Rowan Kavner
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Rookie life in the NBA isn’t always easy.
That’s something C.J. Wilcox, who returns home to his native Utah as the Clippers take on the Jazz on Friday, knew from the start.
“It’s been an experience, but I knew that coming in, the day I got drafted to a good team,” Wilcox said. “I’ve got to understand I’ve got to be patient. I’ve got a lot of good guys in front of me. I’m just trying to learn from them as much as possible while staying patient.”
Wilcox, the Clippers’ 28th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, hasn’t played in a regular season game. When the Clippers play tonight in front of his hometown crowd, he’ll likely be in a suit.
That’s can be difficult for any first-round pick, who’s invariably accustomed to starting and excelling as a star player on former teams. Wilcox was a high school standout at Pleasant Grove High School in the city by the same name in Utah, where he was raised. He may see some of those old friends for the first time in a while Saturday night at the game.
“It’s always nice to see old faces you don’t really see,” Wilcox said. “I didn’t really see them a lot when I was in Seattle, because I didn’t really get back as much as I would have liked. My family moved (to San Diego), but it’s always good to see old friends.”
Wilcox went to the University of Washington after high school, finishing second in school history with 1,880 career points and first in the team’s history with 301 3-pointers.
Now, he’s in a situation most late first-round picks tend to find themselves, showcasing their talents more on the practice court than in uniform on game night. Wilcox said he didn’t know exactly what to expect coming in, but he feels like he’s grown from training camp even without the game experience.
“It is hard when you know you’re able to be out there, but like I said, there’s so many good guys and we’re trying to do something so special, so you want to make sure you get the right guys on the floor playing well together at the right time,” Wilcox said. “Like I said, just learning from these guys is the most important thing for me right now, but it is tough just staying patient. You’re not used to it. Everything’s a process.”
Head coach Doc Rivers said he knows it has to be challenging, even though he can’t completely relate because he didn’t deal with the same circumstances when he was a player and he’s got a player in Wilcox who’s taken the situation in stride.
“I think you come from a college where you were the guy, you played a ton of minutes, probably can shoot whenever you want to, to now you’re not playing; and even when you’re playing, you’re the third or fourth option,” Rivers said.
Rivers said he has had informal, preliminary discussions with owner Steve Ballmer about the possibility of getting their own exclusive affiliate in the NBA Development League, but those discussions haven’t gone far yet. So Wilcox may stay right where he is.
There’s nowhere to send Wilcox right now that Rivers feels he can be guaranteed to play more. Whether or not Wilcox makes his NBA debut soon, Rivers appreciates the attitude Wilcox has had about the situation and noted that the rookie “works his butt off.”
“That’s all you can ask of a young guy, is if he’s not playing, to get his work in, to be ready when his name is called,” Rivers said. “I think he will be.”
Until then, Wilcox will wait his turn as patiently as possible, grasping as much knowledge of the game as he can until that time comes.
“I’ve learned so much,” Wilcox said, “and it’s only going to get better.”
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