ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins may have gone overboard with his player comparison for Kansas star Darryn Peterson.
Peterson showcased his potential during his only season with the Jayhawks, averaging 20.2 points per game on 43.8% shooting from the field. The only real red flag is that he missed 11 games due to cramping and other health-related issues. However, he claims the use of high doses of creatine led to him missing time.
"I'd never taken it before [going to college]," Peterson said. "But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must've made the levels unsafe."
Before the NBA Draft officially started Tuesday night, Perkins shared his thoughts on Peterson's outlook as a pro. Not only does he expect the Kansas product to be a star, he thinks he could become the next Kobe Bryant.
"His floor is Bradley Beal," said Perkins. "His ceiling is Kobe Bryant. If he reaches his potential, this man is going to be special."
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Fans didn't love the Kobe comparison.
Immediately after Perkins compared Peterson to Bryant, fans expressed their displeasure online.
"The dude load managed and took himself out of games in college," one fan commented.
"Again, we need to remember what a floor is supposed to be," a second fan wrote. "Brad Beal is a three-time All-Star."
"You would have had to sedate Kobe to keep him off the court had he gone to college," a third fan argued. "Stop it."
"It’s certain players that draft prospects should never be compared to. Jordan, Kobe, Bron, Magic, Bird, Duncan amongst a few .. it’s near impossible to reach those levels," another fan said. " Just look at Anthony Edwards."
At the end of the day, Bryant is one of the 10 greatest players to ever compete in the NBA. It's hard to imagine Peterson will surpass him even if he reaches his full potential.
