David McClure- Any Chance at Pro Career?

[dukejunkie]

I never would have thought of McClure as a professional athlete, but he sure has the determination. His chances, seemingly minute, are to continue to focus on what he is currently doing. There have been defensive minded players with minimal offensive abilities who've made it before. To me, he is Duke's Dennis Rodman (without the shenanigans). He is 1 inch shorter and 5 pounds lighter than Rodman in his prime. He even shoots almost as poorly as Rodman from the line. But he provides so many intangibles on the floor. Yes Rodman was a much more gifted athlete. However, I think McClure has a similar drive to lock down defenders and go after the ball. Maybe he should give Rodman a call for some tips. Maybe he shouldn't.

Overall, after looking at the roster of the 1995-96 Bulls, there is a model for Duke to follow. They had great defense and similar position type players. It is obviously not fair to compare Singler to Pippen or Gerald to Michael, but the size and rolls they play can be seen as comparable. Even Scheyer and Kerr seem somewhat alike. Throw in some good point guard D and find a Toni Kukoc and they're on their way! They've certainly got some Luc Longleys.

It's still possible.

[Ben63]

McClure pro career?

Maybe in Europe, but I definitely don't see him playing in the NBA. I hope he proves me wrong though.

[houstondukie]

I never would have thought of McClure as a professional athlete, but he sure has the determination. His chances, seemingly minute, are to continue to focus on what he is currently doing. There have been defensive minded players with minimal offensive abilities who've made it before. To me, he is Duke's Dennis Rodman (without the shenanigans). He is 1 inch shorter and 5 pounds lighter than Rodman in his prime. He even shoots almost as poorly as Rodman from the line. But he provides so many intangibles on the floor. Yes Rodman was a much more gifted athlete. However, I think McClure has a similar drive to lock down defenders and go after the ball. Maybe he should give Rodman a call for some tips. Maybe he shouldn't.

Overall, after looking at the roster of the 1995-96 Bulls, there is a model for Duke to follow. They had great defense and similar position type players. It is obviously not fair to compare Singler to Pippen or Gerald to Michael, but the size and rolls they play can be seen as comparable. Even Scheyer and Kerr seem somewhat alike. Throw in some good point guard D and find a Toni Kukoc and they're on their way! They've certainly got some Luc Longleys.

It's still possible.

No offense, but you must be joking, right?

I love McClure's heart, hustle, and intagibles, but he's barely 6'6''.

Not only was Rodman a more gifted athlete, but he was also 6'10''.

Europe is possible though.

[CDu]

I would say he has virtually no shot at an NBA career. That should not be considered a condemnation of McClure in any way. It's just really difficult for even upper-tier college players to have an NBA career.

Rodman was the exception to the rule. McClure is a poor man's college version of Rodman, but he doesn't have nearly the consistent dominant impact in college games that Rodman had in the NBA (again, not a rip on McClure, just an acknowledgment of how great Rodman was). And McClure's skills aren't likely to translate for him to the NBA, where players are taller, stronger, faster, and simpler better than college players. It's just really unlikely to happen for McClure.

Let's just enjoy him making an impact on our Duke team.

[CDu]

No offense, but you must be joking, right?

I love McClure's heart, hustle, and intagibles, but he's barely 6'6''.

Not only was Rodman a more gifted athlete, but he was also 6'10''.

Europe is possible though.

I agree that McClure isn't in Rodman's class, and there's really no NBA future for him. But Rodman was 6'7"-6'8", not 6'10".

[slower]

I never would have thought of McClure as a professional athlete, but he sure has the determination. His chances, seemingly minute, are to continue to focus on what he is currently doing. There have been defensive minded players with minimal offensive abilities who've made it before. To me, he is Duke's Dennis Rodman (without the shenanigans). He is 1 inch shorter and 5 pounds lighter than Rodman in his prime. He even shoots almost as poorly as Rodman from the line. But he provides so many intangibles on the floor. Yes Rodman was a much more gifted athlete. However, I think McClure has a similar drive to lock down defenders and go after the ball. Maybe he should give Rodman a call for some tips. Maybe he shouldn't.

Overall, after looking at the roster of the 1995-96 Bulls, there is a model for Duke to follow. They had great defense and similar position type players. It is obviously not fair to compare Singler to Pippen or Gerald to Michael, but the size and rolls they play can be seen as comparable. Even Scheyer and Kerr seem somewhat alike. Throw in some good point guard D and find a Toni Kukoc and they're on their way! They've certainly got some Luc Longleys.

It's still possible.

After the past 2 games, you're going to make ANY kind of comparison between Jordan/Pippen-era Bulls (who went 72-10 that year) and this year's Duke team?

What an extreme reach.

[chrisheery]

He could have been a pro if he had ever learned to play as a guard. But, in the NBA, a 6'6" rebounding/defensive specialist? There's no such thing.




Oh, wait. Bruce Bowen. I guess if he can add serious 3 point range and a decent handle, he would have a chance.

