‘Morris Moves’ (Melissa Majchrzak - NBAE/Getty Images)

A day after I submitted my last entry, my situation was changed up again - I was re-assigned to the Utah Flash. We had just finished shoot-around when my coaching staff approached me and told me they wanted me to play with the Flash later that night (both the Flash and the Jazz had home games later on that same night). So, instead of driving to the arena later that afternoon, I headed out to Orem for the game with the Flash.

Was it short notice? I guess you could say that. But that’s how it goes sometimes. I played that night, and came off the bench to play about twenty minutes; I’ll get back in the swing of things here in the next few days.

I definitely had to switch up gears mentally, changing teams within a few hours like that. I know I caught my old Flash teammates by surprise showing up that evening, and I don’t even think my own coach knew I was coming to play that night until I showed up for the pre-game film session and warm-ups. But you have to learn to roll with all those punches and make it work.

Several people asked me earlier this week if I would rather return to the Flash than sit with the Jazz. I would always answer that I would prefer to be with whatever team I was currently with, even though I would obviously rather be with the team that drafted me and writes my checks. I mean, everybody, from the players to the coaches to the referees in the Developmental League would rather be in the NBA, and I’m no different. Shoot, probably the mascots, scorekeepers, and security guards are out there vying for a ‘call-up’ as well. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that.

One thing a lot of players do in the NBA is keep a close eye on what’s going on around the rest of the league; they always keep tabs on other teams and especially other players that they know and compete against every night. I’m no different. I try and keep up with a lot of the rookie and second year players, especially the ones that I know, from around the league, just to see if they are getting any minutes and whatnot. It’s such a small league, and everybody pretty much knows what’s going on with everybody else, at least in terms of on-the-court affairs. And then sometimes, you get wrapped up in thinking how much better everything would be if you were in this player’s shoes or that player’s shoes.

It feels like déjà vu because it reminds me so much of when I was a freshman in college when I couldn’t get any PT at Rice. I would see my old AAU teammates playing on ESPN at places like Stanford, Georgetown, Indiana, and Michigan. I know it looked to my people back home like I had fell off the face of the earth. What ever happened to Morris? Those days, it felt like there was no end in sight! No light at the end of the tunnel, no nothing. I’m a little older now, but the circumstances now are eerily similar. Some days, its just like where is this thing going? I was talking to one of my veteran teammates, Jason Hart, one night on the plane after a game while we were looking at box scores from around the league, and he gave me some good advice.

He said “Man it’s cool to check out scores and stats from around the league to keep an eye on the competition, but don’t get too wrapped up in that stuff man. It’s easy to start comparing yourself and your situation to other young players around the league, but everybody’s path is different. No two players in this league are the same! Guys wait years just to get their foot in the door. Don’t ever catch yourself counting another man’s chips - you count your chips and keep doing what got you here and what you know is right. You do that, and you’ll be just fine.”

Guys like J-Hart, my father, my mentor back in college, Shawn Respert, who used to work at Rice as the Director of Basketball Operations—they help me keep my focus and my head on straight during times like these when its easy to get off track.

You see, the thing is, everyone isn’t supposed to see (or read about) this part - the grind behind the scenes while I get myself established early in my career. Not while it’s still happening at least you’re not supposed to hear from me until after I become a major contributor for the Jazz. I’m not supposed to blog on Jazzbots.com and NBA.com until after the adjustment period and growing pains are over. But you know, it is what it is. You can see it all firsthand and see how it all turns out. It’s part of the growth process. Its not pleasant, but it’s a necessary feature. Or so I’ve been told. I’m done venting. Peace.

Quote of the Day:

“Realize the Sun never goes down…its just an illusion caused by the world spinnin’ ’round.”