With all the talk about how unstoppable Tyreke will be when he develops a jumpshot, I want to pose this question. How is Tyreke different and more superstar-like than Tony Parker, who similarly gets into the paint at will and has a fairly respectable outside game? Is it only size that separates the 2? Why then, is Tyreke Evans a superstar in the making (based on his skill set) while Tony Parker does not have superstar status?
Thoughts?
Its a lot like asking why the Bird comparisons for Peja were so ridiculous.
You've got multiple factors.
First, is indeed the size factor, and what goes along with that, the completeness. The same way that Kevin Martin never mattered despite being a Top 10 scorer statistically at least (see third point). Its the guys who can fill every line of the boxscore who are the dominant players. Parker is basically a scorer. He's not a great assist guy. Too small to rebound or guard people. He does the one thing.
Second is the ceiling. If Reke was 29 right now, was never going to get any better, then you know what? Sure, there is a comparison in the one area (scoring). Actually Reke's size makes him harder to stop than Parker, but Parker at his best has been a tad better offensively than Reke at 20. But Reke IS 20. Reke as superstar isn't just 20-5-5, special as that is. Within three years Tony Parker will be lining up to pay Reke to autograph his sneakers. Parker had a rookie season as a 19-20 year old too. He averaged 9.2pts during it on .419 shooting. And he's still evolved into a multiple time All Star. Now imagine what a physically huge for his position rookie who averages 20-5-5 at a similar age (Parker was about 7 months younger) will evolve into.
Third is those double teams. Coaches know who can kill you. What people don't realize is that Reke didn't average 20-5-5 this year anymore than LeBron averaged only 30-8-7. Reke, as a 20 year old rookie, bent opposing defenses wihtin his first MONTH in the NBA. The only thing that stopped him from averaging 25ppg was the constant double teaming and loaded defenses, same way that LeBron is a 35ppg scorer at least, maybe even 40, if he's guardewd like a normal player. The superstars, the elite guys, are FAR more dominant than their numbers indicate. Parker scores 18ppg or whatever against teams concerned about him, but not THAT concerend about him. Few teams load the defense to stop him uness the other Spurs are hurt. Reke scored 20ppg against teams almost more concerend about stopping him than winning the game (although this season the two things often went hand in hand).
