Dudley Shows He Does More Than Score

By MATT ROCHINSKI
bobcatsbasketball.com
July 12, 2007

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ORLANDO – Jared Dudley doesn’t want to be thought of as just a scorer.

Sure, he averaged a collegiate-career best 19.0 points for Boston College in his senior season and was named the 2006-07 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.

Sure, he’s put up 12.5 points through four 2007 Orlando Summer League games for Charlotte – averaging out to 21.6 points in a 48-minute game.

But Dudley wants Bobcats fans to realize there’s more to what he brings to the floor.

“When I came out (to Orlando), I just wanted to show what I could do in game action in our offense – show I could shoot the ball from outside, show I’m a hustler and show I can play good defense,” said Dudley after Thursday’s 72-66 loss to New Jersey. “I know I’m not just a scorer – I can rebound, find the open man, get a needed steal or come up with a big defensive stop. That’s what I’m trying to show. I’m trying to make everybody’s job a little easier.”

Dudley gave everything he could to try and do just that in Thursday’s defeat, scoring a game-high-tying 16 points and hauling down 10 rebounds, recording the Bobcats first double-double of the summer league.

“I like to get in there and throw my body around while battling for rebounds,” Dudley said. “In the NBA everybody wants to be a scorer – to be that first or second option. I’m confident that I’m the kind of guy that can be a good role player who comes in and does my job every night consistently.

As part of his job on Thursday, Dudley also swiped three steals and dished out an assist for good measure while turning the ball over just twice in a game-high 38 minutes.

“(As the Bobcats 2007 first round pick) I know there is a lot expected of me, and I feel comfortable trying to step up as much as I can,” Dudley said. “I thought I played pretty well today, but I know I could have played better.”

Playing their fourth game in four days, and with only one NBA veteran (Ryan Hollins) on their current active roster, fatigue seemed to play a factor in Charlotte’s second loss of the summer league, moving their record to 2-2 overall.

“We really didn’t play team ball like we’re supposed to and didn’t shoot the ball that well,” Dudley said. “I don’t know if that was because we were playing in our fourth game, but hopefully we can bounce back (Friday). I think people were a little bit tired out there (Thursday), and it showed in our play. Mentally, we really weren’t there, but that’s what basketball is all about. You have to be mentally there every game.”

Based on the effort Dudley put forth against the Nets and the intensity he has shown throughout the summer league, Bobcats assistant coach Jeff Capel, who is the lead coach in Orlando, has noticed that Dudley’s motor seems to be gaining momentum each game instead of slowing down.

“I’m a little surprised that he doesn’t seem to be wearing down, especially because he’s a rookie,” Capel said. “You don’t often find that. He probably hasn’t had to play four games in four days since his AAU days in high school. So it’s a little bit surprising, but then it’s not – he’s a very strong-minded young man. Fatigue can also be mental, so if you have the mental toughness to fight through that, you can overcome it, and I think he’s definitely a mentally tough guy.

“He wants to win and is the consummate team guy. He doesn’t care about individual stats, because it’s more important to him to help the team. Adding a piece like that to the guys we have is only going to make us better.”

Capel isn’t the only one on the sidelines who has seen Dudley’s potential either.

“Jared is kind of a do-everything guy out there on the perimeter,” said Adam Morrison. “He makes my job and other wing players’ jobs easier because he rebounds, plays defense and makes shots, so that is definitely going to help when we get into the regular season.”

Dudley isn’t looking that far ahead though.

Charlotte still has one summer league game remaining against the Pacers on Friday, and he and his Bobcats teammates would like to end the league on a winning note.

“We’re 2-2 and could easily be 3-1,” Dudley said. “We’ve got one game left, and I’m not ready for it to be over. I know it will be a while until I’m playing as many minutes as I’m playing now. With me, winning always comes first, but I also want to keep working hard on things to be the best teammate I can be.

“Physically, I know I’m not the most gifted player, but I know I have what it takes to be successful in this league and am trying to show that.”

If what Dudley has shown through four days in Orlando is any indication, his impact will continue to be felt in his rookie season – and not just on the scoreboard.

NOTES: The Bobcats had their worst-shooting game of the summer league, connecting on just 36.5 percent (23-63) of their shots from the field, 30.8 percent (4-13) from three-point range and 59.3 percent (16-27) from the free throw line – all summer lows. Still, trailing 67-64, they had the chance to cut the lead to one with 20 seconds remaining, but Bobby Brown’s runner in the lane fell short and the Nets converted their free throws the rest of the way.

“I thought our guys gave great effort,” Capel said. “It’s the fourth game in four days, so they’re a little tired. The ball just didn’t go in the basket, and that’s what happens when you’re a little tired. We didn’t shoot well at all, from anywhere, and still had a chance to be in the game. That’s a testament to the guys in our locker room that laid it on the line.”

Coming off a 17-point, five-assist performance against Orlando on Wednesday, Brown followed up with a 16-point, five-assist outing against the Nets. Gabe Muoneke was the only other Charlotte player to finish in double-digit scoring with 10 points on 4-10 shooting from the field.

Charlotte closes out its summer league play against Indiana at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday at the RDV Sportsplex. You can catch all your Bobcats action right here live.