Denver Nuggets rookie Jordan Hamilton anxious to make his NBA debut
This summer of uncertainty in NBA has been painful for everyone related.
The NBA lockout is on the verge of completing four months and until now, the battle over money has claimed one full month from the next NBA season. The lockout has affected arena workers, the businesses around the arena, owners
themselves and the players.
Among the players, the ones who have totally been left in the cold are the new NBA draftees.
Without the slightest ambiguity, they were the ones in the toughest positions instead of cashing their first cheques and enjoying other luxuries that come along with the transition into NBA, they have been forced to carry out personal
workouts, play exhibition games and look for opportunities abroad.
Is this the NBA lifestyle? Definitely not.
The rookies are not even members of the players union that has been at logger heads with NBA to carve out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and they are now feeling the pinch. Players like Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams
have been very vocal about the difficulties that the class of 2011 has had to face in the off season and now Jordan Hamilton has joined the chorus.
The 21 years old Hamilton, who represented Texas Longhorns in the collegiate career, followed his dream by declaring himself for the NBA draft earlier this year. He got selected by Dallas Mavericks and was later traded to Denver
Nuggets.
Showing his disappointment, he said
"I still feel that I'm not in the NBA yet,"
Uncertain of his NBA future, Jordan has kept himself busy throughout the extended offseason. At the moment, he is spending his time in raising money and awareness in the poor and deprived communities. Last week, he was spotted
in the Watts neighbourhood of his hometown Los Angeles, distributing food and hygiene products to several needy families.
Earlier, he was in Mexico to participate in an exhibition game that was hosted by Denver Nugget’s former star Eduardo Najera. That was a huge moment for Hamilton as he got a chance to meet many NBA veterans such as Tyson Chandler,
Shawn Marion, Dahntay Jones and Marcus Camby.
Hamilton was thrilled to be in the court with the veterans. Expressing his joy he said
"I enjoyed everything — hanging out with the veteran guys, and just playing with them was a good experience," Hamilton said. "And just seeing what veteran guys do, taking lessons from them, pregame stuff and what they do to get
ready. And it helped me get my name out there with the other guys."
However he is desperate for some NBA action. If the season does not start, he will explore his options and might join the bandwagon of other NBA players by pursuing overseas opportunities.
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