As a collegiate star, making the transition to professional athlete can be a difficult task, both mentally and physically. As trying a task as it is to match up with the best athletes in the world on a nightly basis, it can be even more perplexing to go from being the best player (or one of the best players) on your team to a role player or, possibly, a benchwarmer.
For New Orleans Hornets point guard Darren Collison, an All-America selection in both his junior and senior seasons at UCLA, it looked like he was going to be relegated to the bench when he was picked by New Orleans with the 21st pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Hornets, as I'm sure you already know, have a pretty good point guard on the roster that goes by the name of Chris Paul.
Paul, of course, has established himself as the game's pre-eminent lead guard and, at the age of 24, has already been named to three All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and two NBA All-Defensive teams. Not exactly the best guy to try stealing minutes from, particularly as a rookie.
Not too surprisingly, Collison played sparingly from the onset of the season, seeing just 12 minutes of action in New Orleans' first seven games as he adapted to the speed of the NBA game and adjusted to his new role of facilitator and (gasp)… back up.
"I think it is like steady keel," Collison told HOOPSWORLD of his rookie season so far. "Not too easy, but not too hard. Every day I am always learning from somebody. Playing a lot of minutes every day, of course, will make me more comfortable but the games from here on out from the season going all the way to the playoffs will not be comfortable. I got to make sure I get everything out of this whole experience and just try to take full advantage of it."
And take advantage of it he has.
Paul has been spectacular, as usual, this season, but has also missed 15 games through Monday and is expected to be out for about one more month. While Collison has used his time served as a Paul's backup to his advantage, the rookie is ready to show the world what he already knew: he is capable of being a starter in the NBA.
"I always had that confidence in myself," Collison said, "as well as my teammates and my coach had that confidence in me. All I have to do is just go out there and play my game. I don't really have to think too much and I don't feel any pressure."
Recently, with Paul undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and being sidelined for the foreseeable future, Collison has had that confidence tested by playing against a string of All-Star quality point guards while starting in CP3's place, facing the likes of Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook and Jameer Nelson.
"Every point guard in the league is very good," he said of the challenge laid in front of him over the past week. "It is always good to match up against the elite point guards and that is all I have been doing this week. With (Steve) Nash, Russ (Westbrook), Raymond Felton, Jameer Nelson; these are all guys that made their names in the NBA. Eventually, I want to do the same but, I have to go out there and prove it. I'm not going to prove it individually; I'm going to go out there and try to get the win.
The 6-0, 160 lb. Collison has posted some big numbers in Paul's absence, racking up back-to-back double-doubles (17 points, 18 assists against Memphis on Jan. 30 and 16 points, 14 rebounds against Phoenix on Feb. 1) and putting on full display how well the rookie fits in with New Orleans pick and roll offense.
"This is one team that I fit in right with the pick and roll system" Collison explained. "There were a couple miscues with the coaching staff, you know, I had to adjust to the new coaching staff but, all in all, we still run the same system and that is just pick and roll. I try to get my guys involved off the pick and roll, try to be as crafty as I can and try to get myself involved."
His big numbers (even against top competition), however, aren't a result of the system, but of Collison's smarts and talents, according to Jeff Bower, the Hornets General Manager and Head Coach.
"I think it is his ability," Bower said of Collison's strong play and eye-popping numbers. "We don't have a really complicated system. I give his talents and abilities a majority of all the reasoning for him to be successful. We've tried to ask him to do things that he can do well, and tried to stick with those things that we are looking to do. He's been good with that.
"He has such a great head on his shoulders and he's got Final Four experience playing under the bright lights of the Pac-10 at UCLA and then he's had the good fortune of playing behind and with the best point guard in the game. He is really sharp and we understood that really early in his days with us. Whether it was in just workouts before the season or training camp or into the start of the season, he really knew that he had a great asset to look at, so that has helped him a lot. He is a competitive guy. Every time that he's been in a situation of having to start and run the team, he's just stepped up and done great."
Despite all of his success to this point, Collison knows that he still has a long way to go as an NBA player, and it is impossible to know what the future holds for him in New Orleans and the NBA as a whole.
"As of right now, I still have a lot to learn from Chris Paul," Collison said. "He tells me everyday different things that I can learn from him. I'm just trying to take full advantage of this whole experience. In the future, whatever pays off is going to pay off, but right now I'm just trying to milk everything in.
Collison knows that as much as he has done for the Hornets with Paul out of action, his teammates have done for him. Yes, he has had some big statistical nights, but wins and team play are what make this point guard go.
"Give credit to my teammates," he said. "David West is hitting those shots. Peja (Stojakovic) is hitting those shots in transition, as well as Mo Peterson and all my perimeter guys. I'm just delivering the ball like I am supposed to and they are just capitalizing on it. It feels good to have double-digit assists, but that wouldn't be possible without my teammates."
In this case, it wouldn't be possible without his injured teammate.
While Paul recovers from knee surgery, the Hornets are in the midst of a playoff push and are currently 2.5 games back of the eighth place Portland Trail Blazers. Collison will have to not only continue to play well down the stretch, but continue to progress as a floor general at the NBA level if the Hornets are to make the playoffs.
As Collison and any true point guard knows, you can't do it without your teammates.
