Caleb Wilson has the makings to be an elite NBA player, but there's so much more to the NBA lifestyle than many care to admit, which is why these comparisons can often be counterproductive.
With the NBA Draft just a mere month and a half away, speculation has been running wild on what direction the first five teams are leaning toward.
Several mock drafts have North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson getting selected in the top-five of the Draft, which doesn’t sound farfetched at all.
But one NBA analyst has incredibly high hopes for the 19-year-old forward.
ESPN’s Jay Williams made some notable comments on yesterday’s episode of ‘Get Up,’ comparing him to two NBA juggernauts.
“Caleb Wilson, watching him work out, has shown the ability to put the ball down on the ground. When I first saw him this year, I was like, 'The bar is Jermaine O'Neal; the ceiling is Kevin Garnett.' Now, when I watch him play, the bar seems like it is Kevin Garnett; the ceiling seems more like Giannis (Antetokounmpo). It feels like that's where his ceiling could be.”
As complimentary as it is comparing a youngster to the likes of Garnett, who’s a Hall of Famer, and Antetokounmpo, a future Hall of Famer, statements like those also come with consequences.
Some highly-touted prospects often don’t make it far in the NBA for a myriad of reasons. Both Ben Simmons and Zion Williamson were compared to LeBron James in their draft years.
The talent and athleticism was certainly there, but due to durability issues, that never panned out for either of them.
So you can understand why making such a remark can come off so jarring to the general public.
The bar that Williams placed for Wilson is so fragile, that one false move, and it could change the course of his career.
Certain players have the mentality for greatness at the highest levels, so it’s up to Wilson if he hopes to live up to those comparisons.
Luckily for him, he’s not short on talent.
Before breaking his right thumb in an early March practice before March Madness took place, Wilson was in the midst of a generational season.
He began his freshman year breaking a UNC record in most consecutive double-digit scoring games with 24. He also set the school record for most consecutive 20-point games with six.
Ultimately, when he went down, he finished the season averaging 19.8 points per game, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks.
With his 6-foot-10 frame, he’s an instant deterrent on the floor, especially on the defensive end. He carries a 9-foot standing reach and a 7-foot wingspan, so with his mobility, you can slot him on the perimeter or on the low block and he will be a net-positive on the defensive side of the ball.
Needless to say, on athleticism and talent alone, Wilson has the makings of an elite level player in the NBA for years to come. But nothing is guaranteed, and navigating through the NBA will often be a journey for the young man.
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