Despite his physical limitations, I do think he will be a good player.
I don't think there really are many guys that are stiffs playing in the league right now. I also don't think you have to be a plus athlete to succeed. I think some are taking this as an indictment of Kessler, but it's not. Not every player that's good is good because he's a good athlete. You're not wrong that athleticism is a loose term, but I can't stretch any definition of athleticism to fit Kessler. That move under the basket is way more skill/touch than athleticism. When Tim Duncan was 40 he could still make that move in his sleep (he was also a great defender still btw). None of that was because of his athleticism. Kessler has demonstrated a good touch and feel for the game around the basket, to me that's not athleticism. Athleticism comes into play where he almost got rim stuffed on that backwards dunk attempt. It doesn't really matter if it's athleticism or skill, if it goes in it goes in. I'm just not going to pretend that he's a good athlete because he plays well. I think he's been super impressive since the start of preseason, but it's not his athleticism that's impressed me. It's his touch, feel, and general composure around the basket. Particularly on offense.
The functional/non-functional athleticism conversation to me is more about who is athletic in an empty gym versus who makes athletic plays on the court. Gordon Hayward would get crushed by Harrison Barnes at the NFL combine, but Hayward is going to make way more athletic plays like dunking on people or getting chase down blocks. There are athletes that are more functional in game situations, but to me that means they are still making athletic plays.
I don't think there really are many guys that are stiffs playing in the league right now. I also don't think you have to be a plus athlete to succeed. I think some are taking this as an indictment of Kessler, but it's not. Not every player that's good is good because he's a good athlete. You're not wrong that athleticism is a loose term, but I can't stretch any definition of athleticism to fit Kessler. That move under the basket is way more skill/touch than athleticism. When Tim Duncan was 40 he could still make that move in his sleep (he was also a great defender still btw). None of that was because of his athleticism. Kessler has demonstrated a good touch and feel for the game around the basket, to me that's not athleticism. Athleticism comes into play where he almost got rim stuffed on that backwards dunk attempt. It doesn't really matter if it's athleticism or skill, if it goes in it goes in. I'm just not going to pretend that he's a good athlete because he plays well. I think he's been super impressive since the start of preseason, but it's not his athleticism that's impressed me. It's his touch, feel, and general composure around the basket. Particularly on offense.
The functional/non-functional athleticism conversation to me is more about who is athletic in an empty gym versus who makes athletic plays on the court. Gordon Hayward would get crushed by Harrison Barnes at the NFL combine, but Hayward is going to make way more athletic plays like dunking on people or getting chase down blocks. There are athletes that are more functional in game situations, but to me that means they are still making athletic plays.
