Lenn Robbins

EAST RUTHERFORD — Former St. John’s star swingman D.J. Kennedy had every reason to give up.

He had made it out Pittsburgh’s nasty Hill District, where twice his older brother was almost shot dead and his cousin died of a heart attack after a police chase.

He’d made good on his promise to coach Norm Roberts that he would get the Red Storm back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.

He’d fulfilled the vow to his mother that he would get his college degree. And he was on the verge of achieving his personal goal of being picked in the NBA Draft.

And then it literally all came crashing down.

On a drive to the basket in the 2011 Big East Conference quarterfinals, Kennedy got tangled up in a web of limbs and crashed to the court, grabbing his right knee.

The Johnnies would play in the NCAA Tournament, but Kennedy, the ACL in his right knee torn, would not. He would not get taken in the second round of the NBA Draft, as many experts had predicted.

“I never thought, Why me?’’ Kennedy told BrooklynNets.com. “Injuries are a part of sports. There’s nothing you can do about it but you can do something about how you respond.

“I just stayed positive. That was what I had. I had to make sure there was no negative thoughts. I stayed positive and said I just have to work even harder. That’s how I approached it.’’

That approach might finally pay NBA dividends for Kennedy. He is one of 31 free agents working out for the Brooklyn Nets this week, hoping to land an invitation to the team’s Orlando Summer League camp.

Kennedy is not a stranger to the Nets. He helped lead the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to the 2013 NBA D-League championship, was an NBA D-League All Star and a Third Team All-NBA D-League selection.

His game is cerebral and subtle. He makes the smart pass, hits the open shot, boxes out and takes no prisoners on defense.

“I’ve learned it’s the little things, the simplest things they can like you for,’’ said Kennedy. “It’s not all about going out there and scoring 30 points. A lot of people that get picked up through this process, they don’t score that many points. It’s hustle. It’s hard work.

“Most teams have their top scorers. They’re not looking for that. They’re looking for someone that can come in and be a good team player, be a good teammate, make good decisions on and off the court, and remain positive.’’

Kennedy has proven he can do that. The injury was a cruel twist of fate. St. John’s was in shambles when he, along with Sean Evans who is also here working out for the Nets, accepted the challenge to rebuild.

After going undrafted he signed with the Erie BayHawks where Jay Larranaga, son of Miami Hurricanes coach Jim, helped Kennedy through the rehab and taught him how to be a pro.

Kennedy almost stuck with the Dallas Mavericks before being cut just before the start of the 2013-14 season. He was mentored by Shawn Marion, former Net Vince Carter, and marveled at Dirk Nowitzki’s work ethic.

Kennedy believes he’s the quintessential D-League free agent. All he needs is to fit the needs of one team and the opportunity he didn’t give up on will be his.

“It would mean so much,’’ said Kennedy. “Everything I’ve had to go through - getting out of Pittsburgh, going through the tough times at St. John’s, the injury, the D-League.

“I can’t say if another person would have given in but it never crossed my mind. If you work hard, the rest takes care of itself. And when it does, you have the satisfaction of knowing what you overcame.’’

kennedy-is-a-profile-in-positive-attitude

Kennedy is a Profile in Positive Attitude

EAST RUTHERFORD — Some dreams, the grandest of dreams, die hard.

The Brooklyn Nets had 31 big dreamers at their practice facility on Monday for the first day of a three-day workout; 31 free agents looking to catch the eye of G.M. Billy King and his staff.

One of those dreamers is former Iona star Scott Machado of Queens. Machado’s desire to make his NBA dream come true, sadly, has been bolstered by a nightmare.

His father, Luiz, a livery cab driver, died last March while in custody of Taxi and Limousine Commission officers after a disagreement went horribly awry. His death was ruled a homicide, one that nearly shattered the hopes and dreams of the close-knit Machado family.

But four days before he died, Luiz, 61, imparted the words that motivate his son to this day.

“Our last conversation before he passed away, he said, ‘Always be confident,’ " Machado told BrooklynNets.com. “I was playing in the D-League. I had just got traded, and the game before that, I played well but I wasn’t shooting the ball well. He said, ‘Hey man, just play confident. You’ve been doing this all your life. Just play confident.’

“So it does give me a little edge. I think of that when I’m down .’’

Machado never thought his route to the NBA would be as difficult as it has turned out. After his senior year at Iona he won the 2002 Haggerty Award, presented to the best college player in the metropolitan area.

Perhaps you’ve heard of some of the other players that have won that coveted trophy: Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin, Ron Artest.

Machado was a finalist for the Cousy and Wooden Awards. There was a lot of buzz about the 6-1, 205-pound point guard being a first round pick in the NBA Draft.

His best shot, he thought, was with the Chicago Bulls, which had the 29th pick. Machado had gone head-to-head with Marquis Teague, who the Nets acquired in a trade with the Bulls this season.

The Bulls took Teague, who averaged 10 points and 4.9 assists at Kentucky. Machado, who had averaged 13.6 points and 9.9 assists as a senior, went undrafted.

“I really don’t know what happened," said Machado. “I went to 22 workouts. I busted my rear end. I went to work out for the Knicks twice. I came to Nets camp and spoke to Avery [Johnson]. Avery loved me.

“I went through the workouts. I thought I was fine. I went to the Chicago workout and they loved me as well. I was actually going against Teague. They decided to take him. He was younger, went to Kentucky. I went to Iona. Maybe that had something to do with it.

“Every team that had a pick after that wanted me to go overseas. I didn’t want to go overseas. I thought I was ready. I wanted to play now. I turned down two teams to stay here.’’

Machado has had two short NBA stints, playing six games with the Houston Rockets and five with the Golden State Warriors. He appeared in five playoff games for the Warriors in 2013, after which former Golden State coach Mark Jackson had a message for Machado.

“He said, ‘Scottie, you deserve to be in the league; you’re supposed to be in the league.’’’ said Machado. “After I was done in summer league, he said, ‘Make sure next year is not a D-League year for you.’’’

“I went to Utah. They called me for training camp and I was playing well. In my fourth game - we had three more left - I got a sports hernia. I was playing through it. The very last game the doctor said you’re going to have to have surgery. So they waived me. I had to do the D-League again."

Machado most recently played for ASVEL Basket in France as a way to help his family with finances. He does not plan to be in Europe or in the D-League next season.

If he impresses the Nets’ brain trust over these three days, he might get an invitation to the team’s Orlando summer camp. That would give the Nets and other NBA teams another chance to see Machado play.

“I’ve learned that you got to stick to your game,’’ he said “At this level you got to know what you do best, and when you do what do best, everything else just falls into place. I feel I pass the ball. I pass the ball and run the team. Every guy here thinks he has a chance. That’s the way it should be. I know who I am and who I’m playing for. I hear my father’s words every day.’’

Lenn Robbins

Kennedy is a Profile in Positive Attitude

A Nightmare Bolsters Machado's NBA Dream