What UNC’s Dexter Strickland can learn from OKC’s Russell Westbrook
The 2012-2013 will be a year of transition for the Tar Heels in some aspects. The veteran leadership will come from the perimeter players. Dexter Strickland will be one of the few seniors on the Tar Heels roster for next season. His presence will be significant in how quickly the basketball team matures and evolves.
Prior to his injury last season, Dexter was having a good season. His ability to run both guard positions provided versatility for Roy Williams’ subbing rotations. When Dexter injured his knee last season, Carolina’s championship hopes started to quickly disappear. Carolina lacked his defensive prowess and ability to push the basketball in transition.
The connection between Dexter Strickland and Russell Westbrook is their style of play. Both players are highly athletic. Both individuals are close to the same size in height and weight. Both of them play above the rim. Neither one of them are true point guards. While this hurts some players, it doesn’t hinder Strickland or Westbrook because their athleticism is their strength. Their athleticism makes them versatile, and difficult to defend.
When Russell Westbrook attended UCLA, he was not the go-to guy. In fact, Westbrook backed up current Indiana Pacers point guard, Darren Collison. In Westbrook’s freshman season at UCLA, he averaged 3.4 points a game. In his sophomore season at UCLA, Russell averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Westbrook did not start a game until his sophomore season, when Darren Collison was injured. Westbrook’s best college performance was in the national semifinal game against Memphis University. Memphis was led by current Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose. In this game, Westbrook scored 22 points, to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. This is what caught the attention of NBA executives. Westbrook flew under the radar during the majority of college career. On the biggest stage in collegiate sports, Russell stepped up and made a name for himself.
Dexter Strickland may not be the best shooter or the best ball handler on the team. However, this does not mean that his ceiling is low. Most people assume that a player has to be a star in college basketball, in order to become a star in the NBA. Russell Westbrook proves this theory wrong. I think that the same may hold true for Dexter Strickland. Sometimes being successful is a matter of waiting your time and seizing the moment; like Russell Westbrook did. There is a saying that goes, “Success is when preparation meets opportunity.” This proverb clearly illustrates Westbrook’s rise to stardom. He was the picked to be “the man” in the NBA. He wasn’t even “the man” at UCLA. Westbrook’s college career was humbling. The humility ignited the drive and determination for Westbrook to be the player that he is today. Now, Russell Westbrook is in a position to possible lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals.
In order to get to the next level, Dexter must remain grounded and humble. He has star quality. He just has to be aware of his moments that he must seize to spark the NBA buzz on him. Dexter Strickland’s athleticism is his strength and he should use it to his advantage. In other words, Dexter needs to play big during high profile games next season. As Dexter continues to work on your shot, dribbling, and passing, he will become better at performing each of these abilities. Not only that. Dexter will become the player he is destined to become.