Rookie hungry to show his worth
Bell wants to prove to the Warriors that they made right choice on draft night
OAKLAND » As far as Jordan Bell is concerned, he was the No. 1 pick of the draft last summer.
He’s playing on a championship team for a head coach who encourages him and four All-Star teammates who teach him.
“I’m sure anybody else would be happy playing for this team and this organization, so I’m happy with where I’m at,” Bell said. ” To me, I feel like I’m the No. 1 pick.”
Bell was the 38th pick, though, sold by the Chicago Bulls to the Warriors for $3.5 million. The Bulls are coming to town, but Bell bears them no ill-will. Their decision to let him go doesn’t motivate him. What motivates him is knowing how much the Warriors invested in him.
“I use it as motivation as far as me playing for this team, and howmuch effort and money they spent to try to get me,” Bell said. “They already have such a great team over here and are so deep. But they obviously want me. I use that as motivation. So, now I got to show people that I’m worth the $3.5million they spent to getme.”
Bell is averaging only 8.2 minutes per game. He has been inactive for four of the last six games. Coach Steve Kerr, who has been going with third-year forward Kevon Looney lately, calls Bell a victim of both “rookie treatment” and “the numbers game.”
Bell’s value remains unquestioned, particularly beyond this season.
With a hefty payroll and accompanying luxury taxes, said GM Bob Myers, it’s “imperative we find players in the draft, free agency or in trades that are young and not high-salary guys.
“You can get old quick,” he said, “so we’re constantly looking for guys in the draft, or how----
ever you can find them that are still usable and also good players. Everybody is looking for those guys. That is the most valuable type of player.”
So a year after spending $2.5 million for the No. 38 pick that secured swingman Patrick McCaw, the Warriors bought the No. 38 pick again.
Bell worked out for 12 teams before the draft, but not the Warriors because they didn’t have a pick at that point. The Warriors didn’t need a private showing anyway. They had monitored Bell closely during his junior season at Oregon both on tape and in person.
Myers said the Warriors became impressed with Bell’s athleticism, adding, “even at the NBA level, it’s pretty elite.” The Warriors also liked Bell’s effort and versatility that earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. When the Warriors met with Bell during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Myers found Bell to be “mature” and “thoughtful” during the interview.
“He provided a positive im- pact on the outcome and he found ways to do it outside of his scoring,” Myers said. “We fortunately have a good amount of scoring on our team. So we’re looking for guys to fill the other gaps.”
Bell filled those gaps when he received opportunities.
He has a plus-minus rating of plus-53 in 100 total minutes, a statistic that tracks a team’s scoring against opponents when a specific player is on the court. Though Bell has not established a mid-range game, he has shot 70.4 percent from the field because of his finishing and putbacks at the rim. Bell also showed off his athleticism by dunking a ball off the backboard during a blowout win in Dallas, a play that sparked more praise for his confidence and leaping ability within the Warriors than criticism for showboating. Lastly, the Warriors credit Bell for seeking feedback from veterans, such as Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, David West and Zaza Pachulia.
“He’s very coachable and he has a great attitude,” said Warriors assistant coach Jarron Collins, who works closely with Bell. “He’s hungry for knowledge and he wants to get better on the basketball court. He has a great feel for the game.”
The Warriors like how Bell has handled not playing recently. He has accepted sitting without complaint. Yet he has vowed to play so well in future appearances that Kerr has no choice but to give him minutes. Bell also echoed the thoughts of Myers and Collins on how he can improve, including his decisionmaking, his jump shot and becoming more familiar with NBA personnel.
“A lot of people say ‘I’m not going to play this year; I’m going to be in the G-League this year’ and stuff like that,” Bell said. “I’m trying to show I deserve to be on this team. I’mnot just riding the coattail of this team. I’m actually contributing and I’m putting in effort and making enough efficient plays and actually helping the team.”
Kerr promised Bell will have more chances to do that as he continuously digs into his rotation and finds games to rest his veterans. Then, Bell said he believes he can show the Warriors they made the right draft choice.
“That’s great,” Myers said. “Everybody finds ways to motivate themselves. It’s not for me to say what he should and shouldn’t feel. But I’m glad he feels like we invested in him.”