I want to stay focused on the details of what our team needs me to do — whether it’s guarding a Kobe (Bryant) and don’t let him catch it in certain spots or the same against Kevin Durant,” Pondexter said. “I just want to be that player that’s really solid defensively on the perimeter, similar to Shane Battier and how he guards people. He’s not really getting many steals but he’s always there bugging people. You know, like a Bruce Bowen.”

Pondexter, 6-6, had his moments against elite scorers last season. Yet the 24-year-old clearly set his sights high given those stated role models earned long, successful careers because of their consistency and discipline.

“Utility players are guys that go out and do whatever is necessary. He’ll do that,” Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. “We just need him to be consistent guarding people. It may be shooting guards. It may be small forwards. He’s got to be ready to defend. He’s a bigger guy and we need that.”

via Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal