Unless you're a certified superstar or a reliable rotation player in the NBA, you'll constantly be wary of potential moves to another team or being reassigned to the league's developmental program, the G League. Such was life for defensive guard Avery Bradley during his rookie year with the Boston Celtics in 2010.
Although he was the 19th overall pick, he joined a Celtics team aiming for the NBA title after winning it all in 2008. With established players like Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce already operating on the wing, there needed to be more room for the 6'3" guard out of Texas on Boston's rotation.
According to former Celtics great Kevin Garnett , Avery was once sent to the Celtics' G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. He took that personally, and when the rookie guard returned, "The Big Ticket" shared how passionate Bradley was about staying in the NBA for good.
KG's rook
Talking on "KG Certified," he recalled his first meeting with Avery Bradley.
"I'll never forget, he was sitting with Ellis on the training table, and I remember he had a dope haircut and some nice earrings. I was looking at him like, 'Who's this?' They said, 'Oh yeah, this is our little guard.' I thought, 'Is this guy a model or something?'" KG shared .
However, the Hall of Famer recounted that Bradley's suave appearance soon changed when he was sent to the G League.
"I think he hurt his ankle and wasn't playing well in camp, so he had to go to the G League. He was there for a week, and when he came back, his hair was knotty, he hadn't shaved, and he had a cut under his eye," the retired power forward revealed.
While the G League is still part of the NBA, its operations differ from the NBA's. As Bradley quickly discovered, players there have different luxuries and resources than those in the NBA. This experience, however, only strengthened his resolve to make it in the big league.
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Determined to stay in the big league
With the G League experience fresh in mind, Avery rejoined the Celtics and was determined to prove to the coaching staff that he was worthy of a spot in the rotation. KG bared that in one practice, Bradley had a look in his eye that showed he meant business. As Celtics center Kendrick Perkins soon discovered, that fire and determination translated into an unforgettable slam dunk.
"I'll never forget this. The first play of scrimmage, he rejected a screen, took two steps, and dunked on Perk so f*****g hard that we had to stop practice," the 15-time All-Star stated.
"You know what he said to me after the dunk? 'I ain't going back. I ain't never going back,'" KG stressed.
The G League isn't the worst thing. There are leagues far worse than the NBA's developmental league. However, Bradley believed in his heart of hearts that he belonged in the NBA. This belief fueled his relentless work, day in and day out, as he waited for his opportunity. And when it finally came, he didn't hesitate to make his mark.
Related: “We damn near about to go to blows” - Kendrick Perkins on how he and Kevin Garnett didn’t talk for the first three weeks in Boston
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