Feel good story: Former NBA 3rd overall Pick Adam Morrison killing it

[chambers]

Great story about a guy who had the world on his shoulders and at his fingertips at one point. 4 seasons after being the 3rd over all pick of the NBA draft, the Great White Hope was dropped from the Washington Wizards.

Good on him- making $350K a year and playing the game he loves!

article+ youtube vids of his new team/career.
Excuse music in one of the videos, sounds like Kobe Bryant singing in the shower.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/11/22/adam.morrison/index.html?sct=nba_t11_a0



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uLjARxozZo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=yrJEyj0fF9M&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_964149&v=vEA_eF4UAZQ

[Who]

His game logs show that his shooting is up and down like a yo-yo. No consistency. Three horrible games, four excellent shooting nights.

Pulling down an abysmal 3rpg in 30mpg. A lack of assists (1.6apg, 12 total turnovers vs 11 total assists [7 games], 11 assists vs 91 shot attempts + 24 FTAs). It's unlikely he has learned how to play any defense since he last played played pro ball ... so very weak non-scoring contributions across the board.

His only virtue is that he has had a few hot-shooting nights to begin the season. Doesn't look like a reason for optimism. Unfortunately.

[Chris]

I think Morrison's game is much more suited to Europe, so I would not be surprised if he can have a good career over there, now that he is healthy again.  Not sure this means anything for his NBA hopes though.

[CDawg834]

It's the same stuff we've seen from him before.  He can create his own shot and score against lesser talent like in college (and apparently overseas).  But he can't do it against NBA defenders, and it's clear he can't do anything else - can't pass, can't rebound, can't play D.

I'd be surprised if he finds his way back to the NBA as anything other than a 12th man.  Nice to see he's still keeping the total creep look going, though.

[Gainesville Celtic]

thanks for sharing the article Chambers.. it was a darn good read.

I don't know..... I tend to agree with McLean at the end that Morrison could still be an effective 6th/7th man in the NBA... a poor man's Nick Young type who's job is just to come in and provide an offensive focal point. Like an anti-Perk (in a good way).

I think we tend to underestimate the role 'situation' plays in a players development. Morrison had a decent rookie season -- not all-rookie and not worthy of a #5 pick but even on a bad team 12/3/2 is nothing to sneeze at. But hen he loses a season to an ACL tear, then Larry Brown buries him and he's traded to a 2-time championship team where playing time is understandably limited.

Heck, just look at JJ Redick's career arc. After year 2 there was ALOT of talk that he wouldn't get a 2nd contract, then due to changed circumstances on the same team he becomes a legit MLE guy. Did Redick get much better between year 2 and 5 or did the situation/team dynamic change too?




On a non-basketball note, It's fascinating to me to think that there are 100s of such stories about college stars or 1st round picks who don't make the NBA (Sean May was mentioned, Trajan Langdon, etc.).

I'm always curious how the rest of their 20s/30s play out... I was just becoming the person i am today in my late 20s and to have such a major transition is a fascinating personal story.

Lebatard had Ryan Leaf on his show a few weeks back and it was interesting to hear him talk about that transition in some full way... sure as athletes some of these guys are "busts" but they are still in, what, the top 1-2% in their craft in the world?

[LeoMoreno]

Basketball is a team game which is played by the humans, not robots. His inconsistency can be explained with one simple answer: His teammates. (horrible, ugly to watch, absolutely useless, only coach is worth something on that team, yes I used to be this team's fan until their corruption surfaced)

[dtrader]

thanks for sharing the article Chambers.. it was a darn good read.

I don't know..... I tend to agree with McLean at the end that Morrison could still be an effective 6th/7th man in the NBA... a poor man's Nick Young type who's job is just to come in and provide an offensive focal point. Like an anti-Perk (in a good way).

I think we tend to underestimate the role 'situation' plays in a players development. Morrison had a decent rookie season -- not all-rookie and not worthy of a #5 pick but even on a bad team 12/3/2 is nothing to sneeze at. But hen he loses a season to an ACL tear, then Larry Brown buries him and he's traded to a 2-time championship team where playing time is understandably limited.

Heck, just look at JJ Redick's career arc. After year 2 there was ALOT of talk that he wouldn't get a 2nd contract, then due to changed circumstances on the same team he becomes a legit MLE guy. Did Redick get much better between year 2 and 5 or did the situation/team dynamic change too?




On a non-basketball note, It's fascinating to me to think that there are 100s of such stories about college stars or 1st round picks who don't make the NBA (Sean May was mentioned, Trajan Langdon, etc.).

I'm always curious how the rest of their 20s/30s play out... I was just becoming the person i am today in my late 20s and to have such a major transition is a fascinating personal story.

Lebatard had Ryan Leaf on his show a few weeks back and it was interesting to hear him talk about that transition in some full way... sure as athletes some of these guys are "busts" but they are still in, what, the top 1-2% in their craft in the world?

Redick changed a ton between his 2nd and 5th year.  Year one and two it was like he was still trying to be who he was in college.  All he seemed capable of was outside shooting and scoring spurts.  Once he saw (or was shown), that he wasn't going to be able to make a career in the NBA doing what he was doing, he worked on developing a more polished all around game.  At this point, he is as solid on the defensive end, as he is on the offensive end.  So instead of having a one dimensional player that doesnt have the ability to fill that role in the NBA, you have a player that is capable on both sides of the ball, and satisfied doing whatever is necessary to help his team....players like that are valuable.

For Morrison...I think he's more NBA ready now in terms of his physique, but I dont see enough progress off the ball or on the defensive end to see him making any noise.

[Celtics18]

For me Von Wafer's play in Italy is more of a feel good story. 

[RebusRankin]

That would be a good where are they now piece? Stromile Swift et all?

[LooseCannon]

Morrison is an ex-Laker.  My instinct is to root against him.  On the other hand, Morrison is the kind of ex-Laker who would p--- off some Laker fans if he found success elsewhere, especially with another NBA team.