Every player in the NBA is talented. There isn’t
one guy in the league that can’t tell you a story about how he once
dominated a high school game or how he was told about the riches his
talent would earn him at the pro level. But when all of your peers have
talent, obviously talent alone won’t be enough to catapult you to the
top of the NBA - many times it won’t get you off the bench. This is
something that New York Knicks forward Jared Jeffries has learned the
hard way, but he intends to change his fate the old fashioned way -
back breaking hard work.
Jared Jeffries is a rare commodity. He is one of the few players having
the skill set that realistically allows him to play four different
positions. He has every reason to be a star in this league and when the
Knicks brought him to New York, many people (myself included) thought
Jeffries would be a key piece to bringing the team back to the
playoffs. But it hasn’t happened; a broken wrist early in the season
derailed Jared and led him to what can only be called a bad year.
With a healthy bank account some players may make excuses while
brushing the season off, making promises to be better next year. Not
Jared, he has no time. He’s too busy working harder than he has ever
worked, ensuring this upcoming season is not a repeat of last year’s
performance.
“I had a bad year last year,” said Jeffries. “I have always felt that
if you put the work in, dedicate your time to the game, the game will
give back what you put into it. I really want to take this summer to
put as much as I could into it and get the rewards from it.”
Only 25 years old, it’s refreshing to see such a young player take
responsibility for his disappointing season. It shows a tremendous
amount of maturity and respect for his teammates, coaching staff and
his craft.
“I haven’t played as well as I would have liked my entire NBA career,”
he said. “I’ve had good moments and bad moments but I feel like I’m
only 25 years only and my better days are in front of me.”
We still don’t know how far in front of Jared those better days are but
he certainly wants to start playing at the level he knows he’s capable.
To get to that point Jeffries has been working close to six hours per
day preparing to be an impact player next season.
“I’m putting a lot of work in; I’m hoping it will pay off for me,” he
said. “I think everyone knows I work hard but a lot of time they
question my effort level. I love to play but I have to come out and
show that everyday I’m giving the effort, not just physically but
mentally.”
The work has to pay off for Jeffries this season.
Injuries and a failure to live up to high expectations have been the
stigma attached to Jeffries. Now that he is healthy and working towards
improvement there aren’t any excuses left for him - he has to produce.
The Knicks are a team looking to turn the corner and simply can’t wait
for him to develop. He has to be able to contribute something to this
team from day number one or his time in New York may come to an end.
NBA Rumors: PJ Brown Interested in Phoenix? Aug 16, 2007 •
PJ Brown visits Kerr in Phoenix • Parker pushing for Spanoulis? • Bosh
reinjures foot • Udoka expected to sign today • Could Pietrus end up
back with the Warriors? • Reggie Miller working hard to get in shape •
much more inside...
