On draft night, the Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest news and shocked the entire NBA. They traded their All-Star point guard, Jrue Holiday, to the New Orleans Pelicans for the sixth overall pick and a pick in next year’s star-studded draft class. With the sixth pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel. But from that point on, Nerlens Noel was the new centerpiece of the Sixers as they push along towards the future.
Nerlens Noel missed the latter part of the college basketball season due to a torn ACL; he tore his ACL on a play hustling down the court. The skeptics now rise and wonder can Nerlens Noel be good? Sixers fans wonder will Noel be another Andrew Bynum? Well to answer those questions, Nerlens Noel will be a top-five center before his career is over. Now you might ask yourself, “Are you serious? Noel a top-five center?” Yes, Nerlens Noel can be and will be a top-five center in the NBA.
He has all the tools and intangibles to be that and more, the only thing that he needs to work on is his offensive skills and put on a little bit more weight. Both things will come with practice, in the weight room and just playing in the NBA. One reason why Noel will be a top-five center in the NBA is his defensive skills around the rim. He is a shot-blocking and rebounding machine. In his only season at Kentucky last season, Noel averaged 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He also had multiple blocks in 21 of the 25 games in which he played for the Wildcats.
If you look back at his career at Kentucky, the Wildcats were playing very well when Noel was on the court and it showed. In a game against Duke last season, Noel scored 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Even though the Wildcats lost, he still had an impact in the game. On Jan. 29 against Marshall Henderson and then No.16-ranked Ole Miss, Noel only had two points but had 12 blocks and seven rebounds. Yes, I said 12 blocks. That just shows every time Ole Miss was going to the rim he was rejecting them.
Then before falling to injury against Florida Feb. 12, Noel was averaging a double-double in three consecutive games. As I said Noel fell to injury by trying to make a play and that is a great intangible to have. Showing heart and never giving up on a play. Here is video of that play:
That play explains it all, even though his team was losing he still fought on and that is a guy you want to build your team around. The last reason why I think Nerlens Noel will be a top-five center is he has a major chip on his shoulder, he feels like he was disrespected and he wants to make the five teams that picked before the New Orleans Pelicans pay. Now, if you are Noel, you don’t rush back until you are ready. We have seen how great Blake Griffin is now after he sat out his rookie year and he is an absolute playmaker. Nerlens Noel can be all that and more and it’s helpful when your new general manager, Sam Hinkie, drafts your AAU teammate, Michael Carter-Williams.
As Nerlens Noel told the Philadelphia media a few weeks ago, he said that Sam Hinkie is a genius and I hope he is right, because if he is then Philadelphia is going to get one the best young centers in the NBA that has the potential to be the best in the next few years.