HIS COMPETITIVE FIRE RESTOKED, SULLINGER EYES AN NBA RETURN
Jared Sullinger’s tweet was simple and from the heart:
“Literally wanted to cry today. Thought i was never playing basketball again!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!”
The former Celtic had just scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for a team composed of his former 2010-11 Ohio State teammates in a 64-team tournament, with the field angling for a single $2 million prize. The team, called Scarlet & Gray, beat The Region, a collection of former Illinois and northern Indiana college players, 78-63. And Sullinger was once again the best player on the floor.
Sullinger just hopes this isn’t the end. After signing a one-year contract with Toronto last season, and getting traded and waived because of his usual problem — conditioning — the 6-foot-8 power forward is back in training, hoping for another professional basketball chance, preferably in the NBA.
His original NBA team even toyed with the idea of bringing him back after the trading deadline last season on a minimum contract, though Danny Ainge decided to go with the lineup he had.
And as the playoffs revealed, the Celtics could have used a rebounder of Sullinger’s quality, though the team did reach the Eastern Conference finals.
Based on the stockpiling Ainge has done at the forward position this summer, there’s probably not much of a chance that Sullinger gets a training camp call this fall.
But he’s well aware — maybe for the first time — of the demon he has to conquer before he has a realistic chance of an NBA return.
“He’s getting better, but he’s still a work in progress,” said agent David Falk. “He is keeping the weight off, but he also has to keep at it. But he has a lot to prove. “I’m quietly optimistic.” Sullinger, of course, has already proven that he has not only the strength and rebounding ability to help an NBA team, but the skill to fit in just about anywhere, including with Brad Stevens when he’s in shape.
“He’s doing well — making headway,” said Falk. “It’s never been a question of talent with Jared. It’s a question of conditioning.”