LaVine Needs to Grow Up

It’s been recently announced that the Minnesota Timberwolves have decided to sign the one of the rookies they selected in the 2014 NBA Draft, Zach LaVine.

 

Congratulations to the young man.

But part of me feels a certain sadness. I'm not a T-Wolves supporter, I admire a few of their players, but I couldn't be called a fan. I do feel sympathy, however, for fans of the franchise. In LaVine, they have signed a player with plenty of potential. He has an incredible vertical leap and has a nice jump shot that can make up for other guards (such as Ricky Rubio) that have less consistent shots. He could be a real prospect for the team.

Despite all of this, people are already calling him a bust from a draft class that was stacked with talent. Why? Because when we found out he was going to Minnesota, his initial reaction was to slam his head on the table. When he raised his head to face the music, he could clearly be seen to say “F**k me”. I mean, seriously? You’ve just been selected to play in the top league in the world and you’re not happy with it? And it’s not like the Timberwolves are a bad franchise to play for either. Yes, they are more than likely going to lose Kevin Love, but they still have good young talent in the form of Rubio and Chase Budinger. They may have missed out on the playoffs this year, but they still had a record of 40-42, which would’ve been enough to get them into the post-season if they were in the Eastern Conference. This is a team that could go places, and instead of thinking of the potential that’s there, LaVine instead chooses to act disrespectfully towards his new club.

Compare this attitude to that of Isaiah Austin. You may remember him as the center from Baylor University, who was told a few days before the draft that he couldn't play professional basketball. This was due to him being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a severe condition that affects a person’s cells and body tissue. When he was ceremonially drafted on behalf of the NBA, tears were flowing from everyone, including Austin himself. He was humbled to even be allowed on the stage of the Barclays Centre to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand, never mind to play in the NBA.

Just to clarify, this isn't a smear campaign against LaVine. I wish him all the best in his career, and I think he could make a big impact on a struggling T-Wolves team (if he can keep his temper under control).

I just wish that people would realise what they have