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Message: [QUOTE="moqui, post: 300764, member: 214"] We were comparing Kris Joseph and CJ Fair in another thread, specifically the sense that many of us had after his sophomore season that Kris was bound for stardom that he never quite reached. It reminded me of an interview I heard a few months back and even at the time, I thought it might pertain to Kris. Eric Musselman is the current head coach of the NBA D-league Los Angeles Defenders. Musselman won the D-League coach of the year last year and set a league record for having had 6 members of his squad called up to NBA teams. I believe he also holds the record for having developed the most call ups from the CBA during his stints coaching in that league. He did a radio interview with an LA radio station towards the end of the D League season that focused on his ability to develop fringe players and get them to the Association. He said that there were two key factors that determined whether guys could make the leap from outside leagues to the NBA: First, to be a product of a winning culture, either in the minor leagues or in college, because the purpose of being called up is to help a team win. Second, the most successful minor league players weren't league all stars, but those who developed a niche skill, because they were going to be role players when they got the call up, not stars. Mussleman emphasized that putting these two things together - the ability to be a role player who contributes to a winning culture - created the one single dynamic that best predicted successful progression from the minor leagues to the NBA. I think this might be the best path for Kris Joseph to get to the NBA. He is obviously the product of a winning environment - the winningest player in the history of the 5th winningest school of all time, one of just a handful of Orangemen to play in 3 Sweet 16s and earn #1 rankings in two different seasons, etc. And, maybe most importantly, he always seemed more comfortable in a supporting rather than a starring role. If he doesn't get drafted or earn a UFA contract this summer, then his agent should move heaven and earth to get him on the D-Fenders where Musselman can help him identify his niche (if he has one) and groom him for the next step. [/QUOTE]

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