With consistent coaching, it seems reasonable that he could learn how to use the feel for the game he displays on offense to play disciplined basketball within a team concept. Put the physical attributes, offensive instincts, and defensive potential together and you have the makings of a star—someone who is able to influence the game on both sides of the court. That’s what made it seem like a no-brainer for the Warriors to take him. "He does handle the ball and he makes plays that we feel are NBA plays," Mullin said. "He's a 6'10" long player, so if (opponents) play small on him, you can give him the ball and let him go over people. They play big on him, he has the ability to handle the ball, put it on the floor and get his own shot." Unfortunately, Randolph’s college statistics don’t paint such a rosy picture of his potential.
The Concrete Floor: Randolph’s D-League College Statistics In his most recent rookie rankings, ESPN columnist David Thorpe pretty much captures the sentiment of those who don’t believe in Randolph’s potential:
Big-time talent who has lots of players in front of him. He should destroy the D-League if he stays focused.
The easiest critique of Randolph is his weight – he weighed in at 197 at the Orlando pre-draft camp. Prior to the draft, there were some who questioned his motivation and focus, as Thorpe implied. But the strongest critique came from the statisticians. John Hollinger from ESPN.com levied a particularly tough critique in his pre-draft ratings—Randolph was completely undraftable according to his numbers:
Seen in many quarters as a high lottery pick, Randolph has virtually nothing in his statistical record to justify such a lofty selection...It appears he's going to be drafted in the middle of the first round at worst, but even that appears to be a terrible mistake—there is no track record whatsoever of a player rated this poorly achieving pro success.
Ouch. So what’s the problem in his statistical record? Pick your poison. The big thing that every statistician noticed was his low field-goal percentage. The Chris Bosh comparisons don’t hold much weight once you consider Randolph’s poor shooting percentages. Ed Weiland from HoopsAnalyst tells this story well.
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