Photo Attribution: USATSI
One of the most fun parts of this season so far to me has been trying to figure out comparisons for Marcus Smart.
I hate the whole “well, he’s the first Marcus Smart” thing that everybody does. That’s true (of course it is) but it’s a fun-sucking sports statement that I’ll let others deal with.
OKC Dave has looked at his Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Caron Butler comps and showed how historical his season has been but I think ESPN really nailed it last weekend during the West Virginia game.
ESPN finally nailed the best Marcus Smart comparison: Jason Kidd. That’s exactly who he is. #okstate
— Carson Cunningham (@CarsonC5) February 23, 2013
So let’s look at Smart’s 2013 year up against Kidd’s freshman year at Cal (1993)…
Kidd ’93: 13 PPG | 5 RPG | 8 APG | 4 SPG | 0 BPG | 46/29/66 (FG/3P/FT)
Smart ’13: 16 PPG | 6 RPG | 4 APG | 3 SPG | 1 BPG | 41/30/78 (FG/3P/FT)
Incredibly similar. Kidd had more assists but [fill in "if Forte wasn't one for his last 977" joke here]. Kidd also had a future NBA first rounder to dish to in Lamond Murray.
Amazingly, if Kidd’s career is any indication (and it would appear from those numbers that it is) there’s room for improvement with Smart. Kidd was a a consensus All-American in 1994 (along with Grant Hill, Donyell Marshall, Glenn Robinson, and Clifford Rozier) and went #2 overall in the ’94 draft.
Kidd ’94: 17 PPG | 7 RPG | 9 APG | 4 SPG | 47/36/70 (FG/3P/FT)
Smart ’14: [says quick prayer, posts slanderous material on Internet to deter NBA GMs from wanting him]
Somebody shove an iPad in front of #3 with these facts and figures. Will him to come back. Let’s make it happen, OSU fans. This year marks the 20-year anniversary of Kidd’s historical freshman season. Together we will! Yes we can!
Not a bad comparison, but I don’t think you can ignore the disparity in apg like that. I was 6 during Kidds freshman year, so what was his college defense like? Smart just appear to be more of a bruising, defensive minded pg.
Numbers sure, but their games are/were worlds apart. Not a good comparison if you ask me
I’m not in to comparing numbers, but I think it was Fran that compared Smart’s game with Chauncey Billups. I love that comparison.
I watched Billups in college. I was a huge fan of his. You can look at stats all you want, but those two don’t compare at all. I was also a huge Kidd fan while he was a Cal, I believe they beat Duke in the NCAA’s one year. I wouldn’t even say they are on the same level. Smart is unlike anything I have seen before, but to compare him to Kidd as a worse passer, i’ll give you that. I think that is a solid comparison.
Chauncey Billups was a flat-out scorer in college (Shot 40% from 3pt, 19 PPG his last year). Does that sound like Smart to you?
Kidd’s all-around game is what’s similar to Marcus. Both had a knack for steals, assists, pushing the pace & making everyone better. Neither were/are great scorers, too. That’s what Billups was best at.
Smart is a tough player to compare, but Kidd comes closest for me.
If you think Smart is anywhere close to as quick as Kidd, you need to go watch some of his college film… It ain’t even close. Kidd is/was a much, much better passer than Smart as well.
If you want stats, Billups could fill up a stat sheet as well… 5 assists, 5 boards, and 2 steals a game. Yeaeeaahh, that doesn’t sound like smart at all…
And if Marcus Smart came back for his sophmore year, you act like he couldn’t average 20 a game. Come on now…
And remember, Kidd was a pure point guard. Smart isn’t.
+1 Smart is slick but does not have the ball handling, quickness, and passing skills of Kidd. I think a better player comparison is to Magic but have no idea how the stats match up.
You act like I’m saying Smart is better than Kidd. Please, no one is saying that. Kidd’s vision & passing ability might be the best to ever play the game. Of course Smart isn’t as quick, or as good of a passer.
But let’s not sell Marcus’ passing ability short. He plays in a bad offense (by every measure), which hurts his assist total. And go back & watch the no-look alley-oop he tossed this year. That was special.
He plays much more like Kidd (distributor/creator) than Billups, a shoot-first PG. If Smart stayed for his sophomore season he certainly wouldn’t be shooting 40% from 3pt like Chauncey.
This is where comparisons become a little useless when you try to single out one player. Smart is no Kidd. He plays like Kidd as much as he plays like Billups. Maybe Smart is more of a poor man’s kidd, or poor man’s Billups, or a blend of the two. The exercise can be fun, and I enjoy reading about more of the groupings, but it lessens it to try to find just one player.
Thanks for the input, Buzz Killington.
Pay attention… In big games he IS a shoot first point guard.
Gottlieb also goes with Jarrett Jack, which I can maybe see as well.
For me though, Smart is clearly not a true point guard. Just don’t think it’s a good comparisson when you’re comparing him to one of the best pure point guards to ever play.