Monster game for Iggy - 28 pts on 11-20, 15 boards, 4 assists
Big day for Iggy in the G-league. Still has plenty to work on, but hope he can get back on the Knicks roster later this season
February 11th, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
This remains the issue with Iggy. He did quite well in the G-League last year also.....but just can't crack the NBA lineup. Poole is very similar, but at least Poole has had some chances to play for the big club. Iggy can't even get minutes for the Knicks.
I hope Iggy finds a steady home in the NBA, but not looking great right now despite this great game. Frankly, it isn't looking that great for most of our Michigan guys. Iggy and Poole are in the G-league with uncertain futures, DJ Wilson can't crack the rotation for a good Bucks team and may be on the move next year, Mo Wagner got a shot to join the rotation in Washington....only to continue with his up and down career and now seems to be out of the rotation again, GR3 is on the outer fringe of the rotation on a bad team. THJ and Duncan are solid NBA starters and you'd expect Levert to join them when he gets healthy. Burke is still a rotation player off the bench.
February 11th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
He could end up being the basketball version of a baseball AAAA player—not quite good enough for a spot in a rotation, too good for the minors.
Stauskas had a good first game too.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
“A big reason guys get stuck in the G-League is because they don’t realize the position they’re trying out for. It’s like going to a job interview thinking you’re going to be the CFO of the company, and they’re looking for someone to clean the bathrooms... guys in the G League try to average 25 points a game, like they got guys that get paid $30M a year to score 25 points. It's a self awareness of what you're good at, what teams need, and trying to do that." -- Alex Caruso
When you take a look at most of those buckets, he's taking guys off the dribble and driving to the rim. Usually using posts moves to get the bucket. He's not going to be able to take guys off the dribble and fake people out in the post in the NBA. He never keeps his head up to look for a pass (the part of his game that frustrated me most in his season at U-M) and he missed a lot of guys open for 3 in this video. Doing that a few times in a Knicks game with Austin Rivers wide open from 3? He'd be benched ASAP. He's trying out to be a superstar instead of showing he's a capable role player like Caruso said
February 11th, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^
LeVert feels like the best of the bunch. He doesn't feel like a star that can carry a team to the finals but he's more than your average starting caliber player. I think he's a Victor Oladipo/Paul George type. Needs another star or 2 with him, especially one that can create a shot as good or better.
February 11th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
I think Beilein did a lot with guys with questionable pro potential and so you see a lot of guys hanging out at the fringes of the NBA. It isn't a knock against any of them; they were really good college players. But guys like Wagner, Iggy, Poole had definite issues they would have to overcome to make it in the NBA and sometimes you just don't figure them out or you can't figure them out to a degree necessary against elite players.
But honestly, Michigan's impact in the NBA before Beilein was basically Jamal Crawford for long stretches, so getting a dozen guys in the NBA for even a cup of coffee is impressive.
February 11th, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
I completely forgot about this guy.
February 11th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
For Iggy, maybe others, did he leave too soon?
February 11th, 2021 at 4:55 PM ^
Wilson too
February 11th, 2021 at 5:06 PM ^
What exactly was he going to learn or improve on while focusing less than 100% of his time on basketball? Iggy has already made more money than the majority of people in this world are every going to earn in their lives. Not bad for a mid second round pick. There is never a reason (outside of you enjoy playing college basketball or enjoying college life) to stay in school if you are going to get drafted into the NBA and your goal in life is to be a professional basketball player.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:38 PM ^
Yep, hard to say you can maximize your potential in college ball better than pro. About the only real appeal NCAA has for the top level players is the tournament excitement.
February 11th, 2021 at 4:59 PM ^
ehhh, I only watched the first minute and they were all basically garbage buckets. I don't see him making it in the NBA. I hope I'm wrong.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
He hit several outside shots in the second half. That's what he'll need to do consistently to be an NBA rotation player. He won't be able to attack the rim like he did here against NBA defenders.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:29 PM ^
Didn’t Manny Harris average like 38 in the G-League with a couple 50 point games?
February 11th, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^
Awesome. Here is where I am with my fandom. I am more excited about watching Michigan guys in the NBA/G-League than any other sport other than Michigan basketball.
February 11th, 2021 at 10:16 PM ^
Nice beard, too