NBA: *** 2025-26 NBA Thread ***

I'm probably blinded by my H***eye hatred but I just don't get the Stirtz love from NBA teams. Guy was nearly a lottery pick?? Maybe I'll be proven wrong about him.
He can shoot the three really well, has size, and is a great ball handler. Should be a great piece for the thunder who don't need him to be a lead guard, but do need the shooting from the bench.
 
He can shoot the three really well, has size, and is a great ball handler. Should be a great piece for the thunder who don't need him to be a lead guard, but do need the shooting from the bench.
This is the first thing that always gets mentioned. He shot 35.8% this year, that's "good" but I wouldn't say it's great by modern standards for a guard. It's not that much better than Jefferson at 34.5%. I think the "he's an elite shooter" narrative is driven too much by a small number of highlight-reel logo-threes.

He actually didn't quite qualify for leaderboards on three-point shooting last year (have to average 2.50 makes/game and he averaged 2.49) although that threshold seems rather high, there are only six players qualified in the entire Big 10.

Stirtz won't be the focus of the defense in the NBA, but the shots are also longer and the defenders are better. Niang made it as a three-point specialist but he's 6'7".

I'll eat crow if I'm wrong!
 
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He's from Spain.
Karim Lopez? No, he's from Mexico. Went to Spain for a couple years as a teenager to play pro, then went to the New Zealand league for a couple seasons before the draft. But born and raised in Mexico and was the 1st ever Mexican born 1st round pick.
 
Karim Lopez? No, he's from Mexico. Went to Spain for a couple years as a teenager to play pro, then went to the New Zealand league for a couple seasons before the draft. But born and raised in Mexico and was the 1st ever Mexican born 1st round pick.

Yes, but...

Jefferson's from Iowa State. Lopez is from Spain. NZ lists him as coming from Valladolid.

Sí como no.
 
This is the first thing that always gets mentioned. He shot 35.8% this year, that's "good" but I wouldn't say it's great by modern standards for a guard. It's not that much better than Jefferson at 34.5%. I think the "he's an elite shooter" narrative is driven too much by a small number of highlight-reel logo-threes.

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He actually didn't quite qualify for leaderboards on three-point shooting last year (have to average 2.50 makes/game and he averaged 2.49) although that threshold seems rather high, there are only six players qualified in the entire Big 10.

Stirtz won't be the focus of the defense in the NBA, but the shots are also longer and the defenders are better. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong!
His shooting numbers improved drastically when he was off ball or in catch and shoot scenarios. He's probably going to be in that position more than the lead guard in NBA. Also he's very good in pick and roll which of course is huge part of NBA. Think he'll be a nice rotational piece albeit lower ceiling than a lot of other 1st rounders.
 
Yes, but...

Jefferson's from Iowa State. Lopez is from Spain. NZ lists him as coming from Valladolid.

Sí como no.
Think you're confusing guys here. OP was talking about Karim Lopez, who is from Mexico and who's dad played in the Mexican league.

Sergio de Larrea was drafted a few picks later and is from Valladolid.

Two different players.
 
Spurs trying to put together the Monstars.

Wemby - Ht: 7'4" WS: 8' and 236 Lbs
Quaintance - Ht: 6'10" WS: 7'5" and 253 Lbs (at 18 Years Old)
Tarris Reed - HT: 6'10" WS: 7'4" and 263 Lbs
 
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It was very obvious in the finals that Wemby is not a 5. They shore up that spot and they’ll continue to cook.
Their problem to me (along with not having a primary ball-handler) seemed to be that when Wemby is out on the perimeter, which is often, they didn't have anyone down there with any gravity on offense to keep the defense honest.
 

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