Dalen Terry left his first NBA Summer League outing with a direct lesson: It’s time to hit the health club.
Even in opposition to acquainted rivals from his two years in faculty, Terry stated the event underlined the physicality essential to compete within the NBA.
“It definitely woke me up a little bit and made me realize I’ve got to lift some weights,” he stated.
Terry’s last summer time league sport nearly led to catastrophe: a second-quarter slip that tweaked his hamstring. But the damage by no means scared him. His ache was minimal and though group medical doctors insisted he take a full week off, the rookie stated he may’ve performed one other sport inside three days.
The expertise emphasised the necessity for Terry to strengthen his physique forward of the brand new bodily problem of going through NBA opponents.
“I’m a skinny dude,” Terry joked. “You seen Pat (Patrick Williams)? I’m trying to be like Pat.”
Terry isn’t essentially skinny, however with a lean 6-foot-7, 195-pound body, he’s usually undersized in opposition to bulkier opponents. Williams is an apt comparability for the good points Terry must make this season. While they stand on the identical top, Williams weighs 20 kilos extra even after slimming down within the offseason.
Although Terry’s weight isn’t uncommon for a 20-year-old rookie, including muscle will probably be key to successful particular person battles in opposition to bigger gamers whereas sustaining his well being.
For now, the Bulls are pumping Terry with crackers and peanut butter — creamy solely, he made certain to emphasise — after each apply to bulk him up.
“I’m just trying to get stronger in all different types of ways,” Terry stated. “Not necessarily where it shows, more where it comes to my body weight and being able to take a good hit and give one back.”
On the primary day of his first NBA coaching camp, Terry emphasised the identical strengths of his sport: excessive depth and defensive stress.
He spent the offseason targeted on enhancing his soar shot — a key space of enchancment for your complete Bulls roster after a irritating capturing finish to final season. But Terry’s sport at all times will probably be centered round a supportive model of basketball targeted on feeding teammates and disrupting opponents on protection.
After Tuesday’s apply, the rookie stated he felt invigorated by coach Billy Donovan’s tone.
“Everybody got after it,” Terry stated. “I feel like that’s right in my DNA.”
Tuesday marked the primary time Terry stepped on the courtroom with a lot of his new teammates, together with guard Zach LaVine.
While the rookie hopes to spend time choosing the brains of veterans equivalent to LaVine and DeMar DeRozan all through coaching camp, for now he’s having fun with the problem of matching up in opposition to them on protection.
“Zach Lavine is very fast,” Terry stated. “That’s the first time I’ve gotten to play on the court with him. His first step is impeccable. Tomorrow I’m going to try to get in front of that.”
Three weeks from the beginning of the season, Terry stated he hasn’t set expectations for his function because the Bulls’ high draft decide.
The Bulls would possibly want depth at wing with level guard Lonzo Ball sidelined indefinitely, opening alternatives for Terry to make an early entrance. Last season confirmed any damage can thrust a rookie into an sudden function after Ayo Dosunmu helmed the purpose guard place for the latter half of the schedule.
For now, Terry is targeted on making ready his physique to shoulder no matter load he’s handed.
“I’m just trying to get in where I fit in,” Terry stated. “I’m young and I’m a rookie. There’s a lot of vets on this team. So my time will come when my time comes. Every day is just a different day and working in a better direction.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com