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On Media Day his rookie year, Brandon Rush showed signs of not living up to expectations the Pacers had after acquiring the No. 13 overall pick in the 2008 draft via a draft-night deal.
When made available to the media "horde" that day, which was actually just about five or six of us asking questions with the depth of a bird bath, Rush started by saying he was as nervous as he had ever been...at that moment, facing the "horde" with the bird-bath-deep questions.
This wasn't New York, L.A. or Chicago. This was Pacers Media Day and B-Rush was visibly and audibly nervous, answering questions focused solely on getting to the end of his answer. This was the same guy who, just a few months prior, played a monster role in the Final Four for Kansas in front of 40,000 fans and millions more on TV. Now he was shaking in his high tops. Uh, oh.
As it turns out, the talented, young Rush showed occasional flashes of that talent but overall had a non-descript career with the Pacers before being traded for Lou Amundson. While non-descript continues to cover his playing career, Rush has struck gold with the Warriors. As a 30-year-old vet content to remain in a reserve role, Rush didn't play in the NBA Finals but did earn a championship ring last June.
Now, thanks to the crazy-good start to the season for the Warriors, Rush has played more than expected since garbage time often starts early in the fourth quarter. With all of that burn under his belt, Luke Walton felt comfortable inserting Rush into the starting lineup when Harrison Barnes went down with an ankle sprain and the Dubs have (as you may have heard) won all six of those games heading into their matchup with the Pacers at the Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Rush plays tonight and assume he won't be as nervous at the Fieldhouse as he was during his first day on the job in the same building.
Check out the links:
Game Preview: Pacers vs Warriors | Indiana Pacers
Pacers to See How They Measure Up | Indiana Pacers
Doyel: Pacers vs. Warriors a must-see game Tuesday
Paul George on playing the Warriors: 'As good as it’s going to get until April and May'
Can Pacers be first to beat Warriors? | WFNI ESPN 1070 the Fan | Indy's SportsCenter
As Warriors’ teammate, Monta Ellis did Stephen Curry no favors | Matt Steinmetz
Warriors crush spirits with treys: 'Like a monster dunk' | CSN Bay Area
Harrison Barnes’ ankle to be reevaluated next Sunday | ProBasketballTalk
N.B.A. Game of the Week: Warriors at Pacers - The New York Times
George Hill Passes Austin Croshere in Pacers Record Books
Rakeem Christmas Named NBA Development League Performer of the Week | Indiana Pacers