Frank Kaminsky Will be Better than Advertised
Frank Kaminsky was one of the best Wisconsin Badger basketball players to walk the halls of UW-Madison ever. Better than Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, Michael Finley, and others that preceded him. Though Kaminsky fell short of bringing a national championship to Wisconsin he led his team to back to back Final Four’s, including one national championship game appearance, which is quite an accomplishment compared to previous Badger teams.
Kaminsky will long be remembered as the pale, lanky, goofy 7-footer who befuddled defenses with his combination of size, shooting, and a weird blend of athleticism. I suppose the one question left to ask would be why do people feel like he can’t succeed at the NBA level? Kaminsky averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior while shooting 41% from 3-point range. “Frank the Tank”, as he was affectionately known throughout much of his junior and senior season, frustrated even the biggest pro prospects throughout his career, including the Harrison twins from the University of Kentucky.
Professional teams are continuing the trend of seeking versatile big men. Centers that can not only bang down low but are also able to run the court and space the floor when needed. Kaminsky fits that role perfectly and is humble enough to come off the bench instead of demanding to be a starter no matter how much he earns that role. While shooting 40% from the NBA 3-point line might prove challenging for Kaminsky, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him approaching 40% multiple times during his NBA career. Combine that with his variety of low-post moves that showcase his sneaky athleticism, and you have one underrated bench player that will often be overlooked by the opposing team.
A few short months ago I proclaimed that Kaminsky didn’t have the NBA “look” and would never be anything more than a role player on an NBA team. I stated that Sam Dekker had a significantly higher upside and that he was the former Badger to follow in the pros. While I still think Dekker has higher ceiling, I would also say that Kaminsky has a higher floor. A solid 10 year career could very easily be in the cards for Kaminsky, and I don’t know many people who would disagree with that assessment.
Kaminsky will probably never be considered the best player of this draft, but he could easily be considered the steal of the draft.
