Rookie Diary: Seventh Installment, Simmons Midseason Update

January 2, 2007

The most recent game in which Cedric Simmons played 10-plus minutes came on Jan. 4 vs. Detroit.

Periodically throughout the 2006-07 season, Hornets.com is chatting with Hornets first-round draft picks Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons, to get their thoughts on what life is like as an NBA rookie, both on and off the floor.

In this edition of Rookie Diary, Simmons provides an update on his debut NBA season. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward has recently seen his playing time cut drastically – over the final 10 games of January, Simmons received nine DNP’s due to coach’s decision, while logging only one minute of action, during the final moments of a defeat at San Antonio on Jan. 19.

The North Carolina State product also details his plans for this month’s All-Star break and explains how he’ll be spending some of his time during the 2007 offseason.

Cedric Simmons
We have reached the halfway point of the season and I have to admit that I am still getting used to the travel and the NBA schedule. Even though we played a lot at home in January (11 of 15 games), we did plenty of traveling. I continue to take the advice of my veteran teammates, guys like David West, and sleep, eat well and take advantage of the days when I can do absolutely nothing. And by nothing, I mean playing my PSP or watching TV.

It’s great to have my brother, JR, around. Since he lives with me, he takes care of my puppy, Bubba, and the house when I am on the road. But as much as I like having him in Oklahoma City, I’m looking forward to getting back to North Carolina over the All-Star break. I look forward to visiting my friends and family throughout the state and will visit my hometown (Shallotte, N.C.) and Raleigh (where North Carolina State is located).

I may get a chance to look at some houses, because I plan to buy one in North Carolina this summer. I want a place where I can spend the offseason, work out and be with family and friends. When I am not playing for the Hornets’ Vegas Summer League team, that is.

As far as basketball goes, I have not been playing very much lately. Despite the lag in minutes, I am still happy with my role with the Hornets. I am working hard in practice and continue to learn from my teammates – watching them in games and practices makes me aware of what it is that I should be working on.

(Fellow rookie) Hilton (Armstrong) and I work together after practices and have become friends since we are going through the same things at the same times. It’s ironic, because he is now playing the minutes that I was used to seeing in the beginning of the season. But no matter who is playing, it’s nice to have somebody who I can relate to about adjusting to life in the NBA.

As we approach the All-Star break, things are becoming more and more intense, both around the Hornets and around the NBA. We are entering the playoff crunch and it shows in practices, shootarounds and games.