You'd think a guy who played four years at North Carolina and wound up wearing the uniform of the Washington Wizards would have some pretty clear ideas who his basketball idol might be -- especially when he didn't need any of the six degrees to get much closer to Michael Jordan.
 Haywood ranks second among rookies in rebounding with 7.3 boards per game. NBAE/Getty Images |
He immediately grabbed No. 3. For John Starks.
"I always grew up respecting Michael Jordan, but I was never a Michael Jordan fan because I was a big Knicks fan," said the 22-year-old, who can be forgiven because he grew up in New York City. "Starks had such passion and fire. On a bad night shooting, he was always diving on the floor, getting in people's faces on defense. That’s what I’d like to think I’m about."
Interesting that a shooting guard's mentality is trapped inside of a low-post presence. But in his short tenure in the NBA, Haywood has shown an ability to excel without the ball. Though he has appeared in only 24 games -- all off the bench -- his rebounding average of 7.4 a game ranks second on the Wizards only to Popeye Jones (7.6 rpg), and second among NBA rookies only to Memphis’ Pau Gasol (8.7). Haywood's 1.79 blocks a game is also second among rookies, also to Gasol (2.41 bpg).
All reason enough for Haywood to be chosen to play for the Rookie Team in the got milk? Rookie Challenge on February 9, during NBA All-Star Saturday in Philadelphia.
"I just hope I can go out and represent," Haywood said, "and show why I’m one of the rookies they felt were among the best over the first half of the season."
Haywood was slowed a bit to begin the season after tearing ligaments in his left thumb in a preseason game at Miami. But he was able to regroup enough to be named the Eastern Conference got milk? Rookie of the Month during December, when he averaged 7.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks -- all while playing behind starter Jahidi White. And while Haywood has shown flashes of brilliance -- he averaged 14 points and 8.2 rebounds during a five-game stretch in December, four of them Washington victories -- the Wizards’ braintrust is looking for more consistency, particularly on the offensive end.
"It’s important that once Michael stops playing and once Popeye [Jones] and Christian [Laettner] are done," said Washington coach Doug Collins, "that these young guys -- Brendan and Kwame [Brown] and Jahidi and Etan [Thomas] have to be ready to step in and play, so we don't miss a beat as we’re trying to move up the ladder. Brendan's got to be one of those guys."
