[Toxicity]

The next Dirk is Andrea Bargnani from Italy, believe me. He's proving himself in tough leagues like Euroleague and Italian 1st Division and is playing consistent minutes in one of Euroleague powerhouses (Benetton Treviso). It's not only about potential, right now he's A player.

His tools seem to be perfect: size, athleticism, ball-handling and outside shoot like Dirk with a better 1st step and quickness! Of course has to improve a lot but he's on the right way.

[shookem]

Originally Posted by Toxicity

The next Dirk is Andrea Bargnani from Italy, believe me. He's proving himself in tough leagues like Euroleague and Italian 1st Division and is playing consistent minutes in one of Euroleague powerhouses (Benetton Treviso). It's not only about potential, right now he's A player.

His tools seem to be perfect: size, athleticism, ball-handling and outside shoot like Dirk with a better 1st step and quickness! Of course has to improve a lot but he's on the right way.

wicked, Toxicity, just the guy i was hoping to weigh in here. I cited Bargnani, but sadly that's just what I've read and heard from you and other dudes overseas.

I can't wait to see him play, more then I can't wait to Yu Ji ? whatever, I want to see Bargnani.

[Sad Mafioso]

Originally Posted by Sir Patchwork

The thing with Dirk is, he was already a legend in international play before he came over, wasn't he? Some of these guys who get the title of the next Dirk, don't even get playing time on the teams they were playing on overseas.

The game that made him legendary was when he came to America as a junior(17-18 years old) and dropped 45 pts on a select team from USA. Like Zalgaris said, he didn't really have a career in Europe unlike Kirilenko who played at one of the best clubs in Europe(CSKA) got experience playing as a starter, before being drafted by Utah.

Korolev who futuresixteen mentioned also played for CSKA but wasn't as "big" in Europe as AK was.

[Skeet Skeet Skita]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

You can add Martynas Adricevickus(sp.) the 7-4 guy the Cavs drafted. He's got Dirk like skills supposedly.

lol...

You must be quite a moron to really believe...

That guy has never been compared to Dirk.

[Sad Mafioso]

I forgot to mention but in my opinion the biggest mistake scouts' are making is that all of them have this sort of "I tapped that first" mentality, like they're looking for the fountain of youth or something. They see someone who's tall and can shoot from 18 feet out and automatically he's "THE NEXT DIRK".

[Greg Ostertag!]

Yeah, I think the problem was Milicic, Skita and Lampe had never done anything much playing against men. Infact, they were benchwarmers for their teams in the most part (Milicic the least, I believe he did actually put some performances up). Workout wonders.

Bargnani is a very interesting prospect, because it seems that he is succeeding on the highest level in Europe. You can't argue with that.

[Like A Breath]

Didn't Darko once score something like 35 in 20 minutes with Hemofarm?

[cambyblockingyou]

Okur is basically exactly like Dirk, just not as good. Radmanovic and Turkoglu are also similar. People just overlook them because they were not hype-machines like Skita Darko and other scrubs.

[MemphisX]

I think saying Bargani is the next Dirk is as unfair as the next MJ, next Kobe, next Shaq or next KG. It is not simply a matter of skill. It is an inner fire burning to be the best player in the world. Intangibles are impossible to measure and that is why scouts make mistakes. It is why I hate players being drafted based on workouts, rarely do they live up to the hype. If a HSer doesn't do it vs. similarly talented HSers he probably won't do it in the pros (curry), if a college players does not do it in college then it probably won't happen in the NBA and the same goes for international players. IT is not winning or putting up big numbers, it is about taking your game to a higher level to match or exceed the level of competition when this ability is combined with great skills that is when you get the great players.

[Samael]

Originally Posted by MemphisX

I think saying Bargani is the next Dirk is as unfair as the next MJ, next Kobe, next Shaq or next KG. It is not simply a matter of skill. It is an inner fire burning to be the best player in the world. Intangibles are impossible to measure and that is why scouts make mistakes. It is why I hate players being drafted based on workouts, rarely do they live up to the hype. If a HSer doesn't do it vs. similarly talented HSers he probably won't do it in the pros (curry), if a college players does not do it in college then it probably won't happen in the NBA and the same goes for international players. IT is not winning or putting up big numbers, it is about taking your game to a higher level to match or exceed the level of competition when this ability is combined with great skills that is when you get the great players.

Well said.
It's a player's desire to improve that really takes them to another level.

[cambyblockingyou]

yeah i agree with memphisx, there are some players who simply couldn't care less, like kwame and darko. no fire there at all.