Tskitishvili: It Just Sounds Like A Disease

During this year’s NBA Draft it took only twelve picks for the LA Clippers to select a player of whom I’ve never heard. The Clips selected Yaroslav Korolev, a 6’9’’ Russian guard/forward, with that pick. Not that I have a problem with the Clippers throwing away their pick on a player I haven’t heard of, although they usually waste it on one I have heard of, this pick does allude to a striking trend that’s occurred in later years. That is, the selecting of a relatively unknown European player with high NBA draft picks. And while picking up foreign players in the draft is not something rare, see Toni Kukoc and Vlade Divac, picking them so high is an historic rarity. Although Korolev is the last player drafted in the lottery I’ve never heard a whisper about, he certainly isn’t the first. That would be Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

Lets just call him Skeeter. He hasn’t been the worst player in NBA history, but he certainly hasn’t been the best. He, along with Dwayne Wade, Devin Harris, Jason Richardson, Mike Miller, Jonathan Bender, Vince Carter and Tony Battie have all been fifth picks in the NBA draft. And with the exception of Bender and Battie, he’s managed to play very sub par basketball for the fifth pick. His career averages of 3ppg and 1.8rpg aren’t the kind of numbers that make you think fifth pick, but he is only 22 years old. And he is seven feet tall. And he is a fairly sweet shooter and has played in 35 playoff games, albeit only an average of 7mpg. So, in the immortal words of Jerry Seinfeld, “What’s the deal with Skeeter?”

This time two months ago he was debating whether or not he’ll ever play another game in NBA, now he’s busy lighting it up for Minnesota’s summer league team. He’s just recently agreed to terms of a contract with the Timberwolves as well. And he’s saying all the right things too, claiming that he’ll do whatever it takes to get minutes and play wherever the Wolves need him to win. But, Skeeter’s done this before. He might do it again too, if he doesn’t find a niche with the Wolves. Only time, will what kind of player he’s going to be, but as long as he’s young and 7’ tall, there will be a place for him in the NBA. If he doesn’t make serious improvements on his play, it will be a place on the bench.

So what kind of hope does that leave for Korolev? In 03-04 on his Russian team he averaged 4.8ppg and 0 rebounds. None! No rebounds. None! That’s not in a few games either. Korolev played in a total of 22 games that season. That’s like an abridged college season. Have any of you readers ever played in a pickup game without a rebound? Have you ever been the 2nd or 3rd tallest guy on the floor and not grabbed a rebound? Even Darko has grabbed a few boards. But beyond that, Korolev is a good shooter with height and potential. He’s a lot like a poor-man’s Skeeter. That’s not the best place to be, but it’s also not the worst. In the worst-case scenario both these guys will be millionaires who find themselves playing out several short contracts in the NBA and then heading abroad. Best-case scenario both of these guys suddenly, as happens with age, realize their potential and become NBA stars in the model of Dirk and Peja.

Only time will tell where these two unknown European bench warmers turned NBA players will end up, but one thing is certain, they are the last of a dying breed. As pertinent as an age limit was for the development of young American players, it was even more crucial for young international players. With the 19-year-old age minimum, Korolev is likely to be the last unknown Euro player selected with a lottery pick. Now scouts will have a few years extra to get to know, and help fans know, the future NBA imports. Korolev certainly has some big shoes to fill, in Skeeters, but even if he falls flat on his face he’ll fill them just fine.