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Is Robert Upshaw the Second-Coming of Larry Sanders?

By Peter Myhrer

November 28, 2014; Fullerton, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar speaks with center Robert Upshaw (24) during a stoppage in play in the first half at Titan Gym. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 28, 2014; Fullerton, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar speaks with center Robert Upshaw (24) during a stoppage in play in the first half at Titan Gym. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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What have you heard about former Washinigton Huskies center Robert Upshaw? Maybe you’ve heard that he’s a shot blocking machine. Maybe you’ve heard he’s been kicked off both teams he’s played for collegiality. Or maybe you’ve heard nothing about him, in which case you’ll be going into this with an open mind.

It’ll be easier to convince those with little background on the troubled big man, but I’ll do my best to even persuade those that are rightfully skeptical about Upshaw. Here’s my best opening statement for why the Milwaukee Bucks should draft Robert Upshaw in the first round.

To start, let’s bring to light the mistakes that Robert Upshaw made while in college. The talented rim protector failed multiple drug tests at both Fresno State and the University of Washington per ESPN.com. He spent time in rehab following his dismissal from Fresno State and then sat out a year as he transferred into Washington’s basketball program.

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It was at the University of Washington that the former No. 52 ranked high school player  really came into his own. Upshaw only played in 19 games before being dismissed from the team, but he blocked an incredible 85 shots in that time span. He also pulled down 8.2 rebounds per game and shot 59.7% from the field, per Sports-Reference.com.

The once forgotten center had worked his way into the lottery of mock drafts because of his highly coveted rim protection and physical tools. Amazingly, even after his next dismissal from a college program, Robert Upshaw is still considered a first round pick by major mock drafts.  Part of this is due to his redeeming basketball abilities, but it’s also because teams around the league are convinced that he has changed for the better.

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Believing Upshaw’s seemingly sincere words is easier for some teams than others though. If there’s one team that absolutely may not want to hear it, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks.

That’s because just thinking about the Robert Upshaw story brings a horrible reminder of an eerily similar situation involving former Bucks’ center Larry Sanders. The two players share the same position, elite skill (shot blocking), and history of drug use. Both also are intelligent and possess an endearing personality.

The difference in my mind and ultimately the detail that persuades me to believe Upshaw is right for the Bucks, is that Robert Upshaw truly seems to love the game of basketball and Larry Sanders does not. Upshaw may just be the more talented player as well.

Upshaw is blessed with a 7′ 5.5″ wingspan and 9′ 5″ standing reach.

Unlike a lot of players that possess similar length though, Upshaw weighs in well at 258 lbs. His measurements all pass the test for him to be an effective post defender.

His offensive game isn’t as impactful, but there’s some nice elements to it. Upshaw possesses soft hands that make him a reliable dump off option for a paint-penetrating guard. He also appears to have some remnants of a jump shot that he will be able to showcase more in the NBA than he could in college.

The major knock on him (other than his off the court issues) is his poor free throw percentage. Upshaw only managed to hit 43.4 percent of his charity stripe shots which could leave him as an option for opposing teams to implement a “Hack-An-Upshaw” type strategy.

The reason to not take Robert Upshaw if you’re the Bucks can’t be because of what happened with Larry Sanders. It has to be because you don’t think he’s the best available pick at No. 17 overall. Missing out on a good opportunity because you’ve been burned in the past isn’t something a person should be doing, let alone an NBA organization.

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