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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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Apr 25, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Edy Tavares, this could be you: Omer Asik

By Miles Wray (@mileswray)

Once you move past the consensus lottery picks in any given draft, there are very few prospects that inspire excitement. Projections drop from franchise cornerstone to maybe-hopefully a rotation player. Featured strengths are matched if not overwhelmed by step-slow weaknesses. The names and faces all tend to mush a little bit together.

And so I found it a revelation to see footage of Edy Tavares, who has spent the last two years playing in the Spanish league. Tavares is a resident of Cape Verde, which is currently ranked 54th in the FIBA World Rankings. Even in one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world, Tavares simply looks like a giant amongst boys:

While he’s neither slow nor clunky around the basketball court, Tavares will never flash the type of elegant, explosive athleticism that sends Twitter into .gif-ed conniptions. With Tavares, there will be few — if any — triumphant swats, swooping ’oops, or opponents said to R.I.P. underneath his stanchion-trembling jams.

The exact same can be said of New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik, whose back-of-basketball card stats will always underwhelm but whose influence on an NBA game is as profound as the league’s most endorsement-heavy All-Stars. On the offensive end, Asik is a sweaty and distraught portrait of discombobulation, not to be trusted shooting outside the key. His rare put-backs that do find their way home seem to do so by accident. If anything, Asik almost looks annoyed by this tedious half of the game.

To watch Asik play defensively is to witness that rare celestial alignment of a man doing exactly what he was born on this earth to do. Opponents’ plays are blown up before they can get started thanks to Asik’s proactive positioning. An array of post-up moves culminates in an awkward, fading-away 13-footer over Asik’s perfectly vertical seven-foot frame. Points have a way of never getting on the board when Asik is around.

Asik played in his native Turkey before and after he was selected 36th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2008, just as Tavares will continue to play in Spain after his 43rd-overall selection by the Atlanta Hawks this season. Although Asik will suit up for his third NBA team in just his fifth NBA season this year, he will earn $14.8M for his defensive efforts this year. $14.8M! Edy: while you’re back in Spain, make sure you watch plenty of Pelicans video. Because riches this fabulous really may one day be yours.

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