Things have come full circle for Cavaliers veteran Antawn Jamison. The first NBA lockout occurred just as he was entering the league as a rookie, and the second is starting before the final year of his contract.
View full sizeThe Cavs' Antawn Jamison says NBA players are more unified than during the lockout in 1998.CLEVELAND, Ohio — Things have come full circle for Cavaliers veteran Antawn Jamison.
The first NBA lockout occurred when he was entering the league as a rookie, and the second is starting before the last year of his contract.
The difference between the two situations is striking, Jamison said.
"I think the biggest difference [is] the first go-around we were so divided as players, and the owners saw that," Jamison said toward the end of last season. "They knew certain players were going to break.
"I think on this go-around, pretty much all the players are unified in knowing that we're going to prepare for the worst. This is what we feel is right for us. It's a business. The owners feel they have rights to do certain things. But I think the players union is definitely a lot tighter than what it was when I first got to the league."
Jamison left North Carolina after his junior season in 1998 and was the fourth pick in the draft by the Toronto Raptors, who traded him to Golden State for the draft rights to Vince Carter and cash.
While he would have cautioned players to reconsider entering the draft this year because of the labor uncertainty, he didn't have second thoughts about declaring his intentions 13 years ago.
"At that particular time . . . a lockout had never occurred in the NBA," Jamison said. "I was thinking, 'They'll figure something out. It can't happen now.'
"Unfortunately it did and we missed half the season."
Jamison did not endure particular hardship during the layoff. His parents were working, and he got what he called a "nice advance" to tide him over. He spent most of the time working out at North Carolina.
But he definitely felt the lockout set him back in his development.
"It set me back a lot," he said. "Not being able to do a lot of things, it was kind of difficult.
"There's nothing like going through a summer league, getting some games under your belt, playing against great competition, dealing with the coaching staff, implementing what they want to do on both ends of the floor. That really makes a difference. For these young guys . . . it definitely prevents them from really getting the opportunity to be the best they can possibly be."
Things didn't get any easier once play resumed in February 1998, either, when rookies found themselves playing three games in three nights to get in a 50-game season.
"At the most [in college], I played 30 games," Jamison said. "Just dealing with the travel [was rough]. I've been in the league 13 years, and I'm still not adjusted to the type of travel we do. Going through those things is kind of tough. It's tough making the adjustment, period. But to do it after a lockout is definitely tough."
Jamison and fellow veteran Baron Davis have talked about hosting workouts, similar to the ones Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has organized during the NFL lockout.
Jamison said last season he also urged his young teammates to save their money, just like the veteran players did when he was coming into the league.
"It's definitely my duty to help these guys out as much as possible," he said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668
On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_cavaliers_antawn_jam_1.html
Niclas Alexandersson Vladimir Putin Birmingham City Francesca Panetta Butterflies Everton
No comments:
Post a Comment