In professional league games, teammates come and go, and there is a beginning and an end. The relationship between most players is that of strangers who are close to each other, and they are on the same team for a short time. They are each other's stronghold, and that's it. Off the court, they each live their own lives and have different life plans and goals. The team is like a small society, with differences in status, seniority, seniority, wealth and poverty. The only connection is sports, and when the door to the lounge is closed, there are very few opportunities for friendship to still exist.
"In my basketball journey, there are only a few people I would call friends." Jameer Nelson said.
However, Nelson, who comes from the impoverished area of Chester, found a best friend in the team, but he came from another world and had a completely different basketball career, JJ Redick, the sharpshooter who will join the Philadelphia 76ers in the new season.
Nelson and Redick are like two parallel lines. It is hard to imagine that there will be any intersection. Nelson studied at St. Joseph's University and made a name for himself; Redick attended Cave Spring High School and was the second-ranked shooting guard in the country at the time and was admitted to a prestigious university. Duke recruiting.
In 2006, their fates intersected in Orlando. The Magic selected Redick with the 11th overall pick, and Nelson was about to enter his third season (the pick that was traded to the Magic by the Nuggets in 2004). From the outside, the two of them had no similarities at all, but their friendship did not develop as expected. "They grew up in completely different areas, but they have very similar personality traits." He once coached. Stan Van Gundy of the Magic said, "They don't care about how many points they score or how many numbers they have in the field. They all have a strong desire to win, which is why they are attracted to each other. Their perspective on things, how they treat people, and their fighting spirit , they are the same kind of people.”
Redick is well aware of how their friendship grew from nothing to becoming brothers. "When I first joined the Magic, many players didn't like me. I was a bit arrogant, and like most rookies, a bit naive." But Nelson remained the same. Showing kindness to Redick, "But Jameer, who was already a leader at that time, still often encouraged me and taught me. Even if there were not many opportunities, he filled me with positive energy."
"Maybe it wasn't until the third or fourth season that we started to develop a brotherly relationship. By the seventh year of my career, we talked about everything and looked after each other almost like family. This relationship It continues to this day. But when I was new, I didn’t think anyone would like me. Sometimes it’s better to be humble.”
However, in the NBA, when Redick polished off the edges, he did not get a chance to play until the third year of his career (but he only had 5 starts in the season). However, Redick settled down to practice and was never able to get stable playing time, but in the fifth season The average score has reached double digits. Redick's trademark is a shooter, able to put the ball into the basket from any corner and direction. This can make him famous at the youth or college level, but in the NBA, one skill alone cannot survive. "When he doesn't play, he He is still working out hard." Nelson said, "He is struggling defensively, but he is gradually improving. It is almost impossible for a top college player to maintain the same level in the NBA, and he and I both realize this. A little bit, but we are always training and revising. When the coach calls our names, we are all ready." Nelson, who entered the league earlier, passed on his experience to his younger brother, "I entered the league early, so I can tell How should Redick prepare?"
Nelson started a little earlier. In his third season, he was already a regular starter for the Magic. He averaged 30 minutes of playing time, scored 13 points and 4.3 assists, and was rated as one of the best court leaders at the time. But this was not It meant that the rookie Redick, who was still arrogant at the time, would be willing to listen to his opinion. "It is not easy to advise your peers or guide them on what to do." Nelson said, "But Redick wants to learn and wants to Progress. The competition in the NBA is fierce, and not everyone can gain a foothold here. Only those with good luck can meet people who are willing to guide them."
"The one thing they have in common is sincerity. They never shy away from facing problems. Not only are they very coachable, they will admit the problems they encounter, whether they are coaches or teammates. I never have to worry about their situation." Van Gundy said.
The Magic reached the championship game in 2009, and the candid relationship between Redick and Nelson extended beyond basketball. If you can trust someone who shares your views on the court, you will also trust that person off the court and consider their opinions and feelings. "We realize that we have a lot of common values and I enjoy playing with Jameer. , but more importantly, he is a friend, a husband, a father and a servant of God. These are our connections." Redick said, "We created many wins in Orlando, but off the court, we discovered more in each other. similarities."
