Jameer Nelson was told that he was too small when he entered the NBA as a scoring point guard. He proved a lot of people wrong, starting on a super talented Orlando team that made the Finals one year, and should have made it another.
Now a veteran, Nelson is the ideal backup PG for the Nuggets. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver’s prized rookie, has a great mentor in Nelson with him all season.
Mar 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson (28) during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
What kind of advice does Nelson have for young guards? He delved into this within The Players’ Tribune.
"My advice for talented young point guards entering the league is: Come prepared. You’re now stepping into a league that’s more of a grind than ever. Not many guards come into the league and take over early on. It took Steph a few years. Look where he is now. You can’t get discouraged."
This is great advice from Nelson, and not only for the point guard himself. Coaches need to be prepared to let young point guards learn on the job and make mistakes. Mudiay is clearly going to make some rookie mistakes this season, but Malone needs to be prepared to put up with them and allow him to play.
Many great point guards have had these initial problems. John Wall and Steph Curry entered the league showing great flashes, but were susceptible to rookie errors. They pushed through these to become some of the best guards in the NBA right now. Mudiay needs to heed Nelson’s advice and be prepared.