Good Kidd, Mad City

He is a former No. 2 draft pick that won an NCAA championship his freshman year and bolted to the NBA. He was marketed for athleticism, length, quickness, versatility, size, and an explosive drive. He loves contact, is a solid rebounder, hustles without taking plays off, and is a good wing defender.

Who am I talking about?

If you guessed Marvin Williams then pat yourself on the back.  If you guessed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, then you’re technically right, but here is my point:

Marvin Williams is the ideal role model for MKG.

And no, i’m not hinting at Marvin, owner of one picture perfect jump shot, fixing MKG’s hitch-shot (we have Mark Price for that).

I’m also not hinting at Marvin helping out on any of the previously mentioned aspects of their games that are similar (MKG is arguably just as good or better at all of those already).

What i’m hinting at, is fighting off the lofty expectations of a No. 2 draft pick, and using a positive mindset to handle a magnitude of pressure that many in this league will never experience.

The former Tarheel and 2005 draftee who is usually remembered for being picked over Chris Paul and Deron Williams, comes to us after stints in Atlanta and Utah, and while many will hear his name and automatically think “bust”, that dreadful description couldn’t be further from the truth.

Marvin didn’t pick himself at No. 2, the Hawks did. He has, however, carved out a solid and consistent 9 years in the NBA, averaging 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, as well as becoming a great teammate and developing a knack for making plays that don’t always show up in the box score (à la Josh McRoberts).

That’s not easy to do. Yes, it isn’t the level of production that we get from Kevin Durant, but it is also a lot more than we ever saw from Darko Milicic. It is what it is. Marvin finds himself somewhere in the middle, with an understanding of both sides of the spectrum, and an appreciation of both the ups and downs that come with being selected so high. Add to that a flawless character, and you have a great all around NBA player that any team should want as a part of their organization.

So as MKG heads into his 3rd season, with expectations that some think will either make or break him, no one understands the situation better than Williams, and he is highly capable of ensuring that Kidd-Gilchrist handles the pressure and continues to work hard.

Let me make this clear. Nobody wanted Marvin Williams to succeed more than Marvin Williams, and if he can help share some of his experience with MKG, i’m sure he will.

Tie them by the hip, have them sit beside each other on the plane, make them eat together, and have them share a room at training camp. Whatever it takes to have Marvin rub off on MKG, do it, because he is a class act and a savvy NBA veteran.

But that is not all that is needed.

More importantly, fans and local media should stop criticizing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, as it won’t save his jumper and it won’t help his confidence, but will only make those things harder to obtain.

At just 20 years old, he has already received a lifetime of unfair criticism with negative comments scattered across the internet by the thousands, but as shown in the playoff performance above, his selection behind only Anthony Davis in the 2012 draft was not a fluke, and for MKG to fully unleash his potential, he will need a motivation from within, and a fan base that gives him support, patience, understanding, and a whole lot of respect.

I know this may be hard to process for the loyal in-house Debbie Downers, who were burned from years of Rod Higgins and the joke that was the Charlotte Bobcats… but simply put, your best bet for MKG is to give him the “buzz” and get rid of the “bust”.