dantoni which fucked us for years to come, then we give my all time favorite player a ridiculous contract which fucked us, then we draft russell over the most dominating big in basketvall cause of defensive scares, WTF the front office in LA has got to go. #firekutpchak and kwabe brown was good but had small hands very tiny hands and uts affected him tremedously in the league with fast handed gaurds and needing to control the ball with contact in the post.

[HitsterParticipant]

 That was the era of the dominant Big Men – Shaq, Lonzo, Mount Mutombo, KG, Tim Duncan etc the likes of David Robinson and Patrick Ewing were still good players too so most teams were looking for the next top big man.

There was no real outstanding player in that draft either so Kwarme attracted a lot of hype and was regarded as one of the very top HS players of his year.

He of course told his then to be coach Doug Collins "If you draft me, you’ll never regret it!"

The 2001 draft has never been regarded as one the better ones although in the last few years, the likes of Z-Bo, Chandler etc have joined Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Tony Parker etc in getting All Star recognition and the likes of J-Rich, Battier, Richard Jefferson were excellent complimentary players for many years and a couple are still in the NBA.

The 2001 draft perhaps had more players who had good NBA careers lower down that draft than guys who were drafted high up when you remove you look outside Gasol, Chandler etc.

 

 

 

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 I’d say that was the tail end of the era of dominant bigs. Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing…. were on the downside of their careers. Shaq was kicking so much ass ’cause those guys were old and no longer capable of keeping up, let alone coming out on top. Zo, Mutumbo, etc… weren’t in the same tier. Anyway, Brown was a good kid who played well during the post season HS all-star circuits and started generating buzz. Strong body, could shoot the 15-17′ jumper, could put it on the deck, decent post game…. against high schoolers. As someone else said, he was nervous and always rushed everything in the league. I’m sure part of that was the pressure he put on himself for being labeled "a bust". If he had gone to Florida and stayed a few years he would’ve been a mid/late 1st rounder and no one would talk about him, but just like everyone trying to find the next Nowitzki in the era that followed, that was the era of going for the homerun with HS kids. But, for every Garnett or Bryant, you have ten Korleone Young’s and Taj McDavid’s. Brown fell somewhere in the middle.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 I’d say that was the tail end of the era of dominant bigs. Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing…. were on the downside of their careers. Shaq was kicking so much ass ’cause those guys were old and no longer capable of keeping up, let alone coming out on top. Zo, Mutumbo, etc… weren’t in the same tier. Anyway, Brown was a good kid who played well during the post season HS all-star circuits and started generating buzz. Strong body, could shoot the 15-17′ jumper, could put it on the deck, decent post game…. against high schoolers. As someone else said, he was nervous and always rushed everything in the league. I’m sure part of that was the pressure he put on himself for being labeled "a bust". If he had gone to Florida and stayed a few years he would’ve been a mid/late 1st rounder and no one would talk about him, but just like everyone trying to find the next Nowitzki in the era that followed, that was the era of going for the homerun with HS kids. But, for every Garnett or Bryant, you have ten Korleone Young’s and Taj McDavid’s. Brown fell somewhere in the middle.

[HitsterParticipant]

 That was the era of the dominant Big Men – Shaq, Lonzo, Mount Mutombo, KG, Tim Duncan etc the likes of David Robinson and Patrick Ewing were still good players too so most teams were looking for the next top big man.

There was no real outstanding player in that draft either so Kwarme attracted a lot of hype and was regarded as one of the very top HS players of his year.

He of course told his then to be coach Doug Collins "If you draft me, you’ll never regret it!"

The 2001 draft has never been regarded as one the better ones although in the last few years, the likes of Z-Bo, Chandler etc have joined Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Tony Parker etc in getting All Star recognition and the likes of J-Rich, Battier, Richard Jefferson were excellent complimentary players for many years and a couple are still in the NBA.

The 2001 draft perhaps had more players who had good NBA careers lower down that draft than guys who were drafted high up when you remove you look outside Gasol, Chandler etc.

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

if he had been taken in the mid to late 1st round we wouldnt be calling him a bust….he wasnt a very good shot blocker,scorer or passer,but was 1 of the best post defender in the league and a solid rebounder…i think thats what kept him in the league…

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

if he had been taken in the mid to late 1st round we wouldnt be calling him a bust….he wasnt a very good shot blocker,scorer or passer,but was 1 of the best post defender in the league and a solid rebounder…i think thats what kept him in the league…

 

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 His biggest hype was that he was a mobile 6’11 big man and could move well in transition. Kinda like jermaine oneal in highschool. However once he got to the league he put on a lot of muscle and they wanted him to play on the block which wasnt his natural position and he wasnt comfortable with. His confidence went to crap, he had small hands began dropping all the passes, coudlnt handle the pressure on the lakers and sadly people argue he is one of the biggest busts. This is my opinion of his career.

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 His biggest hype was that he was a mobile 6’11 big man and could move well in transition. Kinda like jermaine oneal in highschool. However once he got to the league he put on a lot of muscle and they wanted him to play on the block which wasnt his natural position and he wasnt comfortable with. His confidence went to crap, he had small hands began dropping all the passes, coudlnt handle the pressure on the lakers and sadly people argue he is one of the biggest busts. This is my opinion of his career.

