Jeremy Tyler's stats -- season averages + game log -- while in Japan.
I have no idea what the level of competition is like over there though. From the look of his stats (10/6 in 15mpg), I would say it's pretty low.
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Update
The league he is playing in was only created in 2005. It's a brand new league. Hard to see them having much quality ... especially quality big men ... for Jeremy to test himself against.
Here are there recent MVPs -- does anyone recognize the names and is able to give an evaluation on the quality of the league ... considering these guys where the MVPs and Jeremy Tyler can only get 15 minutes per game in this league.
Season MVP
Season Recipient Team
2005-06 Season Lynn Washington -- link
2006-07 Season David Palmer -- link
2007-08 Season Lynn Washington
2008-09 Season Jeff Newton -- link
2009-10 Season Wendell White -- link
From what I could find out about those guys from a quick Google search ... it is not an impressive group of players. Makes me uneasy that J.Tyler can only muster 15mpg in this league.
Right, but remember, Brandon Jennings was the same way. Biyombo is the same way too, he's only playing about 17 minutes a game right now. It's tough to judge because all of the leagues are different. I just think this is a fairly weak draft in terms of top of the line talent, so with a late first round pick, I think you pick someone based more on potential and just hope he improves. Also, Tyler went to Japan specifically because Bob Hill was there. He's 6'11, 250, long and looks to be in great shape. In highschool, he was very athletic and had a solid midrange. That could be gone now, who knows.
No, it wasn't the same way; that's like saying that a guy producing in a major program of a major NCAA conference is the same of a guy producing in a weak Div. III program. There's a huge gap between those leagues, it's not even comparable. The top players of the Japanese league would have no chance whatsoever of getting a contract with teams in the Spanish or Italian league and the difference is even bigger when you look at the middle and lower class guys - due to the quota system that restricts imports, there are lots of Japanese guys there that are very mediocre players, a large percentage of JBL players wouldn't even be able to get any sort of paid job in Europe or any good African and Asian leagues, not even a part-time contract. Jennings' or Biyombo's teams would win the Japanese league with a 100% winning record and blowing out every single game.
Tyler may be a good prospect, he seems to have the size+athleticism of a NBA player and the youtube clips suggest he has decent balance and hands, but I wouldn't read anything in his production. Very low level of competition.
Lucas Nogueira is another guy that sounds very interesting.
Raw seven footer with very good athleticism. Only 18. Brazilian.
From an athletic perspective, I think he may be a little slow-footed laterally. Hmm... thinking about it, perhaps it's more of a product of still playing too stiff, doesn't get low enough to react and slide fast. I played against his team twice this year and it was fairly easy for us to attack with pick'n'rolls and for our inside guys to attack facing-up when he was on the court, just going around him. We struggled a lot more when they were playing zone with him in the middle. His team had another long 7fter in the roster, quite a few guys 6'7'' or taller, their perimeter players were also long and athletic and when they were zoning it was tough for a team like ours. But most of the time they were defending 1x1 and in that scenario Lucas was an easy liability to explore. He's very quick recovering once left behind though, very large steps and leaves the floor quickly to contest shots from behind.
What worries me more about Nogueira is that he looked a bit on the nonchalant side. Doesn't play with much energy, sets very soft screens, plays with his arms down... not sure if you understand what I'm saying. Do you remember Patrick O'Bryant, the center that was signed from the Warriors? Same sort of demeanour, he lets other people outwork him. We play lots of minutes with 6'6'' bigs and they were able to keep him in check with relative ease, some pushing around and he got quiet. I think that if you're as long, coordinated and athletic as he is, you ought to do a little more than blocking shots and rebounding. It seemed that he often lacked the initiative to do more.
All in all, he's still years away from being a player that can contribute in the NBA, even as a garbage man. For a guy like me it's almost suicidal to get a shot off with a guy like him anywhere in the proximities, but NBA players will pick him apart.
If you just look at the numbers, it looks decent, but if you actually look at his frame, he's small. Look at boozer, zbo, duncan, griffin, david west...even bosh looks bigger. My main point as you quoted, wasn't about his size though.
The issue, is that once he joins the league where EVERYONE has size, and almost everyone has athleticism, you need skills to survive. From what I've seen, he doesn't have any skills. ie...Cant pass, shoot, or dribble. That's where I see the thabeet likeness. A skill-less player whose size and athletic dominance will be negated by the competition at the next level.
I don't think Biyombo's size and athleticism will be negated in the NBA. His combination of size and athleticism are top-notch for NBA standards too. I can't think of many guys entering the draft at his age with a similar combination of physical gifts.
I think what separates him is that he's showed the ability to produce. Raw bigs with athleticism (like Sene) are one thing (very bust prone); raw bigs with athleticism and a record of producing and contributing at high levels of competition (like Ibaka) are a different thing.
I'd say the biggest difference between Biyombo and Ibaka is that Serge has always showed more offensive talent, especially the ability to knock down shots and softer hands. Otherwise they're pretty similar, Biyombo is actually bigger, more physically imposing. Ibaka is more of a finesse defender.
