you mean Kai worked his game in the US, played NBL, is playing in B league, went to AHS, and played multiple Gilas games and noone taught him to box out?????
This is the most telling of them all. A big man does not survive the rigors of Aus NBL if his game's focus is mostly on offense and then ditches the fundamentals on the other end. From what I remember, the Kai we saw in 2021/22 season with ADL is a better rebounding big than what we are seeing this season with a league that's considered inferior to Aus NBL. Where the heck did that Kai go?
Maybe his back is still bothering him? It seems after that happened he has been more averse to physical contact. You use your back after all in boxing out and post play.
This is the most telling of them all. A big man does not survive the rigors of Aus NBL if his game's focus is mostly on offense and then ditches the fundamentals on the other end. From what I remember, the Kai we saw in 2021/22 season with ADL is a better rebounding big than what we are seeing this season with a league that's considered inferior to Aus NBL. Where the heck did that Kai go?
It must be pretty serious then if that's case. His camp seems to be just waiting for the right time to press release the severity of Kai's back injury so as not to dash all hopes of him making the NBA in the next few years.
rebounding is mostly about effort as well, it seems Kai peaked in the NBL, can't sustain the level of play and is now at his normal state. Kai is naturally soft and "larong mayaman" imo. shades of Kobe p
The ignite stint could have help us move forward with nba stint as he will get a token nba stint if he didnt ditch ignite.. and we focus on kais development on whatever legaue is the most fit..
Well in the NBL you have to be tough to survive. Remember when most of us wanted him to stay in the NBL to get more "seasoning" and learn how to do the dirty work istead of focusing on flashy highlight plays? If only his camp didn't rush things and allow him to slowly earn his minutes.
Should have stayed in the NBL. Like when he should have stayed with Ignite instead of chasing the money.
his management team probably felt that if kai were benched in ignite they won't have any leverage to ask for high gilas pay. basically what ewp and joel bell did at that time was to create this aura of untapped potential in kai as evidenced by his "flashes of brilliance" (basically a highlight play here and there). they were also able to convince kai's fans that the only thing hindering kai from reaching that potential was that his pro coaches (most notably cj bruton) didn't know how to maximize him.
unfortunately, he was exposed in the world cup and is now his handlers are trying to make the most of his bleague play to avoid an 'out of sight, out of mind" situation for kai.
looks like it was simply a choice of having a genuine shot at the nba but w/ no guarantees vs guaranteed substantial monies via other pro leagues and gilas
you mean Kai worked his game in the US, played NBL, is playing in B league, went to AHS, and played multiple Gilas games and noone taught him to box out?????
He was taught playing "Unicorn" there, but it didn't panned out... A mistake that Kai should've avoid... And yes, no one taught him there is a big mistake for him and his camp... Playing in US was a mistake for him... I remember when he plays in U16 and U18, he was posting double double.. I remember they played against China and Japan, he posted 20-20 stat line.. I think he should've focus on that game style, rather than being an "Unicorn"...
He was taught playing "Unicorn" there, but it didn't panned out... A mistake that Kai should've avoid... And yes, no one taught him there is a big mistake for him and his camp... Playing in US was a mistake for him... I remember when he plays in U16 and U18, he was posting double double.. I remember they played against China and Japan, he posted 20-20 stat line.. I think he should've focus on that game style, rather than being an "Unicorn"...
He was taught playing "Unicorn" there, but it didn't panned out... A mistake that Kai should've avoid... And yes, no one taught him there is a big mistake for him and his camp... Playing in US was a mistake for him... I remember when he plays in U16 and U18, he was posting double double.. I remember they played against China and Japan, he posted 20-20 stat line.. I think he should've focus on that game style, rather than being an "Unicorn"...
i agree to disagree. i do not believe that a player was invited in Ignite, played in the NBL and B League and not taught how to box out by any of the coaches. Kai knows how to box out, it's probably just not in his nature to do so. being the tallest, most of the time, on the floor might be at the back of his head that he can just use his length. obviously, i dont know but that is my guess.
i dont know about you specifically, but a lot of people was against CTB when he said Kai should stay in ADMU and he will help him grow his skills. Most fans had the notion that playing in the US will speed his game to NBA standard. now, you are saying this was a mistake? I dont think its a mistake. Kai was given the chance to blossom, what he did with it is his own decision. if he did not meet fans expectation, its still not a mistake. just ended up short.
Kai isnt bad, people just have this unrealistic expectation from him that EWP and his handlers are milking. you say he posted double double during u16 and u18. thats great. but he was still the tallest and had some skill to go with it. now, those kids he played against probably grew taller and stronger and now more skillfull then a few years back. unless we see them play against each other, we cannot discount the reality that maybe Kai wont be able to post a double double on them again. then again, mayne he still can. but there is no certainty in that.
and lastly, i have no idea how someone is "taught" to play unicorn. the only unicorn that I know of if Porzingis and Wemby. tall players who have enough athleticism and skills to move like guards. they dont necessarily play at the guard position, but already has guard skills prior to joining the NBA. I have never seen Kai display any guard like skill unless you mean he shoots from way out sometimes?
i got nothing bad towards you or you thoughts. but i respectfully disagree with this post of yours.
finally some sense
fyi, but he posted those stats against other 16 year olds where he had an immense size advantage (yet in a game vs the kiwis during the same tournament he only got 7 rebounds, vs the aussies a grand total of 3 rebounds)
and if you really watched kai's progress from his early years - 2017 seaba, 2018 FIBA U17 asia cup and 2018 U17 world Cup - to your point he played back to the basket to take advantage of his height especially against other fellow asians. he only started expanding his game and slowly went away from the post during the FIBA U18 championships when aj edu made the team.
question is why the shift in playing style when he started facing older opposition?
was it because he wasn't that strong to hold his own in the post anymore? rebounding is really motor + strength - with size as an added bonus (6'4 fat lever was once among the nba leaders in rebounding during the late 80s and early 90s). as dennis rodman alluded to it, you have to want the ball badly to rebound it. even with the bcorsairs kai only gets the rebound when the ball bounces his way but you don't really see him jostle for position.