Will Blake Griffin ever be as good as Dirk Nowitzki?

[swi7ch]

No, his ceiling is Shawn Kemp.

[brandonislegend]

By year two Dirk was a perennial 36+ minute per game player. He didn't make an all star team until his 4th year. Blake Griffin as a rookie had a better statistically year than Dirk ever hit until 8th year and even that's debatable.

The general point I was making was... Nobody knew Dirk would be a top 5 PF all time his first couple years. He looked like a future all star but that's about it. To act like Griffin has no chance in hell when he's already a 3 time all star and career 20/10/3 player who's game is evolving constantly is about as ignorant as it gets.

Blake has a ton to prove before mentioned in the same breath with Dirk career wise but to shoot down the possibility of him being as good 2.5 seasons into his career? Preposterous.

The all star game is a popularity game of course when ESPN shoves Blake griffin down everyone throat he will make it. Blake will never be able to single Handlely carry a team he is a shitty ft shooter and only makes jumpers cause he is WIDE open, dirk was getting doubled and tripled team all playoffs and still carried the team you keep saying he has a complete team. That might be true but no one picked them to win the championship on the whole planet

[Bigsmoke]

Main thing to remember. NOBODY I know even long time Mavs fans thought Dirk would be this good and be a top 5 PF all time. I knew of people that thought when he got used to the NBA game he would be an all star but that's as far as it went. This is why you don't make definitive statements like "He will never be as good as Dirk" 2 and a half years into a players career. Same way I wouldn't guarantee you that he will surpass Dirk.

pretty much.

Blake's first 2 years > Dirk's

of course that doesn't mean Blake will end up being better saying Blake has a shot what so ever to be as good or if not better is pretty delusional.

[Clippersfan86]

The all star game is a popularity game of course when ESPN shoves Blake griffin down everyone throat he will make it. Blake will never be able to single Handlely carry a team he is a shitty ft shooter and only makes jumpers cause he is WIDE open, dirk was getting doubled and tripled team all playoffs and still carried the team you keep saying he has a complete team. That might be true but no one picked them to win the championship on the whole planet

Coaches selected him as a reserve his rookie year.. had nothing to do with popularity. BTW show me footage of Dirk getting doubled and tripled regularly as a 2nd and 3rd year player and I'll leave this forum forever. It didn't happen stop making shit up.

The only reason the Mavs weren't favorites is because the Heat formed a freaking super team with 3 stars all in their prime. Had nothing to do with how much talent Dallas had.

[It's A VC3!!!]

They are two different players and one can lead a team to a championship (Dirk) while the other needs a top tier pg to thrive. That's not an insult to Blake, it's just his play style. Dirk can shoot from anywhere, fade-away, drive, and post. There's not many NBA players in NBA history you can compare Dirk to. Blake is a monstrous basketball body who can hurt you badly with dunks, occasional shots, and post ups. Blake is still very young and could ultimately win a championship but not as the best player like Dirk did.

[Whoah10115]

This thread is very stupid.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

By year two Dirk was a perennial 36+ minute per game player. He didn't make an all star team until his 4th year. Blake Griffin as a rookie had a better statistically year than Dirk ever hit until 8th year and even that's debatable.

The general point I was making was... Nobody knew Dirk would be a top 5 PF all time his first couple years. He looked like a future all star but that's about it. To act like Griffin has no chance in hell when he's already a 3 time all star and career 20/10/3 player who's game is evolving constantly is about as ignorant as it gets.

Blake has a ton to prove before mentioned in the same breath with Dirk career wise but to shoot down the possibility of him being as good 2.5 seasons into his career? Preposterous.

Here's the difference:

Dirk came in as 20 year old having played in the German League (Division III). He came in during the lockout year having no NBA experience. Dirk did not pick up a basketball until he was 16. And he didn't have anyone helping him train until he was 17-18. Dirk came over here and didn't even know how to cash checks, etc. He had culture shock for the first year of his NBA career and his second year was better but still adjusting.

Blake Griffin on the other hand has been playing ball his whole life. He has been to all the AAU events, coached repeatedly by coaches everywhere. He played for a couple of years in Division 1 college. Then he also got to sit with the NBA team and practice with them a full year before his rookie season. Now he is in his 3rd year and it looks like he has already hit his peak production wise. Sure he can be craftier, and a better player in some aspects but the numbers will not get better.