Wasn't Anthony Randolph supposed to have an attitude problem? Wasn't there talk of immaturity and a questionable work ethic from the Warriors' 19-year-old?Well then, something doesn't quite add up because the Randolph you see on the court and the Randolph you talk to these days sure doesn't seem like any kind of problem.
In fact, if you're talking Warriors, this kid looks like the solution.
"I could have gone a whole different route," Randolph said of his first season. "I could have been looked at as a bad kid, maybe even not be in the league when my first contract is up depending on how I dealt with it."
As it turns out, Randolph may very well be the brightest spot in an aimless and disappointing season for Golden State. His play is still far from consistent, but he's put an impressive imprint on recent games and his upside is undeniable.
That he wanted it all right away isn't uncommon for a young player.
"When you start putting a young player in a situation where he plays too soon, then you lose confidence," Warriors assistant coach Keith Smart said. "We knew he was on the emotional side and that could have happened to him had he been force-fed out there."
Instead of force-feeding, Warriors coach Don Nelson chose the starvation diet for Randolph. That meant long stretches on the bench without a rhyme, reason or explanation. It wasn't until the season had spun downward and injuries took their toll that Nelson began calling Randolph's number consistently.
To put it nicely, Nelson didn't make it easy on Randolph, and their troubles drew more than a few comparisons to Nelson's tumultuous relationship with Chris Webber from yesteryear.
And there's still a vocal segment of Warriors' fans who disagree with the way Nelson handled Randolph. As for Randolph, he's over that. Or at least says so. Bottom line is that Randolph handled everything Nelson threw at him and then some. The kid's been a trooper.
"I'm past all of that," Randolph said. "Every coach has a different way of coaching players and developing players. I think he decided that was the best way of dealing with me and I can't really go into the past and change that. All you can do is move forward with what's going on."
What's going on now is that Randolph is emerging. He's already a terrific rebounder and big-time shot-blocker. He's been averaging 12 points per game over the past seven games, and that's without much of an offensive game at this point.
If Randolph can gain some consistency with a mid-range jumper and get a little stronger on the interior, he'll take a big step heading into next season. He said he wishes next season could start the day after this year's regular season ends, then will add that he couldn't imagine himself saying such a thing back in December.
"This year taught me that things aren't given to you," Randolph said.
That likely means Randolph won't take anything for granted in 2009-10. Not when you think about how tough 2008-09 was, and not when you think about the fickle Nelson still being the coach of the Warriors.
"Coming in here, thinking after averaging 20 points per game in summer league, and doing all the things I did, I kind of expected that 'OK, I'm going to come in and he's (Nelson) going to throw me out there and let me play.' It was a little tough, but I think I made it through."
With flying colors, it turns out.
The only thing left now is to see how good Randolph will become. There are expectations, no doubt. And pressure, too. Lakers forward Lamar Odom, to whom Randolph has been compared, said the lanky lefty has Hall of Fame talent.
Said Randolph: "I want that. I like that pressure."
Give him credit, he sure handled it this year.
