The 2017 NBA Draft is proving to be a good one. Several rookies have been shining this season. Some have even become key contributors, who enjoy defined roles and heavy dosages of minutes. The Dallas Mavericks have one in the form of Dennis Smith Jr., who is one of best players under Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle has not been shy about expressing his admiration for Smith, but his appreciation for this year’s rookies goes beyond his own player. Speaking with Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com, Rick Carlisle believes that this batch of rookies has a potential to be one of the greatest ever. In fact, he thinks it’s possible that Lonzo Ball and company could one day be discussed in the same sentence with the hallowed 1984 batch that produced superstars and Hall of Famers in terms of greatness.
https://twitter.com/EarlKSneed/status/952234971409895425
Apart from Smith and Ball, the 2017 batch also injected the NBA with the young bloods of Jayson Tatum, Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Josh Jackson, John Collins, and Jordan Bell to name a few.
Of course, it’s too early to predict the trajectory of these rookies, but they definitely deserve the praises they are getting from the likes of Carlisle.
The 1984 NBA Draft introduced NBA fans to Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Alvin Robertson, and Kevin Willis.
Also worth noting here is the fact that Carlisle himself was part of that batch. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round as the 70th overall pick.
Follow Us
Subscribe