Thomas Robinson: Former Kansas' Star Is Most NBA-Ready Player in Draft
No highly-touted player in the 2012 NBA Draft is more ready to have an immediate impact than Thomas Robinson. That's right, not even the kid with one eyebrow.
Anthony Davis is consensus No. 1 pick because of his combination of length and athleticism, but he is far from a finished product. NBA scouts are drooling over what he will become, and happy with what he is right now.
Robinson isn't as long, but his game is more refined than Davis'. He may not possess all of the upside Davis does, but you can bet, Robinson will score and rebound from day one in the NBA. Davis' offense may take up to two years to come close to his defense and rebounding production.
He spent three years at Kansas. His game steadily developed from a freshman that averaged 2.5 points per game, to a junior that averaged 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Look at how dominant Robinson was on the collegiate level:
I think he should have been the Naismith Award winner, but Davis won it, in part because of the team success Kentucky experienced.
Robinson's Jayhawks lost to Kentucky in the national championship, and Robinson lead them there without the benefit of the talent Davis had surrounding him. On a whole, Robinson's year was more impressive in my opinion.
He also averaged more points and rebounds than Davis did.
It's not to say Robinson is a better prospect than Davis, that isn't the case, but he is a talented player is his own right.
He measured just over 6'8" at the NBA Combine, but he has a 7'3" wingspan, per Draft Express. Robinson also showed good athleticism in the combine drills.
He is already behaving as a professional, and it shows he's taking all this seriously. He showed up for a pre-draft interview session with the media in a shirt and tie:
Robinson's intangibles and work ethic are off the charts. To say he plays hard is an understatement. He simply outworks most opponents every night. If the Charlotte Bobcats keep their No. 2 pick, they need a player that will instantly provide production and respectability.
There is no player in the draft that represents safe and productive more than Robinson.
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