[Leonard WashingtonParticipant]

 I actually saw Kwame at a bar in St. Simons Island a couple of years back when I lived there, which is were he is from.  And although he wasn’t the best basketball player, he and his posse were beasts at drinking Hennesy lol.  Very big guy from what I could see and definitely was a raw specimen the during his entire stint in the NBA, but obviously he never gave the dedication to the game to live up to his once hype of being the #1 pick. 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Off topic, how do you like St. Simon’s Island? My cousin had a wedding there and now my whole family wants to move there lol

[capecodderParticipant]

 My wife and I stopped there on our way north from Florida last March….had never been there, but fell in love with it….lots of energy

[Leonard WashingtonParticipant]

 I enjoyed it alot when I lived there, it is definitely a great place to be during the summer.  I only lived there for a year and a half but it would definitely be a great place to raise a family imo.

[Leonard WashingtonParticipant]

 I enjoyed it alot when I lived there, it is definitely a great place to be during the summer.  I only lived there for a year and a half but it would definitely be a great place to raise a family imo.

[capecodderParticipant]

 My wife and I stopped there on our way north from Florida last March….had never been there, but fell in love with it….lots of energy

[SubZeroParticipant]

Off topic, how do you like St. Simon’s Island? My cousin had a wedding there and now my whole family wants to move there lol

[Leonard WashingtonParticipant]

 I actually saw Kwame at a bar in St. Simons Island a couple of years back when I lived there, which is were he is from.  And although he wasn’t the best basketball player, he and his posse were beasts at drinking Hennesy lol.  Very big guy from what I could see and definitely was a raw specimen the during his entire stint in the NBA, but obviously he never gave the dedication to the game to live up to his once hype of being the #1 pick. 

[mixtape2003Participant]

He got hyped after a solid mcdonald’s all -american game and destroying Eddy Curry 1 on 1 in a pre draft work out. Eddy Curry at the time was supposed to be the next great big man and that  1 on 1 boosted him over Curry.

[mixtape2003Participant]

He got hyped after a solid mcdonald’s all -american game and destroying Eddy Curry 1 on 1 in a pre draft work out. Eddy Curry at the time was supposed to be the next great big man and that  1 on 1 boosted him over Curry.

[RecoveringVegetarianParticipant]

 Hey now!! I remember that mickey d’s game.. He played well there and foold a lot of folks …   Drafting kwame was the 1st of many mentally ill team transactions to come for Mj 

[RecoveringVegetarianParticipant]

 Hey now!! I remember that mickey d’s game.. He played well there and foold a lot of folks …   Drafting kwame was the 1st of many mentally ill team transactions to come for Mj 

[32tn32Participant]

He was a kid that couldn’t handle the pressure. I heard Jordan came down on him hard.  He didn’t take kwame under his wing as a lil bro or son. But came down on him like a boss

 

 

 

 

 

 

[32tn32Participant]

He was a kid that couldn’t handle the pressure. I heard Jordan came down on him hard.  He didn’t take kwame under his wing as a lil bro or son. But came down on him like a boss

 

 

 

 

 

 

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

 honestly 2001 was a historically bad draft any way you put it. 

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

 honestly 2001 was a historically bad draft any way you put it. 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

The historically bad draft was more the 2000 draft.In the 2001 draft you still have Joe Johnson,Tyson Chandler,Pau Gasol,Tony Parker,Zach Randolph who are still starting and playing at a high level,as we’ll be entering the 15th season after that draft. Add guys like Jason Richardson,Shane Battier,Gerald Wallace,Mehmet Okur,Samuel Dalembert,Brendan Haywood,Earl Watson and you’ve got yourself a not so historically bad draft honestly.

[sitlbitoParticipant]

The historically bad draft was more the 2000 draft.In the 2001 draft you still have Joe Johnson,Tyson Chandler,Pau Gasol,Tony Parker,Zach Randolph who are still starting and playing at a high level,as we’ll be entering the 15th season after that draft. Add guys like Jason Richardson,Shane Battier,Gerald Wallace,Mehmet Okur,Samuel Dalembert,Brendan Haywood,Earl Watson and you’ve got yourself a not so historically bad draft honestly.

[IlladelphParticipant]

 Kwame Brown was overhyped, but looking back I think that his biggest problem was a lack of maturity.  He was Michael Jordan’s first draft pick I think, and Michael Jordan has demonstrated over and over that he was a better player, and owner than he was a scout/operations guy.  

But Kwame just never developed any sort of game in spite of his physical tools.  His hand size gets mentioned a lot but I don’t think that factored in much.  The main problem was that he just never worked on his game.  The fact that he hung around in the league and got paid for as long as he did is a testament to the belief of GMs that size matters.

Though I think he was a colossal bust, I think his main problem was not developing, and not handling the pressure of a hypercritical media well (Stephen A Smith’s "KWAH-MAY BROWN" antics for example).

[IlladelphParticipant]

 Kwame Brown was overhyped, but looking back I think that his biggest problem was a lack of maturity.  He was Michael Jordan’s first draft pick I think, and Michael Jordan has demonstrated over and over that he was a better player, and owner than he was a scout/operations guy.  

But Kwame just never developed any sort of game in spite of his physical tools.  His hand size gets mentioned a lot but I don’t think that factored in much.  The main problem was that he just never worked on his game.  The fact that he hung around in the league and got paid for as long as he did is a testament to the belief of GMs that size matters.

Though I think he was a colossal bust, I think his main problem was not developing, and not handling the pressure of a hypercritical media well (Stephen A Smith’s "KWAH-MAY BROWN" antics for example).

[Author]

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