Knowing well what he was worth, Jameer Nelson went back for his senior season at St. Joseph's after not being guaranteed a first-round selection in the 2003 NBA draft. A move he made because, along with most of the basketball world, he assumed it'd be a different story come 2004.
Surprisingly, he fared no better than the 20th selection.
Sure, his sub-six-foot frame is a taboo in the NBA, especially when he's a score-first guard, but 20th overall? The NBA community was left scratching its collective head.
His skills are undeniable, as acknowledged by the Consensus National Player of the Year Award on his mantle, what more did he have to prove?
The overlooked Nelson didn't do much in school. He just strapped a hodge-podge Hawks team to his back, pushing aside critics and neigh-sayers, leading them to a perfect 27-0 regular season record.
There is undeniable irony in the fact that NBA teams are willing to gamble on unproven kids playing overseas, but not NCAA-tested leaders (see: Darko Millicic, Carmelo Anthony).
Despite his impressive resume, Nelson wasn't chosen until an already-deep Denver Nuggets team came calling. Seemingly having no use for another point guard, Denver then gave him away to the Orlando Magic for a second-round pick, a trade viewed by most as a bargain in Orlando's favor.
The motives behind why GM Kiki Vandeweghe and the Nuggets selected Mr. Nelson are debatable.
Realizing his talent, did he simply want to put Nelson out of his draft night misery?
The salary for a first-round pick decreases with each selection (down $119,000 from 20-21), so such a deed could make sense. Seeing as how the Nuggets only received a second-round pick, Vandeweghe surely wasn't benefiting.
Some Nuggets fans are miffed at the fact that the trade happened in the first place. Denver is obviously stacked at point guard with Andre Miller and Earl Boykins, but having Nelson on the bench couldn't have hurt.
Despite his size, many believe Nelson will still fill up scoreboards at the NBA level. Voshon Lenard is currently Denver's only shooting guard. He's a deadeye from three-point range, but is aging rapidly and can't handle the wear and tear of 30-plus minutes a game, especially when plugged into Denver's run-and-gun offense.
A fresh set of legs may have added another dimension to an already-potent Nuggets lineup, which now includes former New Jersey Nets madman and number one overall selection Kenyon Martin. However, with only nine players on the current roster, the added wages of a first-round selection may not have warmed up to now cap-constrained Vandeweghe.
On the other end, the acquisition of Jameer Nelson puts a bright light on Orlando's seemingly dreary offseason, which was consummated by the trading of superstar Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets (with Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato). Adding Nelson to an already talented (albeit unfamiliar) nucleus gives Magic fans a reason to hold out hope, especially in the anything-can-happen Eastern Conference.
A humble man and devoted father, Nelson is most likely just happy to have finally found a home in the NBA, and any other start to his career just wouldn't look right. Jameer Nelson is the definition of an underdog, and it's doubtful he even broke a sweat during this tumultuous process.
Nobody knows for sure what's in store, but it's a safe bet that Jameer Nelson's place in NBA history will far exceed that of a few of the "boys" selected in drafts before him.
Exceeding especially those with the 15-syllable names.
Leave a Comment