This friendship started from the fact that Nelson always wanted to integrate marginalized people into the team. Every summer, no matter which city or team he was in, Nelson would hold "Jameer Camp" in Philadelphia, a week of team bonding sports or All expenses for the event will be borne by Nelson.
Nelson would gather his teammates at the Conshohocken Marriott and drive the team to games at the local gym every morning. Nelson found some local amateur players or student athletes, but Magic players were still the main players. In the afternoon or evening, Nelson would hold team activities that had nothing to do with basketball. Throughout the week, the whole team moved together, ate together, played with each other, and got to know each other better. This is also the meaning and purpose of Nelson's event. "It's incredible. I have been in the league for more than 20 years. I am very lucky to be able to work with... There is less interaction with top or star players, but Jameer is the best teammate I have ever seen, and he can always unite the team in daily life."
"I don't take all the credit, but when we complete the unity tour, we can always get into the situation quickly at the beginning of the season. It's all because we work closely together during that week, look after each other, and think about each other." Nelson said, "During the game , do you want a group of brothers or enemies around you?"
The NBA has always been full of competition and entertainment, but for professional players it is more than that. Even if they are playing street games or other competitive games, they will still go all out. "I like playing paintball the most. We played for an hour. Driving to the suburbs and splitting up into two teams to play against each other, it was very intense. Another time was going to Philadelphia to play baseball. For a whole week, the whole team came together to train or do whatever. During this time, you are not just you, but the whole team. So you open up your mind," Redick said. "At that time, I was the best swinger on the team, and Ryan Howard once told me that I was the only one on the team who looked like he had played baseball."
The friendship between Redick and Nelson continued to heat up, and when they separated in their careers, Redick was traded to the Bucks before the trade deadline in 2013. The relationship between Redick and Nelson continued to heat up. "The relationship between JJ and I goes far beyond basketball. , we still keep in touch frequently and take my wife to various gatherings. JJ is a very straight person, and if he likes you, he will make it obvious."
"I'm from the Appalachian Mountains and Jameer is from Pennsylvania. Everyone laughs at how we two completely different people could get together, but we are a perfect match. We spend 30 minutes to an hour every day discussing football games and venting our emotions. Dissatisfaction or talking about players, and the other 30 minutes are always talking about kids and life."
In the summer of 2017, the 35-year-old Nelson was waived by the Golden Nuggets before the start of the season, but immediately joined the Pelicans to assist the Twin Towers.DeMarcus Cousinsand Anthony Davis, turning them from star players into winning leaders is Nelson's top priority. The 33-year-old Redick signed a one-year contract with the Sixers. His long-range firepower is a weapon that the Sixers have lacked for a long time. However, in addition to ability, the Sixers, who are full of young boys, just need someone who knows how to win. "He is the player the Sixers need most. He can demonstrate how to be a professional player. Redick has experienced great storms and he can lead the team to overcome adversity."
In high school and college, everything was easy for Redick, but success in the NBA requires both external and internal improvement. "If we only focus on physical conditions or abilities, Redick would not have achieved what he has achieved now." Van Gundy said, "He is a smaller shooting guard with a short wingspan and average physical fitness. However, his professional attitude promotes the continuous development of skills, and he is extremely focused and rarely makes mistakes. This trait is often overlooked. , but this value will be demonstrated in big games.”
Part of Redick's big-game qualities can be attributed to Nelson laying the foundation for him in the early stages of his career. Although they have never stayed on the same team after parting ways with the Magic, their life paths still have many intersections. "The second week after my son was born, Jameer had just signed with the Mavericks, but a few days later, on Sunday afternoon, He and his wife Imani drove three and a half hours just to see my son," Redick said. "They stayed for a few hours. We didn't eat or do anything, just chat. I told myself, in the NBA , I have a lot of great teammates and friends, but none like Jameer.”
Nelson also feels the same way. Teammates come and go, but finding close friends is the most valuable thing.
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