I do not think anyone can speculate that college would have not helped Kobe, Gerald or any high school project. Anyone in the right environment will progress. But the ability/talent of Kobe, KG, Howard could have bloosmed faster with college experience, but also shortned their NBA carear. But in this case Gerald is individual proof that college experience what have made a major impact in his progress in the NBA!
Very illogical.
Of course you can speculate that they benefited more from being in the NBA right away. You can speculate either way. The only thing you can't speculate about is them getting paid for their efforts in college. Kobe, Lebron, Amare and Howard might have blossomed slower if they played against weaker college competition first. We'll never know, so it is silly to debate.
Gerald is proof of nothing. The only thing we know for sure is that if he went to college, he would have entered the NBA a year older. We can assume that the extra year would have included some emotional and physical development whether more or less than what would happen in our non-college-attending parallel universe. There are plenty of Harold Miner types that came to NBA with great talent after college but did nothing.
Stop looking for things to blame. The dude is what he is: a mediocre prospect.
"Anyone in the right environment will progress."
Uh, no. Not true. people have limitations and can plateau. Also, even in the ideal environment, some people who can progress will progress slowly and not that far.
When I speak the right environment...I mean a professional/challenging/developing environment. He was one year removed from High School, where he was GOD. No real love or passion for basketball. Right now Gerald is playing with some of the best bball players in the world. He is a professional. And person, weather in sports, a 9-5 to 5 job, college..ect. A place were mediocre people are left behind and weeded out. A system of professinals will develop anyone. Gerald has been on a rebuilding team(Celtics)...and at times barried on the bench, Minni...limitted minutes, Rockets...no time and now in Dallas who knows.
My point is if he would have gone to college and stayed 4 years in a system, with a envioronmet focusuing on him more as an individual he would be a better NBA player. He is a pefect exzmple of the NBA age limit. NBA quality of basketball will be better with older, developed players like ryan gomes. He has 1/2 the ability, but twice as much experience and IQ for the game, because of his environment.
But your right it is a silly argument. I just have a spot for these young group of Celtic drafties because I watched them grow together and at one point they all slowed glimmers of a future exciting team.
Rondo/West
T Allen/Green/West
Green/Gomes
Al J/Gomes
Perk...
Fun..so fun that I wish we had the Big 3 and all these as our bench players with Powe/Babby and House!
I just would have to lose to minni because of either Gomes/Al or bassy hitting a last minute shot...or West in clevland...or Green in Dallas. But I wish them the individual sucsess......just not vs us!