Washington Wizards: A Different Path For Glen Rice Jr.

Glen Rice Jr. traveled a different road than most to the NBA. (Flickr.com photo/Bryan Horowitz)

In spring 2012 Glen Rice Jr. was suspended by Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory. It was Rice’s second suspension of that season and his third suspension since arriving at Georgia Tech. On March 14, 2012, he was dismissed from the Georgia Tech basketball team.

Rice’s road from that point to July 8, the day he signed with the Washington Wizards, is a unique one. It involves a fourth-round selection, a second-round selection, a marginalized bench role, a D-League Player of the Week award and a D-League championship. Rice was close to becoming the first D-Leaguer to be drafted in the first round back in June, but instead joined a small handful of D-League players taken in round 2. Rice did not fret at the drop to round 2, claiming that he did not need any extra motivation. And while he may have only been one of many drafted after accumulating some D-League service, their was still something about Rice that set him apart. He had seen his name on an NBA jersey before.

When Rice Jr. was drafted his father, former Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets star Glen Rice Sr., followed a quick congratulations with some grounding advice: “… Don’t get complacent. Keep working.” (mlive.com) Rice Sr. averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 40 percent from 3 over his 15-year career. He is 14th all-time in 3-pointers made. When asked by the Sun-Sentinel about living up to his father’s legacy, Rice Jr. responded, “You get people wanting him to play just like him.” Rice Jr. does not have Dad’s 3-point stroke, but is the far more athletic player of the two. He also has the potential to become a much better defender than his father was.

While serving his third suspension with Georgia Tech, Rice was charged with allowing unlawful operation in midtown Atlanta. Rice was leaving a midtown club with Georgia Tech team managers London Warren and Steven Prior. An off-duty officer heard gunshots coming from the club’s parking lot and investigated the situation. Warren was charged with a DUI and Prior admitted to firing the gunshots. Rice was in the backseat. Warren was immediately dismissed from the basketball program and the university and a few days later, Rice was dismissed as well. (GA Daily News)

Once Rice was officially released to join another school he was declared one of the 20 top transfer prospects available for the 2012-13 season. Instead of transferring or playing in overseas, Rice decided to enter into the D-League draft, where he was chosen in the fourth round by the Rio Grande Vipers.

“I didn’t want to get too far,” Rice said when speaking to the Washington Post on his decision to go to the D-League. “I felt the D-League was the closest route to the NBA. A lot of scouts come to watch the D-League games and I felt that would’ve been the best decision for me.”

However, Rice suffered the fate of most young American players going to play in Europe in the NBA’s Development League. For the first part of the season, Rice did not get much playing time. He was even inactive for some time at the beginning of the season. His only real highlight through the winter was a 35-point, 15-rebound performance in early February and being a participant in the D-League dunk contest during the All-Star break. It was in March though that Rice truly exploded on the scene. In three games from March 5-10 Rice put up a 20-point, 14-rebound, four-assist game; a 29-point, 11-rebound, three-block game; and a 23-point, eight-rebound, three-assist game. On March 11, Rice was rewarded with D-League Player of the Week honors.

“I knew my time would eventually come where I could get a shot in the game,” Rice told mlive.com about the time it took for him to get his chance. “So when a couple of guys got called up and a couple of guys got hurt that’s when I got my chance to showcase what I could do in the game…”

Rice carried that momentum through the rest of the season and playoffs. With team leaders like Andrew Goudelock returning to the NBA, Rice elevated his play and was voted to the D-League’s All-Rookie second team. The Vipers won their last 16 games, including three straight best-of-three playoff sweeps on their way to the D-League championship. Rice averaged 25 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, two blocks and two steals in the playoffs. In the Finals, Rice averaged 29 points, 11.5 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and 3.5 blocks.

His excellent play left scouts thinking he could be that first D-League player to go in the first round of the NBA Draft. Instead Rice was taken 35th by the Philadelphia 76ers and was quickly traded to the Wizards. Again, Rice had little concern with being drafted later than projected.

“I was just happy to hear my name … You can’t get greedy… I was just as happy as the first pick. Guarantee it,” Rice told the Washington Post of his place in the draft.

Rice was one of the first players to report to the Wizards mini-camp and was the Wizards’ leading scorer for the summer league (along with Jan Vesely). However, with Washington’s depth at guard and forward, it is unlikely Rice sees major playing time out of the gate. That should not be a deterrent to Rice progressing as an NBA player, though.

“I’ve already been through that,” Rice told the Washington Post, referring to his time getting limited minutes in the D-League. “I think it will help.”

However, Rice did take a moment to enjoy the moment of becoming an NBA player. “Of course it felt good to know there is a jersey out there with your name on it and the NBA logo,” Rice said referring to his rookie photo shoot. “I’m definitely excited, anxious and ready to keep working, so when the opportunity comes, I’ll be ready.”