There are moments when the life of an NBA player seems all too similar to that of an everyday person, especially at work.
Every day for the past six weeks, Cory Jefferson would take the practice floor alongside established teammates living under the security of a guaranteed contract. A temporary employee hoping for a rumored permanent position with the company, the 6-10 forward poured in hours of effort, sweat and work simply hoping the coaches noticed.
“I just came in here every day, not trying to be somebody I wasn’t,” Jefferson said. “Just playing my role on defense, talking, being athletic, finishing, things like that.”
He watched as two other non-guaranteed players were cut during the preseason. He and Henry Sims, another big man hoping to latch on the team, remained.
Most of Jefferson’s audition time took place in practice, but he remembers how desperately hopeful he was that his energy-filled appearance against the Jazz – four points, one steal and one block in seven minutes – would be remembered when the time arrived to trim the roster.
“You just try to stay positive. I did this and let it stick with them, keep it in their minds. Everything that you do, it’s stressful going through it.”
— Cory Jefferson
“You just try to stay positive,” Jefferson said. “I did this and let it stick with them, keep it in their minds. Everything that you do, it’s stressful going through it.”
That stress peaked on Friday, when the hopeful 24-year-old received a phone call from Jeff Hornacek. The Suns head coach wanted to see him in his office. Jefferson, already in the team weight room, cleaned himself up and took the longest down-the-hall journey of his life.
“That walk felt like forever,” Jefferson said. “Just thinking about a thousand things, like what’s about to happen.”
Hornacek was waiting in his office, and he wasn’t alone. General Manager Ryan McDonough, the man with the final say on all roster decisions, was with him. At the very least, Jefferson knew a decision had been reached.
Turns out it was a simple one.
“They didn’t have it drawn out or anything,” Jefferson said. “Ryan just said that I’d be sticking around.”
Gratitude was expressed, but elation could wait. After the meeting wrapped up, Jefferson returned to the weight room and finished his workout, an ironic contrast of heavy metal and soaring heart.
Then he called his mom to tell her there would still be work for him the next day.
“I felt confident in myself and believed in God that everything would work out,” Jefferson said.