Things are heating up for Miami pick Winslow

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This article was published 15/08/2015 (3169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MIAMI — From the Final Four to the just-completed NBA Rookie Transition Program, Justise Winslow’s existence can best be described as a blur.

“The whirlwind,” the Miami Heat first-round draft choice said, “has become my life.”

With barely a break between the NBA draft and summer league, and then only weeks between summer league and this week’s mandatory NBA rookie symposium, the forward out of Duke has found himself constantly on the move.

As if his plate hasn’t been full enough, the NBA’s rookie program brought another obligation, due to a factor that makes him unique among recent Heat draft choices. Because he does not turn 20 until March, Winslow was required to enter the NBA’s “Generation Next” program.

“Generation Next really is about recognizing players who are younger than 20, they have a particular transition and particular issues that are relevant to them,” said Greg Taylor, NBA senior vice-president of player development. “They are not fully adult yet. So what we try to do is give them a little extra transition support coming into the league.”

For Heat president Pat Riley, the draft preference in recent years had been upperclassmen, players such as Shabazz Napier, Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, after uneven draft results with teenagers such as Michael Beasley and Dorell Wright.

And while Winslow had the benefit of playing under the stabilizing influence of Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, Taylor said there remain undeniable realities for the league’s youngest players.

“They’re going to be joining a grown man’s business,” he said. “And with everybody else on your team able to hang out, you’re not eligible or old enough to go to the places that your guys do.”

While the Rookie Transition Program featured 12-hour days, Winslow said he appreciated the need to be in New Jersey alongside Heat neophytes Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson.

“They’re throwing a lot of information right now at us, which is good,” he said.

By the end of the Heat’s second summer league, in Las Vegas, Winslow appeared to lack the vigour he offered in the Orlando Pro Summer League. But he said there is no time for fatigue with so much at stake, training camp now six weeks away.

“The whirlwind has become my life or something that I’m used to doing,” he said. “I’m very accustomed to it. I’ve grown to love it, just being always on the move. The past couple of months have definitely been fun. I got to do a lot of traveling a lot of learning. I’ve just been grateful and I’m just going to make the most of the opportunity.”

The seminars at the rookie program were both enlightening and sobering, including a compelling lecture from Chris Herren about how drug use cost him his NBA career, as well as insight from former NBA players such as Rick Mahorn, Malik Rose, Allan Houston and Jason Collins.

With the program over, Winslow said the challenge of NBA independence begins.

‘I feel like you’re never really going to be prepared for the moment until you get into the moment’

“I just feel like you can do all the rookie transitional programs and talk to everyone you want and you can get all that information from ’em,” he said, “but at the end of the day you’re never going to be 100 per cent prepared for the lifestyle that you’re about to go into, on and off the court.

“I feel like you’re never really going to be prepared for the moment until you get into the moment.”

Part of the preparation was a candid talk by former NBA player John Lucas about perspective. For Winslow, who dropped to No. 10 in the draft after being projected higher, that resonated, as he sat among players taken earlier.

“When the draft was over, it is what it is,” he said of going No. 10. “That’s the way I feel about it. But, for me, I use that as motivation. John Lucas spoke to us about (being) so competitive, but, at the same time, when we’re off the court we’re friends, we’re brothers.

“It’s a competitive world we live in, but I’m able to put my ego aside and try to learn and build relationships.”

— Sun Sentinel