Fate, you change someone to play tricks, a genius who should be worth more than 100 million, stunned to be played as a tramp.
Remember Rodney Hood? I think that year, he was also talented, the top 30 in the United States, the same position TOP5 level of genius, with a standard wing height (2.03 meters) and arm span (2.04 meters), and a variety of offensive means, comprehensive technology, soft feel, the template is selected for 2 All-Stars, won the NBA 100 million yuan contract Sharad Lewis.
After entering the NBA, Hood also lived up to expectations, and his performance was no less than that of Lewis at the same time, such as the fourth year of his career:
Lewis averaged 16.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range;
Hood averaged 16.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range;
To know that at that time, Hood was not the key training object of the Jazz, only 12 games were played, averaging less than 28 minutes per game, only ranked 6th in the team, not as good as Favors and Rubio, but even so, it still could not hide Hood's sharp edge, many NBA salary experts predicted that in the offseason, Hood would definitely get an offer of no less than $70 million.
However, who would have thought that he would be chosen by fate at this time, waste his precious peak in the process of "teasing" again and again, and instead of becoming the next Lewis, he would live a wandering life of upheaval and displacement.
One transaction
Although the new owner Cavaliers, both in strength and influence, are stronger than the Jazz, but don't forget, playing here also has to bear considerable pressure, the most important thing is that you also have to change the way you play to adapt to the core and tactics of others.
In this unfamiliar environment, Hood played extremely awkwardly, the data shrank (the score dropped to 10.8 points), the efficiency declined (the three-point shooting rate dropped to 35%), the huge psychological gap also made him dissatisfied, and even appeared a scene of refusing to appear, not only by the team's ban, but also reduced his image in the hearts of other teams, which also affected Hood's future job search.
Secondary serious injuries
Although he was stagnant in the Cavaliers, fortunately he did not waste much time, and a year later, Hood was sent to the Blazers, where he finally reached the second peak of his career.
In the 2019 playoffs, Hood, who joined only 2 months, became the savior of the Portlanders, and in the semifinals, he could always come forward at key moments, such as in game 3, Hood shot 6 of 8 and scored 19 points, don't look at the score is not high, but he shot a valuable three-pointer in the final stage of the game to help the Blazers win this battle that lasted 4 overtime, and a week later, Hood scored 25 points in game 6, 8 of 12, helping the Blazers drag the series into the seventh.
Throughout the series, Hood averaged 14.7 points per game, shooting 57.6% and 50% respectively, which was the first contribution of the Blazers to the Western Conference Finals, and after the game, Nuggets coach Mike Malone did not hesitate to say: It is clear that he (Hood) is the MVP of this game, and he has influenced the trend of the game.
It was also with the highlight performance in the playoffs that Hood was promoted to the starter by Stotts in the second season, and entrusted with a heavy responsibility, and he also lived up to expectations, in Lillard and McCollum, Hood handed over a record of 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists per game, shooting as high as 51%, shooting 49% from three-point range