Phoenix Suns Jared Dudley says Impact Basketball Training Series will give “actual game feel”
Prior to the lockout, by this time in the year Phoenix Suns voluntary workouts tipped off. However, this year lockout has put these workouts on hold. In the past, the players used to train and play pickup games afterwards, but
now the league has forbidden the players from using the franchise facilities and meeting the front office staff, so US Airways Centre wouldn’t be the same this time as the players are on their own now.
However, even in this uncertain situation, Phoenix’s swingman Jared Dudley hasn’t ignored his workout routine and carrying out his practice sessions on daily basis.
These workouts will be all the more significant for Jared because Phoenix is expected not to re-sign Vince Carter or they might even trade him next season. This will allow Dudley to make the shooting guard position his won.
In the context of all that, a determined Dudley said, "My mind-set is to come in and compete to start unless they bring in an All-Star player."
Impact Basketball is not a new place for Dudley, as the 26 year old works out each summer in this facility. Dudley trains for three hours and six days a week during the off-season. His exercise regime includes shooting practice,
playing games and weight training.
Now the owner of Impact Basketball, Joe Abunassar, who is also a long time trainer, has organized a series by making the pickup games more intense, which will commence from September 12 and end with a championship game on September
23.
So ban on using the franchise facilities wouldn’t much effect Dudley’s training routine, as he is use to Impact. Moreover, Abunassar has managed to drag 40 to 60 NBA players in this "Competitive Training Series," at Impact near
the Las Vegas Strip, to make the tournament more competitive.
According to Dudley the swarm of players will include John Wall, Chauncey Billups, Zach Randolph, Stephen Curry, Jermaine O'Neal, Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Tayshaun Prince, Austin Daye, DeMar DeRozan, J.J. Hickson, Kyle Lowry
and Eric Maynor. Dudley also told that he is convincing his team-mates (Aaron Brooks, Channing Frye and Josh Childress) to join him in the competition.
This series is deliberately not called a league because players were not offered contracts to partake in this contest. Three to four games will be played each day in the series and fans can watch the game live on internet and in
Impact as well by purchasing ticket, profit earned from this series will be donated to a charity.
Dudley said, "It's something for guys to work out and improve their games. Usually, you go back to your teams in September, lift and play. We already have 30-40 players here working out. You train all day and then we open it to
the public for games. It'll be like summer league. You'll have by far the most pros here of any league."
Comparing the series with the summer leagues that don't have big names of NBA, Dudley said, "You get an actual game feel. Instead of having to finish in the lane against LeBron James, I'll be finishing against Jermaine O'Neal."
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