The Spurs' latest hidden gem is a 27-year-old center that learns to play basketball at 18 after leaving the Jehovah's Witness
The Spurs' latest hidden gem is a 27-year-old center that learns to play basketball at 18 after leaving the Jehovah's Witness
[Business Insider]
Scott Davis
(David Zalubowski / AP)
At 18 years old, Dewyane Dedmon made a big decision - he wanted to play basketball.
Though Dedmon grew up playing outside, playing basketball at parks, he did not play competitively on any actual teams because of his faith.
Dedmon's mother, Gail, was a member of Jehovah's Witness and raised Dewayne and his two sisters under the same faith.
As Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard wrote in 2011, under the religion, "allegiance to anyone or anything but Jehovah is forbidden." According to Ballard, when playing on a sports team was not "expressly forbidden," to play on a team might encourage allegiance to an external factor. Additionally, the Dedemons are dedicated to multiple meetings and solicitations on Sundays.
Gail, according to Ballard, ultimately decided not to let play on any sports teams after he got into a spat with a volleyball coach in eighth grade.
However, when Dewayne turned 18, becoming an adult, he knew he could make his own decisions. He told his mother he was going to play the basketball team.
"At first, she definitely was not a fan," Dedmon told Business Insider. "But I said, I was 18, so I was an adult, so I could make my own decisions.
"It definitely took some time for her to come around to the fact that I was playing basketball."
Nine years later, Dedmon is helping anchor the San Antonio Spurs' NBA-best defense in the first year after the Tim Duncan Era.
To get to where he is now, Dedmon faced a steep uphill climb into the basketball world that involved the game at 18, going to junior college, transferring schools, then surviving cuts and the D-League to make it in the NBA.
Dewayne dedmon spurs
View photos
Dewayne dedmon spurs
After breaking the news to his mother, Dedmon made his high school team his senior year. It's fair to wonder if Dedmon's height was the deciding factor, however, he did not have much to offer on the team. "I would not say [I] played," Dedmon said. "I was on the team, I guess."
After graduating high school, Dedmon went to junior college at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California. Dedmon walked into the basketball team, as the head coach, Dieter Horton, was intrigued by his physical talent, despite having little experience. According to Ballard, on meeting Dedmon, Horton asked him to do the Mikan Drill, a fundamental drill in which players alternate left and right-handed layups from each side of the basket. Dedemon stared at him blankly before clumsily navigating through the exercise.
Still, Dedmon kept at it. He gray-shirted his freshman year, the team's games from the bleachers. His sophomore year, he finally began playing, showing off his defensive prowess, blocking shots and running up and down the court with ease for dunks.
During a productive second year at Antelope Valley, Dedmon's name began spreading into the Division I world. Dedmon was a still-growing, raw, athletic center - teams wanted him. He was recruited by and eventually transferred to USC in 2011.
Dewayne dedmon usc
View photos
Dewayne dedmon usc
(Dewayne Dedmon played two seasons at USC.Rick Bowmer / AP)
"It was pretty shocking," says Dedmon. "I was not really expecting to go and play Division I after stroke,
Playing alongside current Orlando Magic Center Nikola Vucevic at USC, Dedmon continued to learn the game and grow into his body. Dedmon served as an opponent for Vucevic, the two sharing defensive and offensive lessons for one another, respectively.
Google Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder
[Business Insider]
Scott Davis
(David Zalubowski / AP)
At 18 years old, Dewyane Dedmon made a big decision - he wanted to play basketball.
Though Dedmon grew up playing outside, playing basketball at parks, he did not play competitively on any actual teams because of his faith.
Dedmon's mother, Gail, was a member of Jehovah's Witness and raised Dewayne and his two sisters under the same faith.
As Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard wrote in 2011, under the religion, "allegiance to anyone or anything but Jehovah is forbidden." According to Ballard, when playing on a sports team was not "expressly forbidden," to play on a team might encourage allegiance to an external factor. Additionally, the Dedemons are dedicated to multiple meetings and solicitations on Sundays.
Gail, according to Ballard, ultimately decided not to let play on any sports teams after he got into a spat with a volleyball coach in eighth grade.
However, when Dewayne turned 18, becoming an adult, he knew he could make his own decisions. He told his mother he was going to play the basketball team.
"At first, she definitely was not a fan," Dedmon told Business Insider. "But I said, I was 18, so I was an adult, so I could make my own decisions.
"It definitely took some time for her to come around to the fact that I was playing basketball."
Nine years later, Dedmon is helping anchor the San Antonio Spurs' NBA-best defense in the first year after the Tim Duncan Era.
To get to where he is now, Dedmon faced a steep uphill climb into the basketball world that involved the game at 18, going to junior college, transferring schools, then surviving cuts and the D-League to make it in the NBA.
Dewayne dedmon spurs
View photos
Dewayne dedmon spurs
After breaking the news to his mother, Dedmon made his high school team his senior year. It's fair to wonder if Dedmon's height was the deciding factor, however, he did not have much to offer on the team. "I would not say [I] played," Dedmon said. "I was on the team, I guess."
After graduating high school, Dedmon went to junior college at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California. Dedmon walked into the basketball team, as the head coach, Dieter Horton, was intrigued by his physical talent, despite having little experience. According to Ballard, on meeting Dedmon, Horton asked him to do the Mikan Drill, a fundamental drill in which players alternate left and right-handed layups from each side of the basket. Dedemon stared at him blankly before clumsily navigating through the exercise.
Still, Dedmon kept at it. He gray-shirted his freshman year, the team's games from the bleachers. His sophomore year, he finally began playing, showing off his defensive prowess, blocking shots and running up and down the court with ease for dunks.
During a productive second year at Antelope Valley, Dedmon's name began spreading into the Division I world. Dedmon was a still-growing, raw, athletic center - teams wanted him. He was recruited by and eventually transferred to USC in 2011.
Dewayne dedmon usc
View photos
Dewayne dedmon usc
(Dewayne Dedmon played two seasons at USC.Rick Bowmer / AP)
"It was pretty shocking," says Dedmon. "I was not really expecting to go and play Division I after stroke,
Playing alongside current Orlando Magic Center Nikola Vucevic at USC, Dedmon continued to learn the game and grow into his body. Dedmon served as an opponent for Vucevic, the two sharing defensive and offensive lessons for one another, respectively.
Google Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder
Comments
Post a Comment