He effectively destroys the idea that "you are what you are." He hasn't improved his athleticism very much, if at all. He has improved his strength for sure. But his big improvements in shooting, footwork and ball handling seem to have simply (as if it's simple) come about through the unrelenting, focused repetition of the moves and form he wanted to learn. Virtually anyone can improve like that if they are willing to put in the time and effort.
It seems to me that the Raptors have been drafting based, to a significant degree, on character. Work ethic would be an important aspect of character that they look at. Powell, VV, Delon, OG, Siakim and Jake would all seem to have big doses of work ethic. This has to be a strategy that Masai is following. It would seem that Stackhouse is doing the same with the 905. I believe this is a conscious decision Ujiri has made to maximize production from the lower ranks of the draft.
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