[dukeblue1206]

With the Rodman comparisons going on, has anyone ever looked at Lance Thomas body type and thought he looked like a Rodman. He is around the same height of 6'7 6'8 and kinda long and rangy. I have always had hope that he would do like Rodman and put offense aside and focus on rebounding and defense. Maybe Lance has done that and just does not have the instinct for rebounding like Rodman. Rodman rebounded so well because of instinct and hustle. Lance has the hustle but not the instinct IMO. Rebounding is not always about height. McClure shows that with his rebounding of late. Instinct and hustle can take you a long way. McClure may not have a pro career anywhere but he will have his Duke degree and lots of good memories to look back on like the game winner against Clemson a few years back.

[burnspbesq]

Some team that qualifies for the Euroleague for the first time in a while is going to look at McClure and say, "hey, he can rebound, his intangibles are fantastic, and he can guard Papaloukas and Rubio and Langdon." So he'll go somewhere and make at least a quarter of a million Euros in his first year out of school, plus free housing and a cool car, while most of his Duke friends are going to graduate school because nobody is hiring.

Not a bad deal.

[guybrush]

He could play here in Europe but not in the best leagues such as Spanish, italian or greek... he's only a specialist (with an big heart) and european teams look for players able to contribute at offense too.
He could play in Germany or Belgium where there are no limitations for the US players or minor leagues such as switzerland, cyprus etc...

Even Lee Melchionni tried to play pro in Italy but didnt have a good impact despite his italian passport...
I love McClure's menthality but i don't believe he can be a Euroleague player.
250.000$ for McClure?!?!?! No way... trust me.. i've been an italian pro scout and nobody would pay so much for a defensive specialist... maybe 60/70.000$ could be an hypothetical salary for him

[Devilsfan]

He'll never make it any further. Neither will Calos Boozer or Shav Randolph or Demarcus Nelson or Chris Duhon...etc.,etc.,etc.

[jimsumner]

"Neither will Calos Boozer or Shav Randolph or Demarcus Nelson or Chris Duhon...etc.,etc.,etc."

Okay, explain how David McClure will make it in the NBA when Tommy Amaker, Chris Carrawell, Kevin Strickland, Billy King, Phil Henderson, Robert Brickey, and Thomas Hill--among others--could not. I think some folks on this thread simply don't recognize how hard it is to make it in the NBA.

No one can possibly question the many positives David McClure brings to this year's Duke team. But players his size play the 2 at the NBA. Not the 4.

I could imagine a scenario whereby McClure makes it in a second-tier Euro league but the NBA? Three of the four players mentioned above were first-team All-ACC and the fourth is 6'10." At 6'6", you need to be an uber-athlete or have a great skill set. Or both. David is neither.

Fortunately, David is a bright young man a few months shy of entering the real world with a degree from Duke University, so I suspect he'll do just fine.

[Lord Ash]

Won't make the league. Has plenty of future in front of him.

[RelativeWays]

Dave has a 100% chance at a pro career, just not basketball. C'mon DBR, I scanned the thread WAITING for someone to say that and nobody did. I do think that Dave may have a career in sports, may as an agent or in media.

[Bluedog]

Random somewhat related tangent: a friend of mine saw Dennis Rodman last night in Miami...buying a cigar no less. I wonder what he's doing these days.

And, yes, to agree. 0% chance McClure makes it to the NBA. But I do love what he brings to Duke's team and hold super high esteem for him. Perfect selfless glue guy that every team needs.

[concrete]

Random somewhat related tangent: a friend of mine saw Dennis Rodman last night in Miami...buying a cigar no less. I wonder what he's doing these days.

And, yes, to agree. 0% chance McClure makes it to the NBA. But I do love what he brings to Duke's team and hold super high esteem for him. Perfect selfless glue guy that every team needs.

he's always at club Voodoo in ft lauderdale on Wednesday nights (ladies night). I believe he owns it. It's downtown Ft Lauderdale (las olas area).

[Indoor66]

he's always at club Voodoo in ft lauderdale on Wednesday nights (ladies night). I believe he owns it. It's downtown Ft Lauderdale (las olas area).

You are correct. http://www.voodooloungeflorida.com/venue.php

[NovaScotian]

He'll never make it any further. Neither will Calos Boozer or Shav Randolph or Demarcus Nelson or Chris Duhon...etc.,etc.,etc.

i give shalvlik a lot of credit - he's making a lot of money doing something he loves, and something the rest of us dream of, but let's get real, people. shavik randolph really shouldn't count as an nba player. i'm just sayin.

also - no chance dave makes the nba. there is no room for an undersized forward with absolutely no offensive skills. not that i dont love dave - i really love dave. if we had him in 06 i think we would have gone farther.

[Saratoga2]

Maybe we will see him sitting on the Duke bench in a few years as the big man coach that some have hungered for.

[FireOgilvie]

I had a couple of classes with McClure. He's a really likeable, well-spoken guy. I know he'll be really successful in whatever he does after college, which probably won't be basketball.