I got drafted 23rd in the 1st round by the T-Wolves as an athletic small forward. I was really bad, like only a 44 overall or thereabouts when I first started the season. I didn't mind coming off the bench but my coach (Kurt Rambis) kept making moronic substitutions where he would take out the hot players and then suddenly we'd be down 10 the next time I came in the game. So I demanded a trade after 19 games, hoping to go somewhere where I could be a role player on a good team.
I was pretty surprised to find out that the team that traded for me was the Utah Jazz who were 9-10 at the time. I didn't really want to play in Utah but figured, Jerry Sloan is a good coach and won't make stupid substitutions (I was right). Pretty much from the first game there, my game took off. Before getting traded, I was averaging only like 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. By the end of my first season with the Jazz, I had raised that to 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while also averaging nearly a block a game.
I had no three point game until the mid-way point in the season when I realized I better develop that for the playoffs. By the end of the season, I had made 95 threes and shot 50% from three. My team went from being 9-10 when I got there and in 10th place in the conference to 60-22 and 2nd place. We steamrolled through the playoffs, not dropping a game until reaching the Finals and losing game 3 at home. However, the Jazz were too much for the Celtics and Jerry Sloan got his first title as a coach.
I was named Finals MVP, 1st team all-rookie, and finished 2nd in rookie of the year voting behind John Wall. For the playoffs, I averaged 29.7 ppg, 12.5 rbg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 bpg, and 1.3 spg. I had raised my overall to an 84 overall to end the season.
I was strongly considering staying with the Jazz if they signed any player I recommended (they didn't, even the role players). So I was upset with that so I decided to see who wanted me. The options were the Jazz, the Heat, the Lakers, and the Clippers. I've always been a big fan of Kobe so I decided to join the Lakers and change my number from 33 (since its retired on the Lakers), to 23 (the place I got drafted).
So I'm just about ready to get started with my 2nd season and I have a few goals I want to attain. I'm hoping to make the all-star game and contend for another title. I would like to be in contention for possibly MVP and Most Improved Player awards. I'm also hoping to make a run at the all-defensive teams since I've been working hard on upgrading my blocks and steals attributes. Should be fun, gonna get started in a few minutes.
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