Cam Boozer has a famous dad, and the best advice Carlos Boozer gave him before his rookie season was just three words. At Grizzlies media day on Monday, the No. 3 overall pick kept it simple when asked what his father told him, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
“Just be present,” Boozer said.
The 19-year-old explained that it is about taking things one day at a time instead of getting lost in all the expectations around his first NBA season. And there are plenty of those.
Memphis is in a new era. Ja Morant has been traded, Jaren Jackson Jr. is gone, and the 6-foot-10 forward is expected to have a real role in the frontcourt right away.
He has the résumé to handle it. In his lone season at Duke, Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists, shot 55.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three, and swept the major national player of the year awards. According to NBA.com, he also led the Blue Devils to an ACC title and the Elite Eight while earning ACC Tournament MVP.
The IAHHM Take
This one has Tobacco Road written all over it. Carlos won a national title at Duke in 2001 before a 13-year NBA run that included two All-Star nods and Olympic gold, per NBA.com. Now his son goes from Durham to the league as a top-three pick.
That is a real Carolina basketball family story, and it is pretty cool to see the torch get passed so publicly.
“Just be present” sounds simple, but it might be the smartest thing a rookie can hear. A top pick on a team in transition gets judged every single night. Staying locked into the day in front of you is how you survive that.
Boozer gets his first taste of NBA action when Memphis opens the preseason on Monday, October 5, against the Atlanta Hawks.
So Carolina, what do you think: does Cam end up having a better NBA career than his dad?
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Source: ClutchPoints, NBA.com
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