Which current Philadelphia Eagles make the cut in our mock NBA lineup?
The city of Philadelphia has not had much to cheer about over the past couple of years. It has been since 2008 since one of their sports teams has even won a championship, but that looks to be changing shortly. It all started with the "Trust The Process" mantra the Philadelphia 76ers adopted and brainwashed the city into believing. That "Process" has led to the most excitement I have ever seen from a losing team. It was so exciting that it carried over to the Philadelphia Eagles.
They have started their own "Process" by starting fresh in 2016 with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. The former North Dakota State product represents the future of the Eagles, and many believe he will be the guy that can get the Eagles their first Super Bowl, or at least the best chance at one. What is great about Wentz and the Eagles is that the 76ers are also building around young players to try and get a championship.
That rebuilding for the Sixers started with Joel Embiid, who may be a bigger star in Philly than their new quarterback, Wentz. After Embiid came Ben Simmons. Simmons has yet to play, but the belief is that he will be a quality player for a very long time. And just like the Eagles did before the 2016 NFL Draft, the 76ers made a huge deal to acquire the player they wanted most, point guard Markelle Fultz. That pick hasn't been made yet but will be on Friday at the 2017 NBA Draft.
With the thought of the NBA Draft looming, it brings up a real question: which current Eagles players would make the best NBA lineup? Find out which Eagles made the cut and whom they compare best to in the NBA, past or present.
Oct 30, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) runs with the ball against Dallas Cowboys safety J.J. Wilcox (27) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Point Guard: Darren Sproles
NBA Comparison: Nate Robinson
You could go a ton of different ways at point guard, but selfishly I had to go with running back Darren Sproles. My selfishness isn't as much about Sproles as it is about his pro comparison, former NBA player Nate Robinson. I love the way Robinson played the game and the passion he had while on the court.
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Both Sproles and Robinson are on the shorter side, to put it nicely. Robinson is listed at 5-9 during his NBA career, and that may have been generous. Sproles measures in at 5-6, so both players are tiny for the position. However, they have elite quickness, which is why Sproles will start at point guard. Having quickness and ability to create big plays will allow Sproles to lead the offense on the court.
Shooting Guard: Nick Foles
NBA Comparison: Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is regarded as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) by many, so it is only fitting that quarterback Nick Foles compares to him. I mean, did you see Saint Nick dominate the NFL in 2013? The guy threw for 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also led his team to an 8-2 record during his 10 starts. His jersey is in Canton, OH at the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his incredible season.
Foles couldn't miss when he threw the ball that year, so having him as our shooting guard will be perfect. He will be able to knock down perimeter shots at ease and be the scorer they need. It is also fitting that Foles was a high school basketball star, and according to The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Busted Coverage), Foles was recruited by Georgetown to play basketball.
Jun 13, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) throws the ball during mini camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Small Forward: Alshon Jeffery
NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala
The small forward position was tough to decide on, but new Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery gets the nod at the three spot. Jeffery only stands at 6-3, so he is undersized for the position, but he makes up for his lack of size with athleticism. He will be able to use his elite jump ball ability to bring down tough rebounds like he does fade routes.
If the ball is hanging on the rim, you bet that Jeffery will be able to pull down the rebound or send it back with an incredible putback dunk. He will be the Andre Iguodala of the team, meaning he may never be the best at his position, but he will make you respect him after the game.
Power Forward: Zach Ertz
NBA Comparison: Kevin Love
Power forward was another tough position to decide on because size is tough translating from the NFL to the NBA. Although tight end Zach Ertz measures in at 6-5, so he is one of the tallest Eagles. With that in mind and his 250-pound athletic frame, Ertz will be the starting power forward.
Since he is a little undersized, he will need to make sure he has an outside shot developed. Just like he needed to be a better run blocker, Ertz will take the challenge head on and try to get better each day. He should be able to be a solid three-point shooter and also a guy that will work his butt off on the boards. He reminds me of Kevin Love, a guy that can shoot and rebound well but isn't an "elite" type of player.
Center: Lane Johnson
NBA Comparison: Joel Embiid
Is there any other player on the Eagles that could play center? Probably, but is there any other player on the Eagles I would want playing center outside of right tackle Lane Johnson? No way. Johnson is a freak of nature at his size in the NFL. He stands at 6-6 and weighs 317 pounds, but he ran a 4.72 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He also had a 34-inch vertical leap and 28 reps on the bench press.
Johnson is a guy that can do it all at the center position and will be the Joel Embiid of this team on and off the court. He has enough humor on Twitter to fill that role, and he is a guy that instantly makes the team better when he plays.
Sixth Man: Carson "Can't Miss" Wentz
NBA Comparison: Steph Curry
Having an elite sixth man is an important aspect of basketball in my opinion. And by elite, I mean compared to all other sixth men. But luckily for our Eagles basketball team, we have the greatest sixth man of all time and do not even debate this.
Carson "Can't Miss" Wentz is an elite shooter, and his highlight video titled "GARBShotz" will prove to you that he is elite. Those paper tossing skills should translate directly to NBA success. Wentz will come off the bench and shoot better than Steph Curry, even though that is who he compares to for the NBA. It is hard to compare him to any other player because we have never seen a shooter as good as Wentz.
