MINOR THING
B’klyn finding success with player development
From the day general manager Sean Marks arrived in Brooklyn, he has repeated the term “player development” like a mantra.
From hiring a coach known for player development in Kenny Atkinson, to investing in a performance team to using the NBA’s D-League as a tool instead of an afterthought, Marks has shown it is not empty rhetoric. Unlike the previous regime, — GM Billy King never attended a single DLeague game — these Nets are serious about development.
“Kenny and his staff have shown that they play and coach an exciting brand of basketball,’’ said Marks, who ran the Spurs’ D-League team. “What he’s done with our guys in developing them has been some really good positives there, and it’s been noticed by the market.”
Marks’ very first move was plucking Sean Kilpatrick out of the D-League on a 10-day contract last February. Now the White Plains native is the highest-scoring undrafted player in the league at 16.7 points per game, and a shining example of that development.
“Life saver. That’s what I call him every time I see him,’’ the 26year-old Kilpatrick told The Post. “It’s really important for me and my family. Whenever we do see him, it’s one of those genuine feelings. Every time I see him, we hug each other.
“That’s really huge. Not a lot of guys in this league have that relationship with their GMs. That’s something me and him have. Having someone like that in my corner is really huge.”
Finding Kilpatrick was only the first step. Then the Nets helped him trim down from 13 percent body fat to a svelte eight during the offseason, and worked on his playmaking in summer league.
And Wednesday, when the Nets saw a 29-point third-quarter lead shrivel to four in the fourth, it was Kilpatrick who scored six straight points to push it back to 109-99 and save the win.
“I’m really proud of the work he’s done this summer. ... He’s not a 22year-old guy, and his willingness to play summer league, to get in the gym, his competitive spirit. He’s exceeded our expectations, which is a good thing,’’ Atkinson said.
“Player development is nothing without opportunity. You can work with guys, do all the work you want, but if they’re not getting on the floor that’s their best opportunity. All the injuries we’ve had have given guys more opportunity than even I thought possible. We’re going through a tough time, but down the road I hope we re- member these are golden opportunities to help our young guys.”
Young players such as Anthony Bennett and Chris McCullough, both of whom have benefitted from D-League stints.
“Our whole thing [in the DLeague] is development is first, and we’re not going to sacrifice development for winning,’’ Long Island Nets coach Ronald Nored told The Post.
Bennett, 23, is a former No. 1 pick some have called the biggest bust in draft history. He got his first Nets start Saturday in Milwaukee and grabbed a careerhigh 14 rebounds.
Brooklyn hopes McCullough can make the same strides.
“Kenny’s big on player development. They’ve got me doing both, so that’s good for me,’’ McCullough told The Post. “Three years from now, I’ll look back on this and say I needed this.”