Last Chance For Anthony Bennett Could be With Brooklyn Nets

Anthony Bennett, the former number one overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft, will be joining his fourth team in his fourth NBA season. Bennett is undoubtedly the biggest letdown for a number one overall pick in nearly a decade. Other guys like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin have all shined as number one picks being selected to a number of NBA All-Star Games. For guys like Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ben Simmons, the future is extremely bright and there should be a ton of success in their future. For Bennett, he was almost doomed from the start.

Many say the 2013 NBA Draft is possibly one of the weakest in the history of NBA drafts. The draft class has not yet produced an NBA All-Star and the biggest names that came out of it are Victor Oladipo, C.J. McCollum and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

At the time, judgement was still out and very undecided on McCollum and Giannis. Oladipo was Bennett’s biggest competition for the top pick but the team selecting at the top didn’t need Victor. The Cleveland Cavaliers already had Kyrie Irving so their idea was, select an athletic rim-running big man who could run alongside Irving and potentially create some flashy things in Cleveland.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, Bennett got hurt and then gained some weight and his game was dramatically affected by it. Then LeBron James elected to come back home and all of a sudden, the young squad went to a team looking for veterans to pair with the King. Bennett was shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Kevin Love trade along with Andrew Wiggins and he was eventually waived by the team. He joined his hometown Toronto Raptors last season but they also moved on from him relatively quickly. Now, Bennett is looking to make a name for himself, one last time.

The Brooklyn Nets, a team looking to rebuild a name of their own, agreed to a deal with Bennett during free agency. Bennett has been labeled a bust most prominently but he understands that’s the nature of the NBA beast and he doesn’t let those labels determine who he is. He talked about making the most of his opportunity after an introductory press conference on Wednesday.

“I really found out it was a business when I got into the league”, said Bennett. “But what can you do? It’s the NBA, it’s the big leagues. Grown men play here, so you’ve just got to be ready for whatever comes your way.”

“I have other motivation, other things that push me. Obviously, it does somewhat. But I wouldn’t say that’s my main focus, to turn everybody’s opinion around… I really pretty much don’t pay attention to it. It’s a process. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

The Nets are looking to take chances on guys like Bennett and bring in some younger talent with a potential to succeed and surprise some people. He joins a list of guys like Sean Kilpatrick, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, Chris McCullough and Isaiah Whitehead as younger guys who have a lot to prove to the NBA world. The Nets are taking a chance on a bunch of guys but for Bennett, he looks to make this a new opportunity of his own. A chance to restart.

“This is pretty much a brand new start,” Bennett said. “It’s just playing with more confidence. Honestly, the past couple months working out with Drew Hanlen in Myrtle Beach… He’s been telling me get back to having fun. That’s pretty much our main focus and that helped out a whole lot. It’s not that anything has changed. I’ve been working on my game ever since I came into the league, but I’m going out and playing with a clear mind.”

When it came to deciding on whether or not Bennett would be a good fit, the Nets brass including general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson echoed the same sentiments. Take a chance on him and if he proves his worth, it’s a good deal. He just has to prove it.

“I’ve had my eye on Anthony for the last couple of years”, Atkinson said. “He’s had an incredible run with Team Canada over the past couple of summers and that intrigued me. Anthony is going to give it to us on both ends because he’s a versatile player who can play both sides of the ball.”

Bennett’s weight and work ethic have been questioned in the past but both he and the Nets GM talked about how he has looked better and has been great in training sessions.

“I just toned up my whole body. I probably lost like seven or eight pounds just doing something in the weight room every day,” he said. “I’m definitely watching what I eat and at what time too, (That’s) pretty much the biggest part. Drinking water only helped me out a whole lot as well.”

The Nets have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing a 23-year old who was one of the most highly coveted prospects just three years ago. He might finally be able to put it all together and play some solid minutes off the bench for the Nets but who knows. So far the Nets, and Bennett, seem enthusiastic, and only time will tell about his future.

“I got picked number one for a reason. I’ve just got to come in here and work every day on my craft.”