FanPost

Len, A "Mean Streak", and the NBA

Much has been said on this board about Alex Len being a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Personally, I think he'll declare for the draft, and be selected in the top 10. But that doesn't necessarily make him a good investment for an NBA team.

He'll be wealthy, at least by my standards. But will he make an impact in the league? Will he be a good - or risky - investment for whichever team calls his name?

From a physical standpoint, he can learn what he needs to learn from an NBA team more quickly than he can in college, simply because he'll have no limitations on how often he can practice, and the competition he'll face is of higher quality than any college team has to offer.

Here, in my opinion, is the problem: There are physical shortcomings in his game that will improve more quickly in the NBA than in college. But what makes him a risky choice is not physical, but mental, Alex has shown a "mean streak" a total of once all season, in the UK game. Is that a shortcoming that can be taught? Can you teach someone to be mean, or assertive? I don't know. But if he hasn't demonstrated that at the college level, can he do it in the pro ranks against bigger, stronger opposition?

Again, I think he'll be a lottery pick. But will he be a success - have a long-term NBA career - considering he hasn't seemed to be able to assert his will at the college level? Why should we, or an NBA team, believe he's capable of being mean on the court?

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