Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:01 pm EST

Could 6'8" Brittney Griner play in the NBA?

By J.E. Skeets

For those of you in the dark, Brittney Griner is a 16 year-old junior in Houston, Texas who leads the area in scoring, blocked shots, dunks, and being tall. She stands 6'8" (for now), wears a size 18 men's sneaker, and has exploded onto the high school basketball -- and YouTube -- scene over the past year.

Last night, Griner posted 29 points, 13 rebounds, 11 shots and nine assists in helping her Nimitz High School to a first round playoff win over rival Westside High School. On top of that, she dunked twice. Hard.

Yahoo! Sports has the video. Check it out.

Which brings us to our question: Could Brittney Griner one day play in the NBA?

She seems to have some of the tools. She's 6'8" and growing, is just 16 and, from the limited footage that I've seen of her, looks pretty quick on her feet and comfortable with the ball. With a few solid years of coaching, you'd have to at least consider it a possibility, right?

Well, no. And here's why: While Griner's 6'8" frame might make her the swat-blocking Gheorge Muresan of Texas women's high school basketball, it would mean nothing in the NBA. Can you imagine her trying to defend someone as athletic and strong as Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala? It would be impossible.

I'm still convinced that the first woman to play in the NBA will actually be a short, lightning-quick point guard with great decision-making skills and a jumpshot. You know, like, Jose Calderon ... but ... um ... not.

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610 Comments

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  1. C J
    1. Posted by C J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    You say Jose Calderon with breasts; Raptor's fans say "Perfect Creature." Seriously, they love him that much. I agree with you though, if she can't morph into the She-Hulk, then her size isn't going to help her on Gay or any other freak of nature SF. Just ask Durant.
    The first woman in the NBA will have a hell of a time I think though, as no ref wants to be accused of coddling her with whistles. Then there's half-time locker room speeches..
  2. goathair
    2. Posted by goathair Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    That rim doesn't look 10 feet to me. I'm sure it is, but it seems really short.
    Plus she looks like Namond from The Wire.
  3. mongowax
    3. Posted by mongowax Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    You said just what I was gonna say: it'll be an Earl Boykins type, but bigger. Even then the lady NBAer will be exploited on defense every possession. Plus Jason Kidd and Ruben Patterson will have an uncontrollable urge to punch her.
    Tiny people like Boykins and Damon Stoudamire make up for their height by being pretty dang strong and (allegedly) good shooters. I think it's possible that a woman could be in the NBA, but like you said it'll take an amazing combination of lightning quickness, perfect shot, scrappiness, and extraordinary strength. If she's strong enough to be in the NBA, she'll likely be very attractive as well but the media will be respectful enough to never discuss how she looks.
    Oh, women.
  4. hardwoodparoxysm
    4. Posted by hardwoodparoxysm Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    "Can you imagine her trying to defend someone as athletic and strong as Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala? It would be impossible."
    You HAVE seen the Knicks play, right, Skeets?
  5. Jason T
    5. Posted by Jason T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    you idiot! you mean the WNBA, right?
  6. Blake Murphy
    6. Posted by Blake Murphy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    10 bucks says she benches more than Durant though.
  7. mongowax
    7. Posted by mongowax Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    Now that I've watched the video, I'm pretty sure that is just Shaun Livingston rehabbing. I can see how they'd make this mistake though.
  8. mcwelk
    8. Posted by mcwelk Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    Hey, if Renée Richards can play women's tennis …
  9. HockeyPlayer9205
    9. Posted by HockeyPlayer9205 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    that's a man.
  10. doneycat
    10. Posted by doneycat Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Just wondering if they prebooked a room at the Baylor Medical Center for her ACL surgery, or are they going to wait until it actually tears.
  11. Frank
    11. Posted by Frank Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    Insert Joakim Noah joke here.
  12. Chris Clarke @ clarkeblog.com
    12. Posted by Chris Clarke @ clarkeblog.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    I'm sure she's a lovely person, but she has a deep voice for a 16-year old girl. Good grief, she won't be playing in the NBA, but she'll be pretty impressive in the WNBA if she wants to actually, you know, play against women taller than Earl Boykins.
  13. stephen y
    13. Posted by stephen y Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    Haha the idea of her making the NBA is ridiculous. just because she can dunk doesn't mean anything. how many 6-8 high school men can dunk? and how many of them make the NBA?
  14. Distroyer
    14. Posted by Distroyer Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:54 pm EDT

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    Man, this is so wrong! Don't even think about ir! Let it go!
  15. KP
    15. Posted by KP Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    My question is why are you even speaking of the NBA as if the WNBA isn't good enough for her? Why would a woman even want to play in the NBA when she knows it will be biased and bunch of BS. She will be a great WNBA Prospect provided that she stays healthy.
  16. The Great White Hype
    16. Posted by The Great White Hype Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    never going to happen. keep dreaming. she is obviously good and is going to be playing in the wnba but the reality is no team is going to sign a girl basketball player. as for your idea of a small quick female making it, thats never going happen because of durability issues. a woman driving the lane getting hit by someone say the size of duncan or howard she wouldn't last a season. sorry but women need to be sticking to the wnba.
  17. andrew t
    17. Posted by andrew t Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    i heard calderon maybe a little flat but has nice nips.
  18. P
    18. Posted by P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    JE Skeets huh? Although I willnot argue your point about defending some of the big NBA players, I have to wonder if you have gotten a calendar recently, one say from the 21st century. Like Jose Calderon but with breasts? You are a freakin caveman. Why not switch it to but with a vagina? Idiots like you make even the dumbest fan think they could do your job. You knucklehead.
  19. Andrew
    19. Posted by Andrew Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    cup check?
  20. Rich S
    20. Posted by Rich S Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    I really doubt a woman could ever make the NBA I doubt she could play DI mens in college. The strength just isn't there.
    As a freshmen in HS we were asked to play against the Varsity girls team. They needed some tougher competition as they were blowing out all opponents and were preparing for the California state playoffs.
    We absolutely killed them and had to be asked not to block their shots. I was a six foot 15 year and could easily guard one of So Cals best female post players.
    NO WAY A FEMALE MAKES THE NBA! Until one of my two girls grow up!
  21. andrew t
    21. Posted by andrew t Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    15. Don't worry 15, girls won't choose the nba over the wnba, as much easier for them to get a date in the wnba.
  22. lenny50
    22. Posted by lenny50 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    i wonder can she swallow something big? nice throat she has!
  23. lenny50
    23. Posted by lenny50 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    i can't believe a midget would hit her from da back!
  24. Howie P
    24. Posted by Howie P Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    a very interesting article until you said a woman could play in the NBA. Silly.
  25. kooms23
    25. Posted by kooms23 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    A woman should not be able to make the NBA. There is a WNBA for a reason. Honestly, if a woman could make the NBA, then why can't a man make the WNBA if he isn't good enough?

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Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Dan Devine, Adrian Wojnarowski & Marc J. Spears,

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