Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley plays the game today like few others do.
The popular belief is Basketball, largely dominated by players who hold an offensive mindset, has changed for the worse throughout the last few decades. Once filled with players who look forward to getting back and grinding on the defensive end, today’s game is filled with players that are criticized for not getting back on defense, failing to play help defense, and for simply being lazy.
For Avery Bradley, that brand of Basketball has never entered his mind. He enjoys playing on the defensive end, and actually looks forward to defending the opposing team’s top player. The thoughts that go through players’ minds when being guarded by him? Bradley described it best:
“Man. Can he switch? I know people think that,” Bradley said today at media day, laughing. “People might admit it during the summer time when we’re joking around, but, I know people feel that way. I’m never going to back down. You might make a shot, put a good move on… But I’m just gonna be the same defender every single possession.”
Bradley, who’s entering his 7th season in the league with the Celtics, feels like he’s underrated by many defensively. The next step he feels necessary to happen is clear: Be the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“I feel like I should be (in that conversation)”, said Bradley. “I feel like there isn’t a defender out there that defends the way that I do. Not to take away from other great defenders out there, because there are a lot of great defenders… But I just don’t feel like people are me. I don’t really speak about myself that much because I try to let my game speak for itself, but I have to stop downplaying it and not giving myself credit that I deserve.”
The popular thought had Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green as the most deserving players for the award last season, only motivating Bradley further. Despite already being one of the league’s most talented and respected defenders, Bradley continues to take steps towards improving every day.
“I work on my defensive game. I know that sounds weird, but I actually work on it because I want to be the best defender that I can be for my team”, Bradley exclaimed. “I want to go out there and go up against the best players. I want them to say Avery Bradley is the best defender I’ve ever played against. I feel like I’m accomplished in that area, and it’s only going to continue to grow and spread around the NBA. Everybody’s gonna start saying that if I continue to keep performing like I am and keep putting it out there. Keep letting people know I can be defensive player of the year.”
Bradley, 25, will continue living in the gym every day until his belief is set in stone. He’ll keep reminding you each and every time you watch him play: He’s an absolute workhorse.
“That’s what I try to do on the defensive end, and on the offensive end as well, because I know a lot of people forget what I do on the offensive end”, Bradley continued. “It’s hard for people to score on me, let alone guard me. I’m just trying to continue to grow on both parts of my game. I feel like the sky is the limit.
“Every single year I’ve been improving and this year is going to be an improvement, as well.”
Avery Bradley has spent countless amounts of hours in the gym since entering the league in 2010, gradually becoming one of the league’s best two-way players. In the mind of Bradley, however, simply being one of the top two-way players just isn’t good enough.
He’s reaching for immortality, to become one of the game’s top players, period, and believes nobody can stop him from reaching that point.
