Swift tapping his full potential at Big Man Camp
| • | Suns center making Big Man Camp's biggest impression |
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Three hours into the morning session of the Pete Newell Big Man Camp yesterday, Memphis forward Stromile Swift was in no hurry to hit the showers.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
The lessons for this day included offensive reads, counter moves and counter-counter moves. For Swift, who jumped to the NBA after just a season and a half at Louisiana State, the learning curve has been steep but inviting.
The Memphis Grizzlies and 6-foot-9 forward Stromile Swift, the second overall pick in the 2000 draft, are hoping for a breakout year. Swift is attending the Pete Newell Big Man Camp this week.
"I just want to take back a few things and add them to my game," said Swift, 21, who was chosen second overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. "That's how you improve. Even if I just take away one thing and work on it, it'll be worth it."
Prized by Vancouver brass for his raw athletic ability, Swift spent much of his rookie year rooted to the bench by a coaching staff wary of damaging his confidence.
"It was frustrating, but it would have been worse if they didn't talk to me about it," he said.
Unlike a few of his more vocal teammates, Swift said he enjoyed playing in Canada. Still, the team won just 23 games last season and what rare media attention the small-market franchise received usually centered on its on-again, off-again plans to relocate.
The club and its soft-spoken 6-foot-9 forward are primed to make some big-time noise when the Grizzlies make their Memphis debut next season.
Much more will be expected of Swift following a flurry of off-season moves. The team's best player, forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, was traded to Atlanta for Lorenzen Wright and Brevin Knight. Steady but unspectacular point guard Mike Bibby was sent to Sacramento for thrilling but erratic Jason Williams. Add a couple of intriguing rookies, college player of the year Shane Battier and heralded Spaniard Pau Gasol, and the Grizzlies will have an entirely new look heading into their training camp at Rhodes College next month.
"It's going to be really different without 'Reef and Mike," Swift said. "We got a good point guard, so we shouldn't lose anything there, but we'll have to replace their scoring."
In particular, Swift will be counted on to help replace Abdur-Rahim's 20 points and 9 rebounds per game.
"I picked up a lot working out with 'Reef last summer and I was looking forward to working with him again," Swift said. " But (the trade) opened things up for me. I'm going to have to pick up my game this season to help make up some of that scoring."
In addition to attending Newell's camp, Swift says he's been working out three times a week and has put on about seven pounds of muscle since the end of last season when he was listed at 225 pounds.
"He's got great potential," Newell said. "Like all of these young guys he's got to realize it takes more than talent. It's the work ethic and desire. He has to want to do the things that will get him to the next level. He's young and he hasn't played much, but he has the potential to become one of those really good players."
Kiki Vandeweghe, general manager of the Denver Nuggets and one of Newell's camp counselors, said: "I really like Stromile. He's a great player. I think he's got unlimited potential. It's up to him. He can be as good as he wants to be in this league. If he ends up in the right situation, he'll be a tremendous player."
