Pargo’s Latest Objective: Helping Shorthanded Hornets Win
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Fifth-year veteran Jannero Pargo is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and assists and tallied double-digit points in six of the Hornets’ first nine December games.
Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
December 22, 2006
Jannero Pargo loves a challenge. And over the past few months, he’s been presented with plenty: a move to a new city, preparing for a new NBA season, welcoming a new baby, and becoming the Hornets’ go-to guy off the bench.
So far, Pargo, a fifth-year player out of Arkansas, has accepted and made the most of each challenge.
When the Hornets signed the 27-year-old, they knew he was a player ready to prove he is deserving of a spot on an NBA roster. Through the first four years of his career, Pargo had appeared in just 154 games with three NBA franchises, including the L.A. Lakers, Toronto and, most recently, Chicago.
“He’s a player who’s hungry,” Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said when he signed Pargo in August. “He’s looking for the opportunity to prove himself.” Twenty-five games into the season, Pargo is doing all he can to prove Bower right.
The Hornets, plagued by injuries to three of their four top scorers – Bobby Jackson, Peja Stojakovic and Davis West – have challenged Pargo to be the first option off the bench. He often steps in to replace either starting point guard Chris Paul or shooting guard Rasual Butler.
“We have had lot of injuries early in the season,” Pargo explains. “Personally, I have had the opportunity to play more minutes and be a factor off the bench.”
Entering the weekend, Pargo was averaging career-highs in several statistical categories, including points (8.7), rebounds (2.6), assists (2.0) and free throw shooting (34-38 FT, 89.5 percent). Over his last nine games, he had averaged 13.7 points.
Adjusting to an extended role on the court is not Pargo’s only recent challenge. Two-and-a-half months ago, Pargo and his fiancée, Malaysia, became parents to Jannero Pargo, Jr. He arrived shortly after the couple made the move to Oklahoma City.
“The Hornets organization made it really easy for us to make the transition to the new city,” he says. “We have had all the support we need from the Hornets, my teammates and my teammates’ wives.”
In fact, when Jannero is on the road – somewhere he has been quite a lot in the young NBA season – Malaysia, an L.A. native, has a support system in fellow Californians Kim Chandler and Doña Jackson.
“Tyson (Chandler) and I have been friends for over three years (since they were teammates in Chicago), so not only do we have a bond, but so do Kim and Malaysia,” Pargo says. “And both Kim (who is mother to six-month-old Sacha) and Doña (who has four children) have been helpful to both of us in knowing what to expect with Jannero, Jr.”
Just because Malaysia has support from fellow wives does not mean that she does not appreciate the break she receives when Jannero is at home. He likes to spend as much time as he can with his new son, saying that he loves to feed, hold and even change him.
“I don’t want to miss more than I have to,” he says with a smile. “When we were in New Orleans he started laughing out loud and I missed that. I love to spend as much time with him as I can.”
Despite the challenges, blessings and rewards Pargo has received over the last four months, he is not yet completely satisfied.
“The bottom line is that I am not yet the player I want to be,” he says. “And until then, I will work hard both on and off the court.”
No doubt he will have continued opportunity to become that player since no timeline has been set for the return of any of the injured Hornets (though Jackson is expected to make the quickest return) and Pargo remains the number one option off the bench.
“We hope to have Bobby on our next trip to Seattle and Portland (on Dec. 26-27),” head coach Byron Scott said. “But we’ll wait until he’s well enough to be back in the lineup.”
And while the Hornets have endured recent on-court struggles, losing 11 of their last 13, Pargo is confident that the team can rebound – and score and assist – as they play through the injuries.
“I, like my teammates, am not satisfied with the situation right now,” Pargo says. “We have to continue to play hard and smart.”
In order to do that, Pargo feels that the team, as a whole, needs to step up and make plays.
“Throughout games, but especially in the fourth quarter, players other than Chris Paul have to make or create plays,” he emphasizes. “If I cannot do something with the ball myself, then I need to figure out a way to allow one of my teammates to do something with it so that we can get some wins.”
