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Suns.com: McDyess Provided Late Season Spark
McDyess Provided Late Season Spark
By Steven Koek, Suns.com
Posted: April 22, 2004
One of the more intriguing storylines that helped make the final days of a long 2003-04 season bearable was watching the play of forward Antonio McDyess. Filling in for injured centers Jake Voskuhl and Jahidi White, “Dice” showed the first signs of a full recovery from three knee surgeries over the last two years and helped the Suns end the year on a positive note, posting a .500 record over the last month of the schedule.
The nine-year pro, in his second tour of duty in Phoenix after returning in the Jan. 5 blockbuster trade with the Knicks, provided veteran leadership for the youngest team in the league and made a statement that he still has enough left in his 29-year-old body to make a contribution.
“That was a big role for me for this team, being a veteran guy taking the leadership,” the six-year forward said. “Most guys would give up when you have the worst record in the West, but these young guys kept going, kept pushing. They earned my respect and I think they’re going to be some great players in the future.”
Respect is a two-way street, of course, and McDyess earned plenty of it from his young teammates who saw him work tirelessly to get into the kind of shape necessary to compete in the NBA.
With the help of trainer Aaron Nelson and his staff, McDyess made major strides after his arrival in the Valley. His knee is feeling no pain and as impressive as some of his rebounding totals were in the final weeks of the season, the minutes he racked up without the huffing and puffing displayed in his first appearances this season were an even stronger indication that his physical problems are behind him.
“He can play in the summer, get his game in shape, his body a little bit better,” said Head Coach Mike D’Antoni. “After you blow out a knee, it takes you a year to come back to play. I think next year he’s going to be better than he is right now, and he’s pretty good right now as a big guy.
“He’s a great guy in the locker room. Amaré (Stoudemire) loves him. He can talk to Amaré. He’s a great guy.”
“I think McDyess is a great addition to the team,” agreed Stoudemire. “He’s come along strong these last couple of weeks, grabbing 14-15 rebounds. That’s huge. That’s telling you that he’s back and his injury is not really affecting him anymore. When we’re out there playing, we’re very comfortable out there on the court. I think he’s a good addition to the team.”
A free agent this summer, McDyess hopes he has proven worthy of a chance to play and has designs on returning to Phoenix next season. Whether he returns or not, he is grateful for the opportunity to play this year regardless of where he winds up next fall.
“It’s my expectation to be back here,” he said. “If not, I’ve had a great time here. I’ve rehabbed well. Hopefully, if things go well, I'll be back.”
A lot of variables will go into the equation in determining whether or not McDyess will in a Suns uniform in 2004-05, but if it does happen, the players and coaching staff alike would be happy to welcome back.
"He’s got a lot of character," D'Antoni said. "The guy’s been through a lot and he’s bounced right back. Is this as good as it gets or does it get better? That’s the whole question mark. You don’t know. He’s going to work on his game. It’s going to be exciting to watch. In a sense, it’s a bet with Mother Nature. Can he beat it? Maybe he can. We’re all hoping for it because he’s a great guy."
McDyess Provided Late Season Spark
By Steven Koek, Suns.com
Posted: April 22, 2004
One of the more intriguing storylines that helped make the final days of a long 2003-04 season bearable was watching the play of forward Antonio McDyess. Filling in for injured centers Jake Voskuhl and Jahidi White, “Dice” showed the first signs of a full recovery from three knee surgeries over the last two years and helped the Suns end the year on a positive note, posting a .500 record over the last month of the schedule.
The nine-year pro, in his second tour of duty in Phoenix after returning in the Jan. 5 blockbuster trade with the Knicks, provided veteran leadership for the youngest team in the league and made a statement that he still has enough left in his 29-year-old body to make a contribution.
“That was a big role for me for this team, being a veteran guy taking the leadership,” the six-year forward said. “Most guys would give up when you have the worst record in the West, but these young guys kept going, kept pushing. They earned my respect and I think they’re going to be some great players in the future.”
Respect is a two-way street, of course, and McDyess earned plenty of it from his young teammates who saw him work tirelessly to get into the kind of shape necessary to compete in the NBA.
With the help of trainer Aaron Nelson and his staff, McDyess made major strides after his arrival in the Valley. His knee is feeling no pain and as impressive as some of his rebounding totals were in the final weeks of the season, the minutes he racked up without the huffing and puffing displayed in his first appearances this season were an even stronger indication that his physical problems are behind him.
“He can play in the summer, get his game in shape, his body a little bit better,” said Head Coach Mike D’Antoni. “After you blow out a knee, it takes you a year to come back to play. I think next year he’s going to be better than he is right now, and he’s pretty good right now as a big guy.
“He’s a great guy in the locker room. Amaré (Stoudemire) loves him. He can talk to Amaré. He’s a great guy.”
“I think McDyess is a great addition to the team,” agreed Stoudemire. “He’s come along strong these last couple of weeks, grabbing 14-15 rebounds. That’s huge. That’s telling you that he’s back and his injury is not really affecting him anymore. When we’re out there playing, we’re very comfortable out there on the court. I think he’s a good addition to the team.”
A free agent this summer, McDyess hopes he has proven worthy of a chance to play and has designs on returning to Phoenix next season. Whether he returns or not, he is grateful for the opportunity to play this year regardless of where he winds up next fall.
“It’s my expectation to be back here,” he said. “If not, I’ve had a great time here. I’ve rehabbed well. Hopefully, if things go well, I'll be back.”
A lot of variables will go into the equation in determining whether or not McDyess will in a Suns uniform in 2004-05, but if it does happen, the players and coaching staff alike would be happy to welcome back.
"He’s got a lot of character," D'Antoni said. "The guy’s been through a lot and he’s bounced right back. Is this as good as it gets or does it get better? That’s the whole question mark. You don’t know. He’s going to work on his game. It’s going to be exciting to watch. In a sense, it’s a bet with Mother Nature. Can he beat it? Maybe he can. We’re all hoping for it because he’s a great guy."
