On Kelly Oubre and Inconsistency

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After a slow start at Kansas, namely averaging just 10.1 minutes a game in KU's first nine games, Kelly Oubre's production settled into a consistent pattern of inconsistency. In the final twenty-eight games of the season, Oubre scored in double figures fifteen times and single digits thirteen times, including zero points twice.

Towards the end of the season, he appeared to be settling in and, over an eight game stretch, Oubre scored 13.8 points a game on 49% shooting. However, he followed that up with 7.3 points on 36% shooting in the last three games of Kansas' season.

Oubre's inconsistent performance is very reminiscent of several other former Kansas wing players. Below are the five wing players drafted during Bill Self's time at Kansas, listed with their measurables and a quote from ESPN's Chad Ford's  draft Big Board: 

2007 1.13 Julian Wright
Height: 6-9 Weight: 211 Wingspan: 7-2 Reach: 9-0 Vertical: 33.5
"Doesn't always dominate the way he could."

2008 1.13 Brandon Rush
Height: 6-7 Weight: 211 Wingspan: 6-11 Reach: 8-9 Vertical: 35
"Can be too unselfish at times. Seems to fade into the background at times."

2010 1.12 Xavier Henry
Height: 6-7 Weight: 210 Wingspan: 6-11 Reach: 8-9 Vertical: 36.5
"Doesn't create a lot of offense through the dribble. Relies too much on his jumper. He had an up and down season."

2013 1.07 Ben McLemore
Height: 6-5 Weight: 189 Wingspan: 6-8 Reach: 8-5 Vertical: 42
"Can be inconsistent/disappears."

2014 1.01 Andrew Wiggins

Height: 6-8 Weight: 198 Wingspan: 7-0 Reach: N/A Vertical: High
"Can be passive at times."

So we're all the big talents wing talents at Kansas cut from the same inconsistent cloth? On the other hand, of the guards and big men drafted during Bill Self's tenure: Darnell Jackson (2008), Mario Chalmers (2008), Darrell Arthur (2008), Cole Aldrich (2010), Tyshawn Taylor (2012), Thomas Robinson (2012), Jeff Withey (2013), and Joel Embiid (2014), only Arthur was considered inconsistent in college and, oh yeah, he's had one of the best career of this group so far, maybe the best. 

This may be a coincidence, but it seems Bill Self's offensive system at Kansas maximizes point guards and big men, while leaving less of a high-usage role for wing player. It is a pick-and-roll based offense with plenty of post-ups for the bigs, while often relegating wings to spot-up duties. Oubre frequently looked out of the flow of the offense, instead of having plays run for him, he had to create it on his own. It took a transcendent talent like Wiggins to break that trend, which also happened to coincide with Kansas' worst point guard situation in years. Again, maybe a coincidence.

Another possible explanation for Oubre's inconsistency: Bill Self doesn't always trust young players with a big role until they prove that they can function within his system, have success, and show responsibility off the court. Even Joel Embiid barely played starting out at Kansas despite being clearly the second best talent on the team. That isn't to say that Self is doing anything wrong, it is likely that  Embiid, Oubre, or Cliff Alexander weren't ready to take that bigger role and run with it.

Wright played 231 games over four seasons, averaging just 3.9 points a game, before taking his talents overseas. His lack of a true position and poor offensive skill set prevented Wright from carving out any kind of consistent role.

Rush has played 362 games over the course of seven seasons, averaging 7.6 points a game. His development was stalled by a torn ACL (his second since high school) that came just as he was coming into his own as a player.

Henry has played 185 games through five seasons averaging 5.7 points a game. Henry was traded in his second year and never found consistent playing time before finding a role in 2013-14 when he averaged 10 points a game. Unfortunately, just like Rush, Henry suffered an devastating injury, both knee and wrist, that he has been unable to come back from. 

McLemore has played in all 164 games in his first two seasons in the NBA, averaging 10.5 points a game, improving both his shooting and defense from season one to two. 

Wiggins played all 82 games in his rookie season, averaging 16.9 points and easily winning Rookie of the Year.

Wiggins and McLemore have been definite successes so far, while Henry and Rush developed slowly, most likely due to their so-so athleticism and game built on good, not great shooting, but were beginning to hit a stride and develop their games, before being derailed by injuries. Only Wright was an complete bust. Oubre has much more in common with Wiggins and McLemore (great athlete, diverse skillset) than Rush and Henry or Wright. Oubre is not without fault when it comes to his inconsistencies, his habit of occasionally losing defensive focus can't be blamed on the offense for example, but baring an injury, it is hard not to see Oubre sticking in the NBA.

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