2025 NBA Finals: OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers

[tlance]

The interesting thing is that in order for him to truly get to Kawhi's level, he or SGA will likely need to leave OKC. As you point out, we've seen Kawhi be a #1 on a title team...haven't seen that with JDub and won't as long as he and SGA are on the same team.

I don’t think that is true.

If JDub can consistently play on SGA’s level and become a co-star instead of a number 2, he can absolutely surpass Kawhi’s level.

When LeBron and Wade first teamed up, they were arguably the 2 best players in the league.

I could absolutely see a world where SGA and JDub are both first team all NBA players and multiple champions.

That would put him on or above Kawhi’s level for me.

 

[bksballer89]

Floor is Kawhi Leonard

I was close enough

 

[thunderc]

The interesting thing is that in order for him to truly get to Kawhi's level, he or SGA will likely need to leave OKC. As you point out, we've seen Kawhi be a #1 on a title team...haven't seen that with JDub and won't as long as he and SGA are on the same team.

That’s not necessary in my opinion but I still say Jdub has the ability to overtake Shai. The guy is that good. The confidence and aggressiveness are just starting.

 

[DJ Fieri]

All this premature talk about J-Dub getting to Leonard's level.

Funny.

 

[thunderc]

All this premature talk about J-Dub getting to Leonard's level.

Funny.

I thought you might have slept through the game last night.

 

[thunderc]

The journey is the fun. Every bad game he has @bksballer89 will call me stupid and every game like last night I will remind everyone of the possibilities. It will be fun going forward as more and more people say, well you know what, he may be right.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I don’t think that is true.

If JDub can consistently play on SGA’s level and become a co-star instead of a number 2, he can absolutely surpass Kawhi’s level.

When LeBron and Wade first teamed up, they were arguably the 2 best players in the league.

I could absolutely see a world where SGA and JDub are both first team all NBA players and multiple champions.

That would put him on or above Kawhi’s level for me.

Kawhi is a huge what if, if he'd stayed healthy. We saw what he could do at his prime. LeBron has spoiled us with his invincibility,.most players ain't that and start hitting a wall at 30 to 32.

We can attempt to project Jalen but as of today he has one third team all NBA and one all star to his name.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Kawhi is a huge what if, if he'd stayed healthy. We saw what he could do at his prime. LeBron has spoiled us with his invincibility,.most players ain't that and start hitting a wall at 30 to 32.

We can attempt to project Jalen but as of today he has one third team all NBA and one all star to his name.

And Leonard won a title with SA and then won 1 with the Raps as the top guy....

This is way premature talk....LOL.

 

[logic]

The journey is the fun. Every bad game he has @bksballer89 will call me stupid and every game like last night I will remind everyone of the possibilities. It will be fun going forward as more and more people say, well you know what, he may be right.

I just want to know why his brother was so shitty his rookie season. I had high hopes for Cody.

 

[thunderc]

And Leonard won a title with SA and then won 1 with the Raps as the top guy....

This is way premature talk....LOL.

That’s what we do here lol. If I’m wrong I’m wrong and I’ll say it, but I’m not.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I thought you might have slept through the game last night.

All 5 of the wife's grandkids are here till Friday.

Chaos started just as I showed up in this thread....

PS: I was the MC and kept getting the evil eye from the wife when she came outta her office.

 

[thunderc]

All 5 of the wife's grandkids are here till Friday.

Chaos started just as I showed up in this thread....

PS: I was the MC and kept getting the evil eye from the wife when she came outta her office.

That’s when you double down and give her 2 evil ones right back. Let me know how that works out.

 

[DJ Fieri]

J-Dub was MIA in the earlier playoff series....

And now everybody thinks he the next Klaw.

 

[thunderc]

J-Dub was MIA in the earlier playoff series....

And now everybody thinks he the next Klaw.

Oh make no mistake it’s not everybody, just smart people.

 

[msgkings322]

That’s what we do here lol. If I’m wrong I’m wrong and I’ll say it, but I’m not.

Yeah I don't get how some folks push back when we make a claim. "Too soon" to predict how a player will be, or who will win a title, or whatever. It's a take, we say what we think will happen, sometimes we're right sometimes we're wrong (well, you people sometimes are).

It's never "too soon" to make a claim about sports, it's all about the debate

 

[msgkings322]

J-Dub was MIA in the earlier playoff series....

And now everybody thinks he the next Klaw.

Not sure about 'everybody'

It's certainly possible he will be that good. It's not like saying Josh Hart is the next Kawhi or whatever.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I just want to know why his brother was so shitty his rookie season. I had high hopes for Cody.

He was shitty in college too

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Its kind of impressive that Cody Williams managed a 3.7 PER and a OBPM of negative 6 while barely playing.

Impressive work

 

[logic]

He was shitty in college too

Disagree. He was a pretty good 3 and D guy in college with lots of athletic potential.
His brother better kick his ass all summer.

 

[tlance]

I just want to know why his brother was so shitty his rookie season. I had high hopes for Cody.

Could Cody be the next Thanasis?