In 2017, at the age of 24, with half a season of NBA experience, Yogi Ferrell's future seems difficult to predict. Usually, players with similar backgrounds are just passers-by in the NBA. However, when you understand that Yogi Ferrell has gone from being full of doubts to When he comes and challenges the NBA, you will instantly think that his future is bright.
In the past 18 months, Ferrell has experienced four different life stages:
- 1. Indiana University basketball star
- 2. After being undrafted in the draft, he was waived by the Nets in the summer league.
- 3. Mavericks’ midseason surprise
The Mavericks were still rebuilding at the time, and Ferrell became a "veteran" spiritual leader, partly because Ferrell's appearance looked like he had gone through many vicissitudes of life. "Yogi was already 30 years old the day he was born." Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joked said.
Ferrell has become one of the focuses of the NBA in just half a season, but Ferrell's story must be understood from the beginning.
From rookie to spiritual leader
In 1998, the Mavericks selected "German tank" Dirk Nowitzki with the 9th overall pick. To this day, he is still the cornerstone of the Dallas team. In 2017, with the same 9th overall pick, the Mavericks selected the 6-foot-3-inch super forward Newcomer Dennis Smith Jr. has been hailed as Russell Westbrook II due to his explosive physical fitness and fitness. The Mavericks hope that Dennis Smith can be on par with Nowitzki and become Dallas' ace in the next decade.
The moment the Mavericks drafted Dennis Smith, Ferrell was eager to teach him everything he had to offer, and starting from the Las Vegas Summer League, "Ferrell has a perfect professional attitude, and many players will take the same position. The newcomers regarded him as a fierce rival, but Ferrell continued to help Dennis and often gave him advice. I admire Ferrell very much. Not only has his skills grown, but his leadership temperament is also evident." said Jamahl Mosley, head coach of the Mavericks Summer League.
In the summer league, the combination of Ferrell and Smith quickly entered the situation without any friction. The coach also said that Ferrell no longer needs coaching and prompting, even when dealing with the media. When asked about the impact of Smith joining the team or whether it would jeopardize his career, Ferrell only explained it from the team's point of view, "We There will be more weapons. Smith can cut and organize. He has explosive athletic ability and is diligent in defense. In the new season, I can play without the ball, and the offense does not need to start from me. For me, the addition of Smith Definitely just a plus.”
In 36 games with the Mavericks, Ferrell averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 assists in 29.1 minutes of playing time, and was selected to the Rookie of the Year second team.
"Ferrell is still learning how to play a good point guard. In college, he only had to be responsible for grabbing points. He had the ball in his hands and had to handle everything on the court. But now Ferrell is going through a transformation, and now he has to know when to Holding the ball, when to pass the ball, Ferrell has to sacrifice some scoring to allow the rest of the team to integrate and play better," Cuban said of Ferrell at last month's Summer League.
In Las Vegas, Smith had 17.3 points and 4.2 assists in 25.8 minutes, and Ferrell also had 13.3 points and 3.3 assists. Together with the two veterans JJ Barea and Devin Harris, the Mavericks' weakest position last season was eliminated overnight. Time has become the strongest point. Smith and Ferrell will become a super partnership for the Mavericks. Ferrell's past experience has taught him not to only see his own needs, but to focus on where the team needs him.
Midseason surprise in Dallas
Last February, when Ferrell was preparing for his third game with the Mavericks, his agent came up to him and told him the Mavericks were going to give him a multi-year contract. "It's amazing. A few hours before the game, my agent said... The team wanted to sign me, and I felt like the weight on my shoulders was lifted instantly, and the Mavericks saw my value."
Once in the NBA, Ferrell faced the two powerful Cavaliers and Spurs in his first two games. Yogi Ferrell, who started the game, was not afraid and posted 9 points, 7 assists and 19 points, 3 assists respectively. Against the Spurs, With 7.3 seconds left, Ferrell hit both free throws to seal the victory. The Mavericks won two consecutive upsets. The most intense one was on the third to last day, when the Mavericks faced the Trail Blazers. Yogi Ferrell faced the league's top point guard.Damion Lillard, he scored 9 three-pointers, including the key goal at the end of the game, and scored 32 points, helping the Mavericks win four consecutive games. Big brother Dirk Nowitzki also praised him, "He is completely focused on the battle. This is A player who has to prove himself within 10 days should have an attitude." Seth Curry, who also has a 10-day short-term contract experience, can completely understand why Ferrell is full of ambition. "Seeing him is like seeing him back then. Play every game as if it’s your last game.”
