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K.J. McDaniels first tattoo was his initials, K.J., on his
left bicep. He got the ink the summer after he had completed eighth grade.
Situated slightly below his initials on that same arm is
another tattoo that reads ‘Gods Will’ in a cursive font.
While McDaniels’ upper body is covered in ink, those two tattoos
are of particular importance. What they represent to McDaniels are confidence,
and faith; two pillars with which he has begun to build his basketball career
on.
Despite confidence in his skills, coming out of Central Park
Christian High School in Birmingham, Alabama, McDaniels was not heavily
recruited. Clemson was in fact the only ACC school interested in his services.
Instead of feeling slighted however, McDaniels, who grew up watching the ACC, saw
his college recruitment as an opportunity, a blessing, and most importantly,
part of a greater plan.
“Gods will is because I’m fortunate enough to be out of
‘Bama and get somewhere.”
McDaniels is used to overcoming odds and obstacles. He believes
that people are placed in certain situations for a reason, and thus it is his
duty to find that reason and make the most out of every opportunity.
Rather than viewing it as an indictment on his skill set,
McDaniels used the fact that he wasn’t highly recruited out of high school as
motivation. He took advantage of the opportunity Clemson had given him, turning
his recruitment into a successful three-year college career, culminating in an
ACC DPOY award and an NBA draft selection.
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| Image from philly.com |
It must have felt like deja vu for the forward however when,
after a successful and solid stint in college he again found himself flying
under the radar in a highly-hyped NBA draft. A first-round talent, McDaniels
saw himself slip to the second round before the Sixers scooped him up with the
32nd overall selection.
Again, rather than ruminating on all the teams that passed
on his services, McDaniels calls his selection by the Sixers a ‘blessing’, and
he is again embracing the opportunity to prove himself.
It didn’t take long. 13 games in, McDaniels is standing out
among a deep rookie class. He is fourth among all rookies in points per game,
and second in blocks per game. His skillset his been praised, and his blocks
and alley-oops have caught the attention of onlookers league-wide.
Despite all the promise he has shown however, McDaniels
remains a reserve for Brett Brown’s bottom-dwelling Sixers.
“It’s frustrating, but I’ve just got to deal with the
minutes I do get and play as hard as I can,” McDaniels told The Intelligencer’s
Tom Moore.
In last week’s loss to the Celtics, McDaniels saw only 11
minutes of action despite hitting all three of his shots.
“I can’t determine playing time. It’s happening. I have to
deal with it. I’ve just got to stay humble about it and keep grinding.”
It’s the same attitude McDaniels’ has continued to employ
throughout his basketball journey, and thus far it has paid dividends. At the
same time however, considering the current state of the Sixers, McDaniels
should be seeing more minutes.
It would be one thing if McDaniels wasn’t receiving
near-starter minutes on a contending team with an established core, but the
Sixers are far from that. Yeah he has a lot of areas he needs to work on, and
at times he looks overwhelmed, but what is this season about for the Sixers if
not providing the young players with ample opportunity to learn and grow
through in-game experience? The team has to make financial decisions about him
this summer also.
Luc Mbah a Moute is getting 27 minutes of action each game,
and has started in 11 of the team’s first 12 contests. Though Moute could be a
solid role-playing piece in the right situation, he has no long-term future
with the franchise. It only makes sense to give more minutes to a player who
may play a big part in the franchise’s future, especially in an otherwise lost
season.
Above the ‘K.J.’ and
crown the accents it on McDaniels’ left arm is another phrase inked skin-deep:
‘Sky is the Limit.’ A month into his rookie season, the Mobile, Alabama native
has shown signs of stardom. He just needs the opportunity.
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