How is Kwame Brown a Bust, Yet Darko Gets a Free Pass?
Uncategorized July 13th. 2007, 4:04pm
So Darko signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Here’s what we don’t get: he’s the only player among the Top 5 picks from the off-the-charts 2003 NBA draft yet to reach All-Star status. In fact, he’s light years from becoming a factor in the NBA. If you want to say he’s not getting the burn, and LeBron, D Wade et al were pegged for greatness, fine.
But how the hell is Kwame Brown such an incredible bust, yet Darko gets a free pass? Yes, Kwame went first, and Darko went second, but at least Kwame had a season where he scored double figures.
Maybe, just maybe, Darko thrives in Memphis. He’ll be paired with Pau Gasol to form quite possibly the largest pair of white big men in NBA history. With Rudy Gay possibly blowing up at small forward, Mike Conley taking over point, and Mike Miller filling it up at shooting guard, this could be a team that could contend for a playoff berth before Portland and Seattle (read: this year).
Yes, that flies in the face of our thoughts about Conley (that it’d take a few years to adjust) and Darko (he’s not very good), but keep in mind this team went to the playoffs for x straight years with Gasol and Jason Williams running the show.
In other NBA news:
* Before Aaron Brooks got drafted by the Rockets, he kept it gully by throwing up Crips gang signs on national television
* Mo Williams to the Knicks? Can’t imagine this happening, but it’s out there
28 Responses to “How is Kwame Brown a Bust, Yet Darko Gets a Free Pass?”
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July 13th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Free pass? Are you kidding me? He has been ripped since Day 1. Joe Dumars has been ripped for taking him since Day 1 and continues to be ripped for the pick.
Darko was a laughing stock at being the human “victory cigar”, he was mocked for his lack of game and lack of improvement. The Pistons and Darko were again mocked when he was traded to the Magic.
Darko is a huge bust and has never been given a free pass.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Kwame is considered a bust because of Michael. People look at Kwame and say he should have been better because Michael picked him number 1.
Darko going to the Griz is poetic justice. He was destined to go there. Four years and Otis Thorpe just got in the way.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Kwame has been in the league longer.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Kwame’s been in the league longer and played more minutes.
They both had to adjust to NBA life (Sally Jenkins wrote an incredible piece on Kwame a few years back) but Darko had to adjust to a new country and language.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Darko’s white, for starters.
Oh, and Kwame has a rep as a big crybaby, which can’t help.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Kwame was also the #1 pick…I know Darko was #2, but I think there’s a difference. Plus, the stories about Jordan making him cry in practice don’t help.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
The 80’s Milwaukee Bucks of Jack Sikma, Randy Breuer, Paul Moeski and Larry Krystowiak laugh at your assertions about white big men.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Didn’t Bill Wennington play on the Bucks in the 80s too?
July 13th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Fred Roberts was on at least one of those 80’s Bucks teams, too… http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1989.html
July 13th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Wennington never played for those Bucks, which is surprising given the whiteness of every other big man on the team, but Roberts certainly did. I think Brad Lohaus got some burn back then as well. It’s a wonder Terry Cummings could even get on the court.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Didn’t Darko barely even play upon being signed? Kwame got plenty of on-the-court time, and just managed to show how completely shitty he is.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
i totally agree darko is OVERRATED by the media. BUST
July 13th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I think Darko gets more of a pass because he “played” under Larry Brown his first couple years, and never got any minutes on the floor. He is just now starting to get some game action and should see quite a bit with the Grizz, so now we’ll be able to fully gauge if he’s got any game at all.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
good point, trogdor. milicic was essentially invisible his first two years in the league, while brown was thrust into the lineup and expected to be a major contributer.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Darko isn’t just starting to get some action. Flip Saunders didn’t like him either. Oh wait, now the Magic realize he sucks too. Darko is a product of pure Eurohype. His agent somehow hyped everyone into thinking he was the greatest prospect ever, yet no one saw him play. Darko is a 7ft stiff with limited skills and bball IQ. On top of it, his work ethic is horrible. He’s the next Greg Ostertag.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
oh, and Brown had good reason not to play him. He was horrible. Have you ever seen a 7fter get rejected by the rim? Yeah, that was supposed to be Darko’s first points in the NBA.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I don’t know anyone who gives Darko a free pass. I believe he is universally considered a bust (other than by Memphis).
