But the point really only works if Randolph and Dirk were not showing exciting potential and ability to be good NBA players in those games, which isn’t the case. Even if they weren’t jumping out of the gym.
Production AND talent is preferable (this is where you would put your ZBo and Dirk examples)
Talent with no production can still show you something, especially in the preseason before dudes are even 20 years old. (Green and Minor go here, but so do a million others. Many successful, many not)
Production with no talent is the one where I really can’t think of any examples.