Izzo's take on Lucas' NBA future
Lucas
In a season in which MSU men’s basketball head Tom Izzo has often said has been riddled with distractions, one speculation has been that the conversation of certain Spartans’ NBA Draft stock is plaguing the teams’ NCAA aspirations.
At his weekly press conference Monday, Izzo spoke on the topic of junior guard Kalin Lucas thinking about the NBA and how it might be hindering his recent performance for the No. 11 Spartans.
“I’ve been through so many guys that have pro aspirations,” Izzo said. “You’ve got to make sure you don’t pack your bags too early. That’s what I’ve been spending time with him about. I said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with getting to the NBA and making it a goal. But enjoy the process a little bit more. Just unpack your bags. Put your clothes on the chair next to the bed. Don’t put them in the closet, just leave them there.’
“Its OK to admit that some of those things are on your mind and I don’t want you to lose those, but let’s learn how to deal with them a little better so they don’t ruin every day.”
Izzo said he’s been meeting with Lucas every day to discuss the aforementioned topic along with a variety of other subjects.
The Spartans’ leading scorer was held out of a practice earlier this season, missed time with a sprained ankle and now Izzo said he’s enduring a bad case of athlete’s foot-turned-foot infection.
He had 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in the Spartans’ 64-48 win against Michigan on Sunday in 30 minutes.
After a streak of 33 straight games with double-digit scoring outputs ended when Lucas was injured against Wisconsin in February, he’s averaged nine points in MSU’s last four games.
He was the Big Ten Player of the Year last season and the preseason choice this year. Lucas has compiled 1,371 career points in three seasons, averaging 13.1 points per game in 103 games.
He currently is listed at No. 57 on ESPN Insider NBA reporter Chad Ford’s Top 100, projected to go in the “late first to early second” rounds of this year’s NBA Draft, should Lucas choose to declare after his junior season.
He has made no indication in either direction this season about his choice.
When asked later if he thought Lucas would leave after this year, here’s what Izzo had to say:
“No. I don’t. Like I did with Jason Richardson and Shannon Brown, at the same point, where were we with Shannon Brown? What happens in these cases is there was a time I thought Kalin Lucas was playing great. You don’t know what’s out there yet. But I’m sure, for the first time, I don’t think he’s going to worry about it in the next couple weeks. I don’t think that’s part of his daily thought right now. I think he’s beyond that. I don’t worry about it. I didn’t worry about it before because I talked to him about it. But talking to somebody and going through the pressures that none of us are going through or can understand are two different things.
“When I say pack your bags, that’s not a bad thing. That isn’t a problem. It’s just that sometimes, the way this whole thing is, I don’t think you get to enjoy the journey at all because you’re putting so much pressure on yourself. I know I talked to his dad about it a little bit and he felt (Lucas) was playing with so much pressure to play good, be the No. 1 guy on the scouting report, the different pressures you have. So he has to adjust to them.
“Personally, when the season’s done, the first thing I’m going to do is check with some friends I have and get a feel. The neat thing is I know I’ll be able to sit down with his family and take a look at what’s best for him. Right now, I’ve got to take a look at what’s best for us. When it’s over, we can take a look at what’s best for him. If I have any say in it then, my decision will be what’s best for him. Now, it’s what’s best for us.”
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hahah
(03/10/10 5:01pm)Report
NBA? Kalin, How about you start by showing up in the BT tourny and the NCAA tourny then we can talk NBA. Last 6 games avgs are don’t look like WNBA stats.