If Brittney Griner focued on the NBA rather than the WNBA, noone would benefit more than Elena Delle Donne, pictured leaving the court after Delaware was eliminated in the Sweet 16. Delle Donne would likely become the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft if Griner decided to forgo the draft to wait for the NBA, but Delle Donne told ESPN Sunday that she believed the men’s game was completely different and Griner should focus on the WNBA.
Delle Donne did add that if anyone could do it, Griner could. Mark Cuban started a furor when suggesting the Mavericks would consider drafting Griner, and since the WNBA season is played before the NBA season, Griner told the Los Angeles Times she would consider the NBA after honing her skills in the WNBA.
The biggest problem for Griner is that at 6-foot-8 and just over 200 pounds, she would be giving up a huge weight disadvantage if trying to play center, where she has logically played in overpowering opponents her entire career for more than 2000 points and 500 rebounds.
The shortest center to ever play in the NBA as a regular starter was Chuck Hayes of the Houston Rockets, at 6-foot-6, but 250 pounds. Even with almost 50 pounds on Griner, Hayes averaged only 4.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his career as he was constantly at a disadvantage.
For the Los Angeles Times story on Griner’s NBA prospects, click here.
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