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Just wait for Exum fanboys to try to convince you that Exum is better athlete.
The Jazz don't have much young talent...
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Just wait for Exum fanboys to try to convince you that Exum is better athlete.
2 years will make a big difference in athleticism at that age. Additionally I think the combine stats aren't that great it accurate. For example Mitchell probably sacrificed his standing reach to improve his vertical numbers based on his standing reach not matching his wingspan and height.Just throwing some numbers... Exum non step vertical 31.5.... Mitchell 36.5. 5 inch difference. Max vertical Exum - 34.5, Mitchell 40.5. 6 inch difference. 3/4 court sprint - Exum 3.19 sec, Mitchell 3.01 sec ( second fastest of all times)
That said I think Mitchell is a little better athlete coming into the NBA than Exum was. But Exum has a little better length. Hopefully they both work hard and improve their athleticism.
Not sure why people want to compare these two and feel like it's a competition between them.
We need them both to succeed and develop. They both have a lot of potential.
fishonjazz
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Come on man... a little better? More like not even close... even when Exum being pimped as fastest in NBA by some of his fan boys, Mitchell beats him in sprint by 0.18 seconds.... that is a lot, not a little.
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Because most were convinced we are taking Leonard.
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It has more to do with shoulder width then anything.
fishonjazz
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I remember most thinking were would take singleton. I was at the draft and didn't hear a single person mention leonard.
You gotta remember everyone around slc had watched jimmer destroy Kawhi multiple times over the past year.
I did hear people hoping klay would fall to the jazz and there were some groans when thompson was taken before the jazz pick.
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I am talking about SLTRB Jazz forum posters before draft. That's where I used to post before it got moved and we came here.
It is but that's a limited test. Exum probably has a quicker first step and I'm guessing he is better at other things. Athleticism is a lot of things. Exums defense as a rookie was great when he was 2 years younger than Mitchell is now. A lot of that was Exums athleticism. His lateral movement and recovery speed, along with his elite length.
Training age makes a big difference. Exum was obviously a late developer. They both have tons of time and room to continue to develop their athleticism and they will. They will continue to improve through their 20s.
I'm not sure why you think you have to pick one or the other.
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I am not picking one over other. It's just an numeric statistical fact to those who argue that Exum is more athletic.
If you want Jazz to succeed at a high level you better hope both develop into at least above average starters. I think both of them can.
They are both very young and plenty of time to greatly improve.
Mitchell is a little more advanced and developed coming into the NBA. Exum was much more raw.
I think both can get to that borderline all star level. I'm hoping one can or both can exceed that. They both have potential to but who knows where they will get.
elan_prodigy
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I would disagree on the lose ball part. Athletic in basketball to me is pretty easy to define. Explosiveness, strength and speed is what you look at. And Mitchell is more explosive, stronger and quicker.
They are lots of ways to be strong, fast, quick and so on that are all included in that statement that leads to its complexity. There isnt one type of strength. There is all sorts of types. There isnt just quick in one way. Reaction time, initial movement, how quick someone gets to full speed, what that top speed is, how long they can maintain that speed. Explosiveness also has a lot of factors. Mitchell looks good with a set two foot jump straight up. That is why his standing vert and max vert is great. That can lead to being a good jumper in the NBA but not necessarily, there is more to it. That doesnt factor in how long it takes an athlete to gather up the strength to jump high. How is his jumping off one foot? How is his second and third jump? How quick can he recover. Then we can get into the energy systems used and it gets even more complex.
The truth is Mitchell came into the NBA older and more developed. He is more mature and more physically developed coming into the NBA, partially because of his training age and partially because he is 2 years older then Exum coming in. Is he better at every aspect of athleticism? No. Is he better at some things? Yes. These are two different players that are going to be difficult to compare especially something as complex as athleticism that is not really comparable.
As someone who trains athletes for combine events I can definitively say those tests are not conclusive at determining who is more athletic. \
The best thing is that we have two incredibly young talented athletes with a high ceiling and lots of room to grow. Lets hope both hit their ceiling! Most players dont but these two have a lot of drive, a lot of tools and a good coaching staff to develop them. They are in a great situation. Exum just needs to get healthy. Mitchell just needs time on the court and a lot of it.
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I thought max vertical is measured of one foot jump with running start? Correct me if I am wrong.
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There is as well that thing call "eye test". Mitchell passes it with wow factor, especially compared to Exum.
elan_prodigy
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