Here’s the thing with Kon, he reminds me a little of Bird in the way that he doesn’t move particularly quickly but he seems to get a step on his defender. He doesn’t jump particularly well but he always seems to get room for his shot. He just “feels” the game.
Mullin is the best comparison in my view. What really sells me on him are his non-scoring stats. He racks up assists, he rebounds, he does the things that makes the team better. You put him on a team with a variety of other guys that can score and he just elevates the team because by trying to shut him down you leave other guys open and he can get the ball to them.
He knows how to get a defender on his hip and keep them there (or behind). Great savvy and body control. I also sense some floor leadership chops in him as well.
I also feel like he’s ball dominant. I think we’re used to using that as a negative connotation as UVA fans, but I don’t mean it that way here.
It’s a big reason why I think he’s a better fit at UVA than Duke. I think he’s most effective being the guy, looking to score and be the generator of playmaking on offense. At Duke, being the third/fourth scorer on the floor is great, but doesn’t play to his strengths imo. Ball needs to be in his hands for him to be at his best.
I’m going with some Brogdon similarity. Been a while since we’ve had a guy who can handle the ball, shoot, and bully his way a bit to the rim. Not an exact match but I like that type of guy to complement our shifty guards and shooters.
Just got to thinking, how much money would I spend to watch a 40-minute bragging rights game between the 2014 Hoos and the 2019 Hoos. Like, get ‘em all into C’ville and lace em up right now. Two incredible rosters.
Interesting. I can see it with the way he moves and swiss army knife-ness on the offensive end. Kon definitely more of a pure shooter and less of a ball handler than Brogs, but seems to be a good facilitator. Probably wouldn’t ever see him in the lead handler role but could as the secondary/Devon Hall type.
Defensively, I don’t think Kon is going to get Brogdon assignments.
That really is a tough call. We had a few starting lineup changes in both teams, but for me the best 5 was Perrantes/Brogdon/Mitchell/Harris/Gill with a bench of Anderson/Tobey/Atkins/Nolte for 2014. Ty/Kyle/Mamadi/Dre/Braxton with a bench of Kihei/Jack/Jay for 2019.
Honestly not sure who wins. That 2014 team was Final Four caliber despite losing in the S16.
No way I trade away Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell. And anyway, I’m not talking about time travel. Just an airplane to bring them all in today in their current state. (And also, JA’s 3-Pt tear had ended before his injury. He came back to earth in January. It was Nov thru mid-Jan that was an insane run).
Eh idk if you are interested since you were going for the opposite hypothetical than I thought but you’re really only functionally losing Joe. Darion was DPOY level good in 14/15. Might actually have been better than Akil was in 13/14 (blasphemy I know). So the trade off is really much better versions of Malcolm, Justin, and London for not having Joe
