Henry’s out to state case
After global journey, NBA achievable goal
LAS VEGAS — Pierria Henry has an aggressive, slashing style. Some would call it a hungry style, and the 25-year-old point guard connects all of it to where he grew up.
South Charleston, W.Va., is generally not the land of opportunity.
“Started when I was younger,” Henry, starting point guard on the Celtics’ summer league team, said of the roots of his game. “The things I’ve had to endure and the things I experienced, where I came from, the city I came from, trapped in between those mountains, there aren’t any opportunities. Just giving it my all is all I know, just fighting my way through it. All I can do is thank my family and my loved ones.”
From the time Henry left UNC-Charlotte as one of the conference’s best defensive players (first in the Atlantic 10 and then Conference USA), he has had to grind in an attempt to get back to the states.
He started on a team in the Georgian capital of Tblisi, but signed with a German squad after the Tblisi operation’s financial situation crumbled. He has since played in Israel and, this past season, for the Turkish team Tofas.
He helped lead Tofas to the Turkish League finals, where it lost to that country’s perennial power, Fenerbahce.
The journey required many adjustments, probably none as radical as his first stop in Tblisi.
“I went through it, I’m talking I went through it,” he said after finishing with 15 points, five assists and five rebounds in the Celtics’ 74-72 playoff win over Miami last night. “The lifestyle, the food, not knocking nobody, but there was a time when I didn’t have electricity in the wintertime, no heat for two or three weeks. It’s serious, a grind. It’s not like that everywhere. I found a way.
“It was an adjustment, totally a blessing because it opened up the doors for me,” Henry added. “It allowed me to make a name for myself. I’m grateful for it — great experience, showed me there’s a bigger picture. If you can make it through a lower country like that, you can make it anywhere.”
The experience gave Henry a foundation for what he hopes will be an NBA career. He was able to attack and score, once scoring 34 points in an Israeli League game. He finished second in the league in assists (6.1) that year.
“It builds confidence. Overseas ball they more or less let you play your game — not so much of a system in most places that I’ve played at,” said Henry. “Your teammates figure it out, they play for one another and stick together. It also slows the game down. When you’re playing at this level it’s all about changing speeds and knowing when to do that. The more you play the more experience you get, the easier and slower the game comes to you.”
That’s perhaps the biggest shift that Henry has discovered in five games with the Celtics, where he’s managed to lead the summer C’s in assists (4.5) and steals (2.3). He’s also third in rebounding with 5.0 per game.
“The pace, the athleticism and talent-wise it’s so much quicker,” he said. “Guys know what you’re looking for, what you’re trying to get out of them. Not knocking international. They play great fundamental basketball, but it’s more back to the basics when you’re overseas.”
Henry naturally hates the thought of using his passport again.
“Ultimate goal is to stay home, if I can impress the right people or the right person to give me the chance, the opportunity to continue to grow and work on my weaknesses, perfect my craft, just give me a shot and get to know me, I’d stay here for sure,” he said. “But I’m not crossing out anything. It’s what’s best for my family and myself. My career goes on.”