July 13th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
How can you say Darko had a free pass? He was stuck at the end of Detroit’s bench because they had accomplished bigs. But even Rasheed said way back in the day that Darko could play. He’s still in the NBA. People throw around words like “bust” (huh huh, he said, bust) too quickly. Dude blocks shots like cheap candy, he has a real nice jump hook close to the basket, he hustles, has a soft touch, good hands. He was Orlando’s second leading scorer in the first round of the playoffs…….I don’t know what you mean by a bust….(huh huh, he said bust again) And Kwame…well, as a Laker fan….I’ll always be mad at Michael for hammering kid. Young players need encouragement, not embarassment, especially from the greatest player of all time. Kwame plays great D and when he plays great D, he also gets some garbage time baskets. His offensive game is much less developed than Darko’s but really, Kwame is a decent player. You guys should be more accommodating to talent rather than ripping people left and right…otherwise you just make for self-fulfilling prophecies.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Here’s a book that’ll give you some sympathy for Kwame Brown and his inability to develop in the NBA:
http://www.amazon.com/When-Nothing-Else-Matters-Comeback/dp/0743254279/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4638656-6600055?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184353693&sr=8-1
July 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Excellent point, I agree whole heartedly. While Darko hasn’t actually been given a “free” pass, he hasn’t aken the criticism that Kwame has.
I can’t buy the argument that Brown’s been dogged more because he’s been in the league longer because they’ve been beating him up since his second year.
Also, in Kwame’s draft, the choice was between him and Chandler. Chandler has developed into a good player, but it’s taken a little while and he won’t be a hall of famer. Darko was sandwiched in between lebron and Carmelo. Also, I believe wade and Bosh were in that same draft.
July 13th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Anthony: that’s right….read that book “When Nothing Else Matters” and you might have a different take on Kwame’s supposed bad rap.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Darko should be labelled a bust, yet he is still young. I think after a year or two in Memphis, he should be putting up 15 and 10 on a nightly basis. After another year or two, I think it would be fair to label Darko as one of thie biggest busts of all time. There is time to grow for him, as well there is time for Kwame to grow.
Check me at http://www.clutch3.com
July 14th, 2007 at 4:49 am
TBL, you know I love you, but …
Darko, last year, at age 21:
(all stats per 40 minutes, to normalize)
13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks.
Kwame, last year, at age 24:
12.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks.
That’s better production, on one of the slowest teams in the NBA (which limits possessions and your chance to put up numbers), at two years younger. And, Kwame can’t stay healthy.
July 14th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Kwame just sucks. Period.
Kwame had to step up in DC and didn’t. Darko had the misfortune of playing for a coach that detests young players and on a team that really didn’t need him right away.
In addition, Darko probably has much better looking honeys, if my seeing Kwame outside of the former DC VIP Club a couple years back is any testament.
July 15th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Kwame is a villain now because he’s nearing head case status and carries the weight of being the the first high schooler picked #1 in a draft full of hype.
Darko has always been favored because no one thinks he’s gotten enough court time and begged for it in the media. Gasol has to go because he plays nearly the same game as Darko, but more refined on offense and less blocking ability on defense.
July 15th, 2007 at 3:50 am
Huh? Where have u been for the last 3 years? Darko gets blasted at every turn.
July 17th, 2007 at 1:17 am
I think a lot of people have this right…Darko isn’t a bust because he’s never gotten a chance at solid PT. Brown got more minutes in his first year than Darko did in his first three combined! And beyond that, the guys who WERE getting minutes in DET were far better than those in ahead of Brown in WAS. Completely different situations. If Darko continues to not produce with an opportunity for extended minutes, then you can call him a bust. But given that this is the first time he’s been expected to be a major cog, you can’t pass judgment yet.
July 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Larry Brown never played Darko for 2 years just because he was a rookie no other reason. His philosophy was to only play veterens. Look at what he did as coach of the last Olympic team, he hardly played LeBron, Carmelo and Dwayne Wade. Simply said Darko has not had the opportunity to play and evolve. Look at Jermaine O’Niell he didnt play at all either at first and it wasnt untill after 5 yrs that he even started to show that he could play