Has 14 and 7 for the Pistons today. That is something I would have never expected.
Tolu Smith
- Thread starter mcdawg22
- Start date
It’s amazing what can happen with players when they get in the G-League. There’s a lot of great development and coaching done in the league.
Contrary to this board he’s good at basketball
Smith was one of those guys that just went about his business. Skilled but not flashy. Just showed up and did his job. Looks like he’s carried that approach to the next level. Always good to see hard work pay off.
I just didn’t think his game would translate to the NBA. I was not one of his college haters.
He doesn't have to have an outside game. He's a center and if he plays well like one should, he might have a future. Hope he does.
I hope he finds a long term place as a bench rotation big, like 2nd/3rd center.
Those guys often aren't expected to shoot from deep and their limitations are accepted.
Really neat that he got picked up earlier this season and has stuck around.
Those guys often aren't expected to shoot from deep and their limitations are accepted.
Really neat that he got picked up earlier this season and has stuck around.
This is a lot of why I think Jans did a pretty awesome job this year.
We lost our best offensive player (Tolu), and our best defensive player (Jeffries), and had to play in the toughest league in college basketball history. We still matched the previous season’s conference record and NCAA tourney seeding.
We lost our best offensive player (Tolu), and our best defensive player (Jeffries), and had to play in the toughest league in college basketball history. We still matched the previous season’s conference record and NCAA tourney seeding.
Not all do though. Tolu can be a good role player on the bench. Give you good minutes getting rebounds, solid defense, and be a good pick and roll setter then he can hang around a while.
I get that. There is a reason his first and only NBA game was when his team’s first 8 (or ever how many) in the rotation sat out.
I remember hearing rumors that Tolu was playing through some injuries his entire last season. Starting to think that may have been a bigger deal than was advertised.
It doesn’t matter how much you try and downplay this accomplishment, he played in a NBA game despite MSU fans suggesting that he learn a foreign language a year ago.
Best wishes to him, NEVER understood how a guy that size was throwing the ball up, standing next to the basket.
Frustrating.
Frustrating.
Yeah, have been a season ticket holder for the Memphis Grizzlies for many years. I never saw Stephen Adams take a 3 pt. attempt. I rarely saw Pau Gasol take one. The same with Marc Gasol. All true centers. They had some mid range shots, but 3 pointers were like the plague for them. And they all saw significant minutes defending, rebounding, and being just plain physical underneath the goal. I can definitely see Tolu doing the same and being an effective part of a team.
Marc shot threes, especially in the second half of his career. You point still remains though.
We missed Jeffries length, hustle and D more than I ever thought we would. He's the prototype for players who can close out in Jan's D.