James Young’s growth is on display
NEW ORLEANS — It was a rather debated decision, the Celtics keeping James Young because he was less refined than the more polished R.J. Hunter. Young had spent his first two NBA seasons toiling with his maturity, searching for professionalism, and, most important, learning to trust his instincts.
At the highest basketball level, where every player can at least do one thing really well and a good percentage are elite athletes, instinct separates productive players from D-Leaguers, and for his first two NBA seasons, Young was essentially a D-Leaguer.
Each time he received the ball, he paused to consider his next move. Pausing, thinking, and probing are not good qualities for an NBA player. That momentary delay allows defenders to catch up and therefore sterilizes the impact of that next move.
The 21-year-old Young was predictable and methodical and underdeveloped. And the low point of his first two seasons occurred during the Las Vegas Summer League last July, when the Celtics lost their finale to the Trail Blazers while Young sat on the bench in the second half, complaining of a sore knee.
But the reason he was on the bench was more than a sore knee. Summer league coach Jamie Young (no relation) had enough of James Young’s lackadaisical play and questionable desire.
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