Griner in the NBA would be a joke

There has been talk about whether Brittney Griner, one of the most dominant women's college basketball players of all-time, should try to go into the NBA. That would be an absolute joke if an NBA team picked Griner in this June's NBA Draft. The only reason a team would pick Griner is to try and sell more seats because of the media circus that would go on by the team that drafts her.

Griner, who averaged 23.6 points and nine rebounds per game, led her Baylor Lady Bears to three straight No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Baylor won the championship during the 2011-12 season with a perfect 40-0 record. Her Bears had a record of 135-15 in Griner's four years and went 108-5 in the last three.

But that is women's basketball, where Griner towers over the competition. In the NBA, or even boys high school or men's college basketball, she would not have that advantage. The tallest opposition for Griner is shorter than the shortest NBA center.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has recently stated he may draft Griner. But that just be to get people talking. After all, this isn't the first time Cuban has been involved in controversy.

At 6-8, she would not only not have the size advantage, but she also would have be at a disadvantage in terms of strength, speed and quickness. In women's college basketball, she would have a natural position of center because she is naturally just bigger than everyone else. However, in the NBA, she would have to play small forward. The problem with that is the fact that she does not have the quickness to do that. Imagine her trying to defend LeBron James or Kevin Durant, or even reserves like Chase Budinger or Matt Barnes.She would stand no chance. None at all.

If she were to be a power forward, the big men would have an easy time getting into the paint against her. She would not stand a chance against players like Reggie Evans, let alone players like Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge. There is just too big of a strength differential.

She also would have a hard time getting past defenders and getting to the rim as well. In women's college basketball, her shots stand little chance of being blocked. In the NBA, if she were to not reach the paint, she would have to do a mid-range shot or try to do a hook shot, and players like Dwight Howard and Serge Ibaka would eat that shot for dinner.

Not to discount what she has done in women's college basketball because she is perhaps the greatest women's college basketball player ever, but she just does not stand a chance in the NBA. The players are too big, too fast and too strong. She would not be able to compete. It would be a mistake for any team to draft her. She would not even be able to compete in the NBA Developmental League. She has the potential to be one of the greatest WNBA players, though.