Sounds like a challenge, Jannero.
Jannero Pargo loves a challenge. And over the past few months, he’s been presented with plenty: a move to a new city, preparing for a new NBA season, welcoming a new baby, and becoming the Hornets’ go-to guy off the bench.
So far, Pargo, a fifth-year player out of Arkansas, has accepted and made the most of each challenge.
When the Hornets signed the 27-year-old, they knew he was a player ready to prove he is deserving of a spot on an NBA roster. Through the first four years of his career, Pargo had appeared in just 154 games with three NBA franchises, including the L.A. Lakers, Toronto and, most recently, Chicago.
“He’s a player who’s hungry,” Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said when he signed Pargo in August. “He’s looking for the opportunity to prove himself.” Twenty-five games into the season, Pargo is doing all he can to prove Bower right.
The Hornets, plagued by injuries to three of their four top scorers – Bobby Jackson, Peja Stojakovic and Davis West – have challenged Pargo to be the first option off the bench. He often steps in to replace either starting point guard Chris Paul or shooting guard Rasual Butler.
“We have had lot of injuries early in the season,” Pargo explains. “Personally, I have had the opportunity to play more minutes and be a factor off the bench.”
Entering the weekend, Pargo was averaging career-highs in several statistical categories, including points (8.7), rebounds (2.6), assists (2.0) and free throw shooting (34-38 FT, 89.5 percent). Over his last nine games, he had averaged 13.7 points.
Adjusting to an extended role on the court is not Pargo’s only recent challenge. Two-and-a-half months ago, Pargo and his fiancée, Malaysia, became parents to Jannero Pargo, Jr. He arrived shortly after the couple made the move to Oklahoma City.
“The Hornets organization made it really easy for us to make the transition to the new city,” he says. “We have had all the support we need from the Hornets, my teammates and my teammates’ wives.”
In fact, when Jannero is on the road – somewhere he has been quite a lot in the young NBA season – Malaysia, an L.A. native, has a support system in fellow Californians Kim Chandler and Doña Jackson.
“Tyson (Chandler) and I have been friends for over three years (since they were teammates in Chicago), so not only do we have a bond, but so do Kim and Malaysia,” Pargo says. “And both Kim (who is mother to six-month-old Sacha) and Doña (who has four children) have been helpful to both of us in knowing what to expect with Jannero, Jr.”
Just because Malaysia has support from fellow wives does not mean that she does not appreciate the break she receives when Jannero is at home. He likes to spend as much time as he can with his new son, saying that he loves to feed, hold and even change him.
“I don’t want to miss more than I have to,” he says with a smile. “When we were in New Orleans he started laughing out loud and I missed that. I love to spend as much time with him as I can.”
Despite the challenges, blessings and rewards Pargo has received over the last four months, he is not yet completely satisfied.
“The bottom line is that I am not yet the player I want to be,” he says. “And until then, I will work hard both on and off the court.”
No doubt he will have continued opportunity to become that player since no timeline has been set for the return of any of the injured Hornets (though Jackson is expected to make the quickest return) and Pargo remains the number one option off the bench.
“We hope to have Bobby on our next trip to Seattle and Portland (on Dec. 26-27),” head coach Byron Scott said. “But we’ll wait until he’s well enough to be back in the lineup.”
And while the Hornets have endured recent on-court struggles, losing 11 of their last 13, Pargo is confident that the team can rebound – and score and assist – as they play through the injuries.
“I, like my teammates, am not satisfied with the situation right now,” Pargo says. “We have to continue to play hard and smart.”
In order to do that, Pargo feels that the team, as a whole, needs to step up and make plays.
“Throughout games, but especially in the fourth quarter, players other than Chris Paul have to make or create plays,” he emphasizes. “If I cannot do something with the ball myself, then I need to figure out a way to allow one of my teammates to do something with it so that we can get some wins.”
Sounds like a challenge, Jannero.
