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K.J. McDaniels has a lot to prove this season. After signing
an unconventional one-year rookie deal with the Sixers, his fate and future in
the league is in his own hands. His performance on the court for the Sixers
this season will go a long way toward determining his market value next summer.
With those stakes established, the former Clemson Tiger is wide-eyed and eager
for the opportunity.
“I feel like I have the God-given ability to go out there
and compete with the best,” he stated prior to the preseasons start. “I’m just
appreciative, and I just take every day as a learning experience. I’m going to
go out there and try my hardest, and try to learn as much as possible.”
McDaniels sees himself as a sponge, soaking up all of the
knowledge that he can while doing his best to take advantage of the opportunity
in front of him.
“It’s a blessing,” he said of his start with the Sixers.
The 21-year old forward demonstrated offensive ability
throughout his three seasons at Clemson, averaging over 17 points per game his
junior year, but it is one the other end of the ball where he aims to have the
biggest impact.
“[My dedication to defense] gives me an opportunity to get
out on the court and compete. I feel like it’s just having the right mentality,
going out there and being aggressive on the defensive end, using your
athleticism to go jump, blocks shots, and make your opponent think twice.”
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| Image from Philly.com |
McDaniels’ dedication to defense started early.
“My dad always told me that defense wins games, so since he
told me that, I just kind of focused on defense as much as offense,” McDaniels
stated. “Teams aren’t expecting a two guard to go block shots, but I feel like
I’ve got to have my teammates’ back, so I go out there and do whatever I need
to.”
While his role for the season is not yet specifically set,
Coach Brett Brown sees McDaniels as a ‘three-and-D’ type, in the mold of former
San Antonio Spur, Bruce Bowen.
“For me, it’s trying to put him in a lane that is very,
you’ve heard me use the name Bruce Bowen before,” Brown stated. “We never put
Bruce in pick-and-rolls, we never isolated him, watched him do stuff with the
ball. It was making corner threes from the skill package of catch-go,
catch-shot, stuff from the corners.”
Brown went on to emphasize that defense will be McDaniels’
calling card.
“Most importantly is guard your man, be tenacious
defensively, and I think that that is in [McDaniels]. If he wants to know where
his bread is buttered, that’s where it is, on the defensive side.”
McDaniels wasted no time demonstrating his defensive
ability, recording six blocks in the SIxers first three preseason games, and
providing a perimeter presence on the end of the floor.
With his future in his own hands, McDaniels knows what he
has to do.
“I know just to come out here and compete hard every day,
put my best foot forward and just try to learn as much as possible. I’m looking
forward to it, I know to just keep my motor going, have fun, and play hard.”
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