Jared Dudley is a 13 year NBA veteran. He has never been considered a superstar, but he’s made a lengthy and solid career for himself. He brings great leadership and smarts to an NBA roster. Outside of his play, where he brings solid spacing and three point shooting and a decent defender who can hold his own in the low post, the 13 years he has spent in the NBA gives him the opportunity to coach his younger teammates a thing or two about defensive footwork and verticality.
Near the end of the Lakers 124-121 win over the Denver Nuggets, Kyle Kuzma was playing transition defense in the final seconds, stopped to take a charge and was called for the blocking foul. After, Jared Dudley and Lebron James were on the bench talking to an upset Kuzma giving him reassurance and coaching him up about his defense on that possession. Dudley shared via Twitter what he and LeBron were telling Kuzma in the huddle after the play. Kuzma then went out and hit the game-winning three-pointer, capping off a 25 point, six rebound night. Below you can see Dudley’s tweet, as well as video of the play that ended up as a block instead of a charge like Kuzma wanted.
Told him don’t take that charge in that situation.. He’s 6’9 with a long wing span, Just jump vertical with your hands straight up..It wil slow down the ball handler to make a tough shot. Bron and the biga are trailing for the chase down block. Take the whistle away from ref https://t.co/F8S6SCukG4
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) August 11, 2020
Dudley has only played in 44 games on the season, averaging only 1.4 points in 7.8 minutes a night. But last night in that huddle further proved the value having a veteran on your bench like him provides to a team striving to win a championship.
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