"He hit 9 three-pointers, including the winning shot next to Dirk. Yogi has a natural killer gene. Sometimes playing basketball requires not only talent, but also luck, and Yogi and our destiny happened to be together. "Cuban said after defeating the Trail Blazers.
The Mavericks need Ferrell's offensive ability and confidence on the court, and more importantly, his self-awareness. Ferrell never avoids facing his weaknesses, but he never wavers because of his lack of height. "I like to play chess. I often play against netizens. When playing chess, you have to anticipate the enemy's opportunities and think through the next few moves at a time. I try to create opportunities for victory and strengthen my inner mind through different methods."
Ferrell started 29 games last season, but whether he can start in the 2017-18 season is still uncertain. Ferrell must continue to improve and adjust, and help the team reach higher levels in order to make his NBA career longer. .
Now that Smith has arrived, it is both a turning point and an opportunity for Ferrell. "Smith will play an important role, and we will do our best to assist him."
The dream of being undrafted in the draft is sublimated
The height gap is an innate obstacle that many basketball players cannot overcome. Ferrell, who is only 6 feet tall, cannot escape the sky-high distance. On June 23, 2016, in the NBA draft, Ferrell failed to hear his name as he wished, but he said Encourage Ferrell to get back on his feet,
"They keep you out of the NBA, but they can't stop you from practicing."
Although he lost the draft, Ferrell continued to train hard on the basketball court and in the training room. "This is my only outlet and my only comfort. With constant training, all emotions and disappointments disappear."
Ferrell averaged 17.6 points and 5.6 assists as a senior, leading Indiana University to the Big Ten Conference championship and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16. An Indiana native, Ferrell started all 137 games and was the first player since Isiah Thomas to consecutively dominate in points and assists.
A few weeks after the draft ended, Ferrell began to look for a job. "You will be grateful for the unsatisfactory days. When you look back when you have small achievements, you will continue to work hard to create a future." Ferrell was interviewed after a surprise performance with the Mavericks a year later. Shi said.
Ferrell first signed with the Nets. However, even with the Nets, who were overwhelmed, Ferrell only got 10 games and 151 minutes of space. He also moved between the Development League and the NBA. The Nets also The contract with Ferrell was terminated. Ferrell was preparing to return to the Development League, but soon after his agent heard that the Mavericks planned to give him a 10-day contract. "When Pierre Jackson was injured, we needed a point guard, and they gave me a list, and I saw that Ferrell was from Indiana and graduated from Indiana University, and I thought, of course he has to be selected." Likewise. said Cuban, who graduated from Indiana University.
"I'm very much looking forward to Ferrell's performance next season. He will become a super partner with Dennis Smith. Ferrell will make Smith even better. Ferrell loves defense, is committed to improving the level of competition and strengthening himself. These are the things I want to see. player quality and attitude."
Ferrell has a long road to stardom
Ferrell has always wanted to fight for his hometown of Indiana. As a member of the 2012 McDonald's All-American Game, Ferrell led Park Tudor High School to achieve a second consecutive championship in the Indiana League and ended his high school career with his performance as a junior. . "I have been working out very hard and watching films of star guards to improve myself. I will watch Steve Nash and observe his passing, how to create space and find the best gaps. Why does Nash play so smoothly? It has to be Understand his thoughts first, the path to success is the same."
Ferrell already attracted a lot of attention when he was only 10 years old. At that time, he was only 4 feet 10 inches and was rated as the best player of that generation. At that time, Ferrell was still called Kevin Ferrell. His father, Kevin Ferrell Sr., did not want the young Ferrell to be spoiled by fame. "I became the focus of attention early, but there was too much attention. I remember that I appeared in the newspaper." My dad didn't like it very much and he didn't let me play at first, but I really wanted to play. However, now I feel that my dad's decision was the right one.
Before high school, Ferrell's father stopped letting Ferrell play AAU. At that time, Ferrell could only play with friends on public courts. "If you don't play in AAU, you don't have to face the media and cameras."
This experience became a key to Ferrell's development. Because of his father's advice, Ferrell was not overly proud, which made him not proud even as a college star. He also had the courage to rise again when he was at the bottom and performed amazingly in the NBA. He was still very open-minded.
When Ferrell finally returned to AAU to play this year, he learned an important lesson: never take your love for basketball for granted. “This is a year that flies by for me. One second ago, I was in Brooklyn. , the next second I'm in AAU. The game here is much easier for me now, making the right decisions and reading the defense, I just want to continue to improve and continue to play every game."
Although Ferrell is not tall, the sky is not the limit for his ambition.
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