So Big Baby chose to play basketball and exclusively basketball at LSU, I assume part of his rational was that the NBA was a more realistic goal than the NFL. While I certainly think Big Baby will be drafted and thus have an opportunity to play in the NBA, I just dont see his game translating to the NBA. Based on the fact that he is stepping out and taking some 3's and playing more away from the basket makes me think that he is trying to develop his game into the mold of a player like Barkley, a smallish (height) PF that rebounds and can play away from the basket on offense. With that said, there are not many examples of players in the NBA with Big Baby's style of play, and it makes me think that Big Baby will not have a long or successful NBA career. I hope Im wrong. But this leads me to a question: based on what you know now would Big Baby have been better served to play football and pursue a career as an athletic and quick DT in the NFL? I Say Yes.
He might very well make it as a Barkley-style player. He's just not a post player in the NBA. They list him at 6-9, but when you see him next to other 6-9 players, you realize he's about 6-7. Now, 6-7 and about 325 pound would have made a fine colege football player. He was projected as an offensive tackle with the height and the quick feet to protect a quarterback effectively. He came out of high school at 380 pounds and I just never heard of a 380 pound basketball player that was successful. But he took off the excess and played basketball very well. I was surprised. It's hard to say which was the better path. I suppose Baby knows better than anyone.
I think he plays more like Malone. He uses his body to position him to the basket and uses the layup instead of dunking. He passes like Malone, etc... I think he will have a long career like Malone did. He made the right choice because B-ball is where his heart is. Right now he is struggling because teams are doubling him every time he touches the ball because LSU isnt hitting open shots.:thumb:
Im not basing my opinion on the struggles of the team, I was more thinking about how successful Dorsey has been and that he projected as a mid first rounder if he came out.....and Big Baby is just such a dynamic athlete for his size, I think his abilities would be better utilized on a football field. I can just see alot of his offensive game being shut down by longer players in the NBA, and after all Big Baby doesnt have the best leaping ability to elivate over longer players. But like I siad earlier, I hope im wrong, because I have enjoyed watching Baby play and his game/personality has provided LSU with alot of publicity over the last year.
I think Glen will be a successful NBA player, but I doubt he ever makes a huge impact on the league. He reminds me of Sean May with the Bobcats, who had a similar under the rim game while at UNC. There are some differences between them and May was a much more prolific scorer in college, but the fact that there is another big man succeeding in the NBA (by success I mean getting decent minutes and contributing every night) without a great aerial game. Big Baby has a great shooting touch, but his lack of jumping will hinder him at the pro level. I am interested to see where his career goes, right now he is a tweener with no real position. He could stand to lose some more weight and improve his shooting even more (and by that I don't mean jacking up 5 3 pointers a game like he did last night)
I had a buddy who played with Baby when he was at Uhigh his junior year in football and he simply said his heart was not in it at all he would just go through the motions. In fact, he said he pretty much hated it and was so relieved when he quit trying to please everybody who pushed him to play football because of his size and decided to go the all-basketball route. I guess he's kinda like everybody else, we all have our passions in one thing or another.
Glen Davis might actually do well in the NBA as a guy who isn't the focus of the team he is on. He could probably be a strong contributer. And despite his size he just doesn't seem like a football player.
I am fully convinced that Baby will make a fine pro player. He is so smooth for a big man. Take away the double team, put him in a league where defense is a second thought, and he does very well.
