Andrea ‘Barg’nani
Yes everybody, despite what you have heard his name is actually Andrea ‘Barg’nani, not ‘Bust’nani as he is so often referred too on Toronto Raptor message boards and around the NBA. This 23 year old sharp shooter who was drafted 1st overall in the shallow NBA draft of ’06 by many accounts has been more of a disappointment then the movie “Max Payne”. After a solid rookie campaign that saw him average a respectable 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as well as finishing a close 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting to the very talented Brandon Roy, Bargnani took a step backwards averaging 1.6 points and .2 rebounds less his sophomore year. This had Raptor fans foaming at the mouth calling for him to be dealt for the flavor of the week and Raptors GM Brian Colangelo’s head for dessert.
A slow start to the ’09 campaign, a head coaching change and an injury to starting center Jermaine O’neal provided Bargnani with yet another chance to prove his doubters wrong and show what he had only revealed in flashes his rookie season. An opportunity the 7-footer would take full advantage of averaging 19.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 29 games. More impressively is out of those 29 games just two have seen him fail to score in double digits, one could only question the vast improvement and overall maturity in both his game and his demeanor.
Now as his critics stand quiet, Raptor fans rapidly go back through their message board posts deleting any evidence of doubt along with the changing of signatures to “IL MAGO!!” (The Wizard) we are reminded that players are human too and sometimes all they need is a little time to grow up.
Millertime101's Blog 
It ain’t easy being the No. 1 pick. Even guys like Kenyon Martin, although he’s had a solid career, didn’t live up to being No. 1.
before we get all excited about him, do we need reminding that the raps suck just as much now as when he stunk? would it be too much to ask that we see, you know, ONE WHOLE SEASON OF DECENT BALL out of him before proclaiming him something special.
i find it ironic how his unabashed supporters come out in droves when he’s playing well, then disappear when he reverts to suckitude, much like you claim his detractors do when he’s going well. fact is, the team’s been so pathetic, no one cares anymore about whether he’s a bust or not, ’cause it doesn’t seem to matter.
Alot of people would say he did indeed have a “decent” year his rookie year as I stated above he finished 2nd in rookie voting, if that doesn’t qualify as decent I dont know what does.
As much as I appreciate your creative use of the english language im not sure “unabashed” and “suckitude” are the best words to describe your point 🙂
As far as no one caring, I think alot of Raptor fans would disagree, if anything the fact that the team has been so bad makes Bargnani’s emergence that much more important.
[…] Andrea ‘Barg’nani « Millertime101’s Blog […]
[…] Andrea ‘Barg’nani « Millertime101’s Blog – […]