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NBA Rookie Role Models: Is Jabari Parker the next Paul Pierce?

By HP Basketball Network

Feb 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) shoots a basket over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Robert Carter, Jr. (4) in the first half at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) shoots a basket over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Robert Carter, Jr. (4) in the first half at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Doug McDermott (3) shoots a three point shot over Villanova Wildcats forward Daniel Ochefu (23) during the second half at the Wells Fargo Center. Creighton defeated Villanova, 96-68. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Doug McDermott (3) shoots a three point shot over Villanova Wildcats forward Daniel Ochefu (23) during the second half at the Wells Fargo Center. Creighton defeated Villanova, 96-68. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Doug McDermott, this could be you: Kyle Korver

By Caleb Nordgren (@chisportsguy41)

On first glance, this seems a little too easy. And maybe it is. But the similarities are hard to ignore.

Both McDermott and Korver played high school ball in Iowa before starring at Creighton. Both are first and foremost known as shooters. Both are more athletic than they get credit for, but neither is anywhere near the upper echelon of NBA players in that area. Both have reputations as defensive liabilities, though that’s not actually all that true in Korver’s case. McDermott’s even playing for Korver’s old team.

McDermott already has some of Korver’s offensive game under his belt. We saw him come off screens at Las Vegas Summer League and do so capably. And he’s obviously got the spot-up ability to open up the floor just by standing out by the arc, just like Korver does. But the biggest thing McDermott can take from Korver is his defense.

Korver isn’t exactly the world’s greatest one-on-one defender, but he’s OK. He knows where his help is and generally keeps his man in front of him as long as he isn’t massively outclassed athletically. If McDermott can get to that point, he’ll be in decent shape. The bigger thing, though, is off-ball defense. Korver is a brilliant team defender, always in the right place at the right time. He can take a charge when he needs to and he’s weirdly good at getting blocks in transition. McDermott will need to follow in Korver’s footsteps to stay in Tom Thibodeau’s good graces.

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