Patience is one of the most essential virtues of a prototypical point guard.
Tyler Ennis is being rewarded for biding his time in at least two respects.
Ennis, acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks along with Michael Carter-Williams and Miles Plumlee in a three-team deal minutes before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 19, is playing substantial minutes for the Bucks.
He spent the first few months of his professional career shuttling between the Phoenix Suns and the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League.
The trade has also paired Ennis with Carter-Williams, who was his predecessor as Syracuse University’s starting point guard, but turned pro after two seasons with the Orange before Ennis arrived on campus.
Both players remember being excited over the prospect of playing in the same backcourt. Now they’re teammates who might get that opportunity.
“We were really excited about playing together,” Ennis said. “When Syracuse was recruiting me, he was taking over the team. I think we would have been really good together. We would have had two playmakers – him being a bigger guard who’s able to guard most ‘2’ guards.
“It was unfortunate that we were never able to play together, but being able to be on the same team with him now is great. It’s going to be exciting to see what happens.”
Carter-Williams shared Ennis’ enthusiasm over the idea of the two playing together.
“I left the year he came,” Carter-Williams said. “We could have had a lot of fun. I think we would have had an unbelievable season.
“Tyler’s great. He’s a great kid. He plays hard, he’s a smart player and he’s a pass-first point guard. He has a lot to learn, as do I, and we’re both really excited to get going here.”
Ennis is one of 16 Canadian-born players currently competing in the NBA. He attended Cardinal Newman Elementary School and Father Henry Carr Secondary School in north Etobicoke, Ontario, before continuing his education and basketball career at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J.
With Ennis running the point for them as a junior, the Gray Bees of St. Benedict’s earned a school-record 35 victories and the No. 2 ranking in New Jersey. He was named the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year after averaging 14.6 points and 7.1 assists per game.
In Ennis’ senior campaign of 2012–13, St. Benedict’s went 31-2. Ennis was honored as the Newark Star-Ledger Prep Player of the Year and earned All-Prep First Team recognition after averaging 20.0 points, 6.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game.
He was deemed a five-star recruit by ESPN.com and rated the No. 5 point guard and No. 20 player in the nation in 2013 and was well on his way to building his profile.
“I’m a pass-first point guard who wants to get everybody involved and get everybody easier shots,” Ennis said. “I can score when I have the opportunity. I’m someone who’s going to be poised and keep the team from getting rattled. Making the game easier for others is something I pride myself on.”
Syracuse could have struggled after Carter-Williams left for the NBA, but Ennis stepped into his vacated point guard spot and immediately made it clear that the Orange still had one of the premier floor leaders in college basketball.
In his freshman season at Syracuse in 2013–14, Ennis averaged 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals in 35.7 minutes per game. He was named to the 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team, the All-ACC Freshmen Team and the All-ACC Defensive Team. Last February, he became one of the 10 semifinalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award.
Ennis helped lead Syracuse past Western Michigan in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament,but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer of the following game that would have advanced the Orange past Dayton and into the Sweet Sixteen.
Ennis was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Phoenix, and he played with the Suns’ entry in the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
When Ennis arrived for his first pro training camp, though, he found himself stuck behind a logjam of quality guards including Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas.
He made his NBA debut Oct. 29, collecting two points, three assists and a blocked shot in a 119-99 Suns victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, but his minutes were limited, and his most extended playing time came with Bakersfield of the D-League, where he averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game over nine contests.
Ennis admitted that waiting for his opportunity was frustrating, but he put the best construction on his situation.
“It definitely was, but looking back, I think it really helped me, being able to learn and talk to the guys there every day,” he said. “I was able to see what made them successful in the league. I was also able to learn from them and go against them in practice every day.”
Ennis made an impression on Plumlee, who watched him learn and wait patiently for his turn.
“I love how he doesn’t get rattled,” Plumlee said. “He’s calm under pressure. He’s got great court awareness and is a great passer – someone you really want to play with.
“He’s a pass-first point guard, and I think he’s really going to thrive playing under Jason Kidd and playing in this system.”
That opportunity was made possible by the last-minute, three-team trade.
“It was not a surprise that Phoenix made a trade,” Ennis said. “It was just a matter of you never think you’re the one who’s going to be traded.
“I think this is definitely a better situation and spot for me here. I feel comfortable and wanted here already.”
Ennis is averaging 4.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists through his first six appearances with Milwaukee.
He contributed nine points, two assists and two steals to the Bucks’ 104-88 victory over Philadelphia on Feb. 25 and received positive reviews from his new coach afterward.
“He’s the one who’s kind of benefitted here in this whole trade,” Kidd said. “He’s been playing a lot of minutes for us. He’s 20 years old. He’d been playing in the D-League. He’s learning the game on the fly with a new group of teammates, and he’s doing a great job.
“He’s a great kid. We’re just happy to see that he’s competing. He made a couple of shots, but we like what he’s doing by getting guys involved with the pass.”
Kidd was impressed with the way Ennis meshed with his new teammates after getting over some expected early nervousness.
“He’s getting comfortable now, understanding what we’re trying to do and also playing to his strengths,” Kidd said. “He’s a kid who can get to the basket, he can shoot and he can pass.
“It’s just getting used to your teammates and understanding where they like the ball and understanding what we’re trying to do. Each time he takes the floor, he gets better.”
Ennis said moments later that he is finding a comfort zone.
“I’m pretty comfortable,” he said. “I’ve made sure the energy stays up. I’ve made sure I get out and push the ball and I’ve made sure defensively that I put pressure on the other team’s guards.
“I think we had a good rhythm going. The starters did a great job of getting the lead and the second unit extended it a little bit. Our second half was a little sloppy, but in the first half, I thought we did a good job.”
Ennis has listened intently to Kidd’s instructions since his arrival in Milwaukee.
“He has told me to just be aggressive,” Ennis said. “I think at times, I don’t look to score as much and that takes away my options. One thing he has told me to do is just be aggressive and look to score, and that’ll open my passes up.”
Ennis enjoys the freedom Kidd has given him.
“It helps a lot, just being able to make reads and know you don’t have a coach who’s breathing down your back the whole time,” he said. “He’s made me feel very comfortable so far. We’re all just looking to keep building that chemistry.”
Yes, Tyler Ennis has bided his time.
But he knows that now is his time to respond.