McRoberts Leaves, Everyone Wins
June 12, 2007 - 7:39 pm by McDEveryone can rest easier tonight because Josh McRoberts is leaving Duke. They’re really going to miss their underachieving big man in Durham. Wherever will they find 13 points and 8 rebounds per game? What is this, the year for the “little things” forward in the draft? At best, McRoberts is a poor man’s Joakim Noah. Coach K is practically pushing him out the door.
“It is time for him to move on to the next level,” Coach Krzyzewski said. We couldn’t agree more. After two years at Duke, and only one in which he played starters’ minutes, it’s obvious that McRoberts is ready to go out. He clearly is ready to handle NBA-quality big men. Oh, wait, he’s not ready at all. He’s more Shavlik Randolph than, uh, we’re having trouble naming a good pure post player in the NBA who went to Duke. Oh, right, Elton Brand, sure, him. Or that Boozer kid, he’s not bad. Whatever, we all know McRandolph McRoberts isn’t either one of those guys.
He scored six and nine points respectively against North Carolina, and their two star forwards, Brandan Wright and Tyler Hansbrough, in the two games they played this past season. He did mange an average of 13 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, which are respectable numbers. However, looking at his game splits, many of his most productive contests were actually in losses for the Blue Devils. He disappeared in the two UNC games, but he scored 22 against Virginia Commonwealth in the tournament, 20 against Maryland in February and 19 against Virginia in February.
Admittedly, one can make statistics say anything to prove a point. Our point is this: this is one of the deepest drafts in years and Josh McRoberts is, at best, a mid-first-round pick. He’ll also be the umpteenth forward drafted because of how deep the forward spots are this year. Would it have killed him to come back for next season, possibly dominate and be a top-five pick next year? Why go ride the bench for an NBA team? Weird decision all the way around.
9 Responses to “McRoberts Leaves, Everyone Wins”
Possibly dominate? Are you crazy? The dude blows, as you said, there will never be a time when he dominates. F duke
By Anonymous on Jun 13, 2007
Josh McRoberts is mediocrity personified
By Anonymous on Jun 13, 2007
mcroberts is dirk jr. lots of talent, invisible at crunch time. good riddance. chump.
By Anonymous on Jun 13, 2007
huge duke fan here. dirk jr would be a compliment. he has no real moves, simply barrels toward the basket, jumps, hangs, and shoots. in nfl draft terms, he’s your classic combine workout wonder. he will wow you with his height, length, athleticism, etc; but can’t bring that knowledge onto the court. i think a poor man’s noah doesn’t really fit bc surprisingly he can shoot better than noah, i think he’s a homeless man’s varejao with the potential of david lee if he grows a pair and starts hustling
By Anonymous on Jun 13, 2007
Sir, Young Master McRoberts is lacking in every phase of the game.
The notion he is “athletic” is only brought into discussion because he is a tall, lumbering white player. The ability not to fall down constantly makes such a player, “athletic”, in the minds of some fans.
Young Master McRoberts will be missed greatly at the Duke.
While he certainly didn’t come near to reaching his potential (albeit grossly overestimated upon his signing), his ability to fill the role of the crying, pouting, entitled white guy who has more “heart” than ability will be sorely missed.
It seems coach KKK is pushing McTearsoncheeks out the door because he feels, confidently, that Paulus is ready to step up and be the next whiney gift from Duke to basketball.
We wish McNoSkills the best of luck as he pursues his “basketball” career in Estonia.
By nation_of_islam_sportsblog on Jun 13, 2007
Dirk Jr.?
Gotta love big white guys from Duke coming out early:
McRoberts set to become latest white big man from Duke to dominate NBA
By The Sports Hernia on Jun 13, 2007
I was always confused by his slow-motion dribble breaks to the basket.
Perhaps Josh McRoberts is the person who is going to bring the concept of “offspeed” to the NBA. That’ll be exciting.
By Big Blue Monkey on Jun 13, 2007
Always use this GM theory when looking at draft prospects: NEVER draft a white guy from the United States in the first round.
By Anonymous on Jun 14, 2007
McRoberts mom is hot, hopefully he will get drafted by the sixers so we can see his mom in the stands…can we say McMILF
By Matt on Jun 14, 2007