1. Be a rookie
This may sound like a borderline oxymoron, but it’s a big reason why a lot of incoming rookies don’t last long in the league.
Grayson Allen should be a good NBA player for a long time. He is a solid shooter; both in a spot-up role and on the move. He can facilitate and rebound well and is a better defender than people give him credit for. Jazz and NBA fans alike will wait to see what he does during the regular season before they will truly believe in his potential, but that’s okay. All Allen has to do is play his role, and play it well. He couldn’t have ended up in a better situation.
Utah is a team on the rise, not a team on the decline. Barring injury (*knocks on every piece of wood in sight*), the Jazz are going to make the playoffs. They will make a deeper run than last season (feel free to screenshot this), and it doesn’t hinge on Allen.
The J-Notes
I’m going to come clean and admit I didn’t like Grayson Allen for a long time. I was born and raised in Maryland and my parents went to the University of Maryland (Fear the Turtle!), so I grew up rooting against the Blue Devils. The fact that Allen was on Duke made me dislike him automatically, but the tripping incidents looked more intentional than coincidental contact. I thought he was a dirty player, and didn’t care much for his explanations or whatever else he had to say. Then he came to Utah.
I cover the Jazz. One thing writers have to do on a continual basis is determine whether separation of character and playing ability is necessary in order to evaluate a player fairly. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. In Allen’s case, something unique occurred that happens less than we writers want to admit it.
Blue Devil Grayson Allen and Utah Jazz Grayson Allen are the same person.
Allen is a fiery competitor, and a better player than people gave and give him credit for. He doesn’t have to be the featured option for the Jazz, despite his first round pick label. That’s Mitchell’s role.
He doesn’t have to be the best shooter on the team. That’s Ingles’ role. He doesn’t have to be the best rebounder on the team. That’s Rudy Gobert‘s role. He doesn’t have to be the best passer on the team. That’s Ricky Rubio’s role.
Allen’s role this season is to wear the pink backpack, have his car filled with popcorn and play to his strengths when he gets minutes off the bench.
Just be himself.