In the 2022 NBA draft the number 2 selection was Chet Holmgren. Early on the draft gurus labeled him a "unicorn" and his draft status shot up. The moment I heard the "unicorn" tag the caution sign popped up in my mind, and I realized that a NBA team was about to buy ham, for the same price as filet minion steak.
In basketball a "unicorn" is a player that posesses the unique physical gifts and talent needed to be above the rest. The NBA has had three players that were given this label; Shawn Bradley, Kristaps Porzingas, and now Chet Holmgren. All were lottery picks, 7 feet or taller, relatively aguoe for their size, excellent shot blockers, and on paper "can't miss" prospects.
Unfortinately, most gurus are doo doo, and the odds of OKC getting extreme value from Chet Holmgren are slim as he is. Think about it. Where is the "come up" in getting a 7 foot (or taller) player that plays smaller?
Seven foot players have an advantage when rebounding, shot blocking, and getting their shot off in theory. In high school, and college the height advantage stands out. In the NBA it is common, and only a guarantee of an opportunity, not success.
With that being said, the previous NBA "unicorns" (Bradley and Porzingas) have had extended yet unimpressive NBA careers. They were/are good shot blockers, weak rebounders, and unremarkable inside presences offensively. In addition, they were not even regular playoff participants, and not champions.
Sooner or later scouts will realize that being tall with the ability to dribble or shoot from outside does not automatically give a bigman guard skills. The abilty to dribble & shoot are basketball skills that all professional players should have mastered. Think about it, dribbling ability makes a big player "guard like" even less than dunking makes a small player an inside threat.
Finally, none of the "unicorns" were dominant on the collegiate level, so expecting them to dominate on the professional level is kind of ridiculous. Chet Holmgren averaged 14 ppg and 9.9 rpg for a team that had made the NCAA championship game the year before his arrival. Ironicalky, despite his presence they did not do as well with him on the team. Unfortunately, the NBA is about to get the point of exactly what Gonzaga learned last season. Unicorns are a myth.
* Height, athleticism, and skill may get a player an opportunity, but the "special qualities" are what makes them winners and sets them apart. If you would like to know what these "intangible traits" are, and how to get them, then click the link below.
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