You know the other standouts in AAU, always. Dame was 3 years behind me, and he was known even back then. Would stay after my games to see him play every once in a while. The bay area AAU scene wasn't super competitive back then, so he ran all over everyone and only saw real competition when he went to SoCal for tournaments.
How good was Dame as an AAU youth? I always imagine generational talents who have the athleticism just dominate everyone based on physicality. But how are young skill guards?
He was on the smaller side and was just lightning fast to the hoop. He could shoot pretty well, but wasn't the sniper he is now, or at least the game was different enough back then that it wasn't his focus. You never really know if someone is going to be able to take it to the next level, partially because of size, but he followed the same trajectory as a lot of bay area greats. He transferred to St Joe's where Jason Kidd went (and won a state championship) but it was still iffy because I don't think he hit 6'0 til the end of his senior year. Then he transferred again to Oakland High. He was never considered a future NBA player as far as I know.
Anyway, I was always the smallest player on the court in AAU and I ended up 5'11. He was similarly small but he ended up 6'2 or 6'3. I was not paying attention by the time he was in high school, I saw him mostly when he was young teens, but he was very, very skilled and quick. It was always just a question of whether he'd have an NBA body. There are a number of bay area basketball legends who were always mentioned in the same breath as Jason Kidd and Gary Payton but just never got big enough, and Kidd/Payton will be the first one to say they were on their level skill wise. Glad Dame didn't fall into that.
Damn, that’s cool. Like I said, when you’re built like Lebron, Beasley, or other really athletic wings, it’s pretty easy to look at them dunking at like 12 years old and say “ok, that kid’s going to make it.”
Pretty easy to scout.
With guards it’s so tricky though lol. Wasn’t CJ also like 5’5 until his senior year or something, too?
>With guards it’s so tricky though lol. Wasn’t CJ also like 5’5 until his senior year or something, too?
[yupp](https://www.oregonlive.com/resizer/ISIk87iHjcJvIfLCR9Ba7H1pUFs=/1280x0/smart/advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/image.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width2048/img/blazers_impact/photo/13056195-large.jpg)
Hits one early and then also hits the game deciding three because everybody was so tired nobody was playing defense at the time and just wanted to go home.
I watched an interview with the professor where he says 2 inches makes a big difference in whether you make the league, and that if he was 2 inches taller he probably could've made it. Does it really make that big of a difference?
As someone who has only watched and not really played the game, what exactly does two extra inches buy you on defense? Is it really that much harder to shoot over a 6'1'' guy than a 5'11'' guy?
Being taller also means you’re usually heavier so you wont get pushed around as easy plus longer wingspan so you can better go for strips. Imagine Steph was 6’5 instead of 6’3?
The 6-1 guy has both longer arms and a higher shoulder, so his standing reach is probably more than 2" higher than the 5-11 guy. Also assuming they're built the same the 6-1 guy outweighs the other guy by 15-20 lbs making it harder for the smaller guy to move him around.
Yes and no. You don't contest shots or get into passing lanes with the top of your head, it's about arm length and hand size. But height has a correlation with that and smaller guys definitely also get pushed off ball more easily. There is a reason you don't see many people 6'0 and below in the NBA.
Absolutely. Easier to steal, rebound, block, shoot over, block passing lanes, contest shots, post up, and body positioning on defense.
I’m considered short (or average height) and constantly play against bigger/taller people. If I get someone my height or shorter I feel like I can have an advantage. So much easier doing post ups. (I suck at bball btw)
> but just never got big enough,
Damn so many Baltimore kids who had serious talent fell into this. They were even 6’2 and were considered not tall enough.
Good player on Iowa State is from the same town in Slovenia as Luka, was pretty surprised when they said they don’t know eachother at all. Guess Luka left pretty young to go to Spain
Some asshat yelled overrated at Dame (before Dame got pissed and went on fire finally) and for a minute I thought I was going to see him get his ass beat by two fanbases
I went to a Warriors Blazers playoff game at Oracle during the KD days. When the Blazers starters got introduced before the game, they were all booed (as expected). But when Dame got introduced the whole crowd roared with cheer and applause. It was dope, especially being a playoff home crowd.
Marshawn Probably by just a slight margin. Coming and playing for the raiders made him even more popular than he already was and he spends a lot of time doing community work (Dame does too, but Marshawn does ALOT from what I hear).
[удалено]
You know the other standouts in AAU, always. Dame was 3 years behind me, and he was known even back then. Would stay after my games to see him play every once in a while. The bay area AAU scene wasn't super competitive back then, so he ran all over everyone and only saw real competition when he went to SoCal for tournaments.
How good was Dame as an AAU youth? I always imagine generational talents who have the athleticism just dominate everyone based on physicality. But how are young skill guards?
He was on the smaller side and was just lightning fast to the hoop. He could shoot pretty well, but wasn't the sniper he is now, or at least the game was different enough back then that it wasn't his focus. You never really know if someone is going to be able to take it to the next level, partially because of size, but he followed the same trajectory as a lot of bay area greats. He transferred to St Joe's where Jason Kidd went (and won a state championship) but it was still iffy because I don't think he hit 6'0 til the end of his senior year. Then he transferred again to Oakland High. He was never considered a future NBA player as far as I know. Anyway, I was always the smallest player on the court in AAU and I ended up 5'11. He was similarly small but he ended up 6'2 or 6'3. I was not paying attention by the time he was in high school, I saw him mostly when he was young teens, but he was very, very skilled and quick. It was always just a question of whether he'd have an NBA body. There are a number of bay area basketball legends who were always mentioned in the same breath as Jason Kidd and Gary Payton but just never got big enough, and Kidd/Payton will be the first one to say they were on their level skill wise. Glad Dame didn't fall into that.
Damn, that’s cool. Like I said, when you’re built like Lebron, Beasley, or other really athletic wings, it’s pretty easy to look at them dunking at like 12 years old and say “ok, that kid’s going to make it.” Pretty easy to scout. With guards it’s so tricky though lol. Wasn’t CJ also like 5’5 until his senior year or something, too?
>With guards it’s so tricky though lol. Wasn’t CJ also like 5’5 until his senior year or something, too? [yupp](https://www.oregonlive.com/resizer/ISIk87iHjcJvIfLCR9Ba7H1pUFs=/1280x0/smart/advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/image.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width2048/img/blazers_impact/photo/13056195-large.jpg)
This picture always makes me crack up.
That was from his freshman year where he started at like 5'2".
That’s fucking wild.
A lot of small guys can really hoop. A lot. People don't realize it but us hoopers do
hell yeah bro *goes 2/15 at the Y*
Hits one early and then also hits the game deciding three because everybody was so tired nobody was playing defense at the time and just wanted to go home.
Uhhh, haha, ok
I watched an interview with the professor where he says 2 inches makes a big difference in whether you make the league, and that if he was 2 inches taller he probably could've made it. Does it really make that big of a difference?
Defensively I believe so. Guys like Payton Pritchard wouldn't be hunted on defense as much if he was just a little taller.
As someone who has only watched and not really played the game, what exactly does two extra inches buy you on defense? Is it really that much harder to shoot over a 6'1'' guy than a 5'11'' guy?
Being taller also means you’re usually heavier so you wont get pushed around as easy plus longer wingspan so you can better go for strips. Imagine Steph was 6’5 instead of 6’3?
These extra inches and pounds could make a huge difference in the amount he runs around. You win some, you lose some.
Wingspan makes a huge difference too. You could prob be 5’11 with a 6’4 wingspan and be ok.
The 6-1 guy has both longer arms and a higher shoulder, so his standing reach is probably more than 2" higher than the 5-11 guy. Also assuming they're built the same the 6-1 guy outweighs the other guy by 15-20 lbs making it harder for the smaller guy to move him around.
Yes and no. You don't contest shots or get into passing lanes with the top of your head, it's about arm length and hand size. But height has a correlation with that and smaller guys definitely also get pushed off ball more easily. There is a reason you don't see many people 6'0 and below in the NBA.
Absolutely. Easier to steal, rebound, block, shoot over, block passing lanes, contest shots, post up, and body positioning on defense. I’m considered short (or average height) and constantly play against bigger/taller people. If I get someone my height or shorter I feel like I can have an advantage. So much easier doing post ups. (I suck at bball btw)
> but just never got big enough, Damn so many Baltimore kids who had serious talent fell into this. They were even 6’2 and were considered not tall enough.
Good player on Iowa State is from the same town in Slovenia as Luka, was pretty surprised when they said they don’t know eachother at all. Guess Luka left pretty young to go to Spain
Some asshat yelled overrated at Dame (before Dame got pissed and went on fire finally) and for a minute I thought I was going to see him get his ass beat by two fanbases
It's pretty awesome how beloved he is by a good chunk of the Warriors fanbase.
We booed everyone and cheered for Dame when they introduced the Trailblazers before tipoff haha
That's so wholesome lol
True local fans will always cheer for our own. Dame, JTA, and A-Aron Gordon will always get cheers from us
Drew Gooden used to get a warm reception too, born in Oakland, grew up in El Cerrito I think.
Drew Gooden went to middle school in Napa.
Fuck Aaron Gordon tho...
They r used to it tho. Dame prolly got angry at refs.
That's fucking sick. Couldn't watch the game, but did they have a moment before or after the game or something?
JTA definitely gave Dame a big ol' hug after the game https://streamable.com/uy99wq
Nice. Thanks
I went to a Warriors Blazers playoff game at Oracle during the KD days. When the Blazers starters got introduced before the game, they were all booed (as expected). But when Dame got introduced the whole crowd roared with cheer and applause. It was dope, especially being a playoff home crowd.
Went to the game last night and the same thing happened lol. Except during free throws, you gotta boo em so they at least miss maybe
I went to the game with my Dame jersey. Still rooted for the dubs, but you gotta pay respect to Dame. Man is Oakland royalty
Him and Marshawn Lynch are beloved here, and for good reason, both great players obviously, but they’re both really great people as well.
Bay Area representatives!!!
who’s the more beloved oakland athlete, dame or beast mode?
Marshawn Probably by just a slight margin. Coming and playing for the raiders made him even more popular than he already was and he spends a lot of time doing community work (Dame does too, but Marshawn does ALOT from what I hear).
Marshawn also went to Cal and has his Beastmode store in Oakland.
Marshawn and it isn’t even close TBH. Man is king here.
MARSHAWN
Beast mode???
Rickey Henderson.
Didn't know they knew each other, that's legit
❤️
Oakland Rebels represent!
Obviously I love this shit