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Charlotte Hornets: Aging Al Jefferson Wisely Planning To Drop Weight

By Andrew C. Fisher

Mar 25, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) looks to drive past the Brooklyn Nets defense of forward Thaddeus Young (30) and center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) looks to drive past the Brooklyn Nets defense of forward Thaddeus Young (30) and center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Al Jefferson was brought to the Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats) to help elevate the team into a perennial playoff qualifier. After a highly successful first season, his stock cooled off a bit in 2014-15. Now with one year remaining on his contract and a player option, some fans are wondering what the future holds for Big Al.

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His first season in Charlotte couldn’t have gone much better (21 PPG, 10 RPG average) until plantar fascia took him out of the playoffs. But even with Jefferson at full health, it would likely have just delayed the inevitable against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.

Big Al’s second season in Charlotte unfortunately became derailed in a similar way. With the Hornets struggling to stay in playoff contention down the stretch he again had to hobble to the finish line with groin and knee injuries. In total he missed 17 games.

Jefferson’s late-season injuries are not fully to blame for the Hornets failures, but obviously a roster that’s a little thin on talent needs its top players when it counts most to have any shot at all.

So what’s next for Big Al with one year left on his contract?

For starters, he says he has no plans to opt out of the deal.

“I’ve got unfinished business here. That’s not even an option for me. Unless something dramatic changed, I can’t see myself opting out, and leaving that bad taste in my mouth. And in the Charlotte Hornets’ mouth. I can’t walk away from that,” said Jefferson via Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.

That’s the kind of comment you want to hear if you’re a Hornets fan. Although Jefferson is set to turn 31 next season, it’s not like he’s a dinosaur. There’s gas left in the tank, at minimum for two or three more seasons.

Over his career Big Al has been fairly reliable, but it’s worth pointing out that he’s only played in every game of the season two times over his 11-year career. With all the mileage he has on him at the juncture (more than 23,000 minutes), it’s unrealistic to think that he’ll suit up for every game during the 2015-16 season.

Wisely, though, Jefferson has a plan in place to try and counter father time. After playing the past five years at approximately 285 pounds, he also told Bonnell of the Observer that he intends to drop 20-25 pounds.

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    • “I’ve been playing at 285 to 287 (pounds) for five years and it’s catching up to me. I’m going to have to drop some weight to take pressure off my knees. I’m thinking 20 to 25 pounds.”

    Sure, Big Al won’t be quite so big if he loses that much weight. If this were the NBA of 15 years ago, it’s a move that probably wouldn’t be advised. But in today’s slimmed down era, it’s really one of the best things Jefferson could do for his lower body at this point.

    In addition to the weight loss plan he’s also committed to intense workouts all summer long, with a return to the training facility set for early May.

    It truly sounds like Jefferson is taking his late-season disappointments to heart and that he wants to do everything he can to get the franchise back to the postseason.

    The Charlotte Hornets should also play a part in this new strategy by limiting his minutes next regular season. If it takes resting him more often early on to ensure he’s there when it really matters, that’s the direction Steve Clifford must go in.

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