Cut Terry Rozier some slack. He doesn’t have to be Kemba to be what the Hornets need
Terry Rozier knew what everyone in Charlotte was thinking, so he said it about himself in September.
“I’m not Kemba,” Rozier asserted days before training camp.
He’s not a four-time All-Star like Walker is. He wasn’t the Boston Celtics’ first choice at point guard, the way Walker was.
But Rozier has been good for the Charlotte Hornets. It’s time to cut him some slack.
Rozier scored a career-high 40 points Monday in a double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He matched a career high by hitting eight 3s (on 13 attempts). He made his coach, James Borrego, look prophetic after he said pregame that Rozier is now an elite NBA shooter.
Rozier knew he faced a perception problem when he arrived in Charlotte. Hornets fans were mourning Walker’s departure and scrutinizing the $56 million over three years Rozier would receive to replace him.
At least so far, it doesn’t look so risky that the Hornets are paying him an average of about $19 million a year.
“Terry has been fantastic,” Borrego said. “He’s exceeded my expectations.”
I was curious specifically what Borrego meant; what he thought he was getting when the Hornets pursued Rozier in July and what the Hornets actually got.
“His shot-making ability, his tenacity, his physical play on the ball defensively,” Borrego said of Rozier’s best traits. “And just his willingness to accept a role. That’s not easy.”
Acceptance
Rozier showed up in Charlotte slated to be “X,” and almost immediately became “Y” with the sudden ascension of Devonte Graham. Rather than be the starting point guard, Rozier slid over to be mostly a shooting guard who would play point only when Graham sat.
Had me moped about that, he certainly could have gotten away with it considering how much money the Hornets owed him. Instead, he handled this with not just grace but passion for the work.
Veteran center Bismack Biyombo says that’s a bigger deal than people probably grasp from afar.
“He has so embraced his role,” Biyombo said. “When you come to a new team, there are a lot of expectations when you get signed (to a big contract). He’s trusted the coaches and adapted to the system, which isn’t easy right away. And he has excelled.
“He could have gotten out of his comfort zone, and tried to do a little bit too much. Guys do that in these situations.”
For all the praise Rozier has received, he’s pretty hard on himself.
“Obviously, I’m not satisfied for the simple fact I can give a little bit more,” Rozier said. “That’s the good thing about me: I’m always going to strive for better.”
Middle-aged
With the Celtics his first four NBA seasons, Rozier was a kid learning from accomplished veterans. In Charlotte, the shift to youth was so dramatic this season that four years of experience makes him an elder.
Rozier and center Cody Zeller are the middle-age guys in the rotation: Old enough to share wisdom, but still viable to be here when the playoff chases start.
Rozier has given that status a lot of thought; he enjoys being the in-between guy.
“I consider myself young. I played four years for Boston and I feel I learned a lot,” Rozier said of becoming a mentor.
“I feel like that’s what this game is about: You learn and then you teach. I don’t have all the answers, but I hate losing and I feel like that competitive spirit ties in with it all.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
