Celtics GM Danny Ainge expects a “terrific” upcoming season for Jared Sullinger, entering his fourth year in the league after being drafted No. 21 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Ohio State. Earlier this year, Ainge said he was fed up with Sullinger’s poor conditioning.
Sullinger has shown flashes of that versatile skill set which made him a dominant player in college, but has yet to make that true stride into a consistent presence at the pro level. By request of his agent, David Falk, who reached out to Sullinger’s family about the idea, Sullinger spent time with former NBA coach John Lucas, now a motivational speaker and life coach for pro athletes who is outspoken about his victory against cocaine addiction.
Lucas spent time with Sullinger in Houston during the offseason, offering advice about his conditioning, but more so mental than physical.
From Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe:
Lucas’s message to Sullinger was simple.
“You have all the talent in the world,” he said. “But you forgot what working hard is.”
It wasn’t just about eating right and exercising; it was about being accountable. It was about things like meeting people at a restaurant at 3:30 when you say you will. The fact that Lucas had traveled all the way from Houston to offer his help resonated with Sullinger.
Sullinger on his current physical status:
“You can’t really say I’m where I want to be as far as conditioning-wise, because I haven’t played five-on-five in like three weeks,” he said. “So, you never know. There’s a difference between being in the best shape you can be, practice-wise, and then there’s game shape. So we’ll see when that happens. But as far as me being where I want to be, I’m not there yet, but I’m closer than you’ll imagine.”
Last season Sullinger averaged just over 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. That’s solid in the NBA, but enough people believe that he can play at an even higher level. Sullinger suffered a stress fracture in February that ruled him for the remainder of last season. He feels he has something to prove, so with the confidence of a new mentor and his general manager, we’ll find out how ready he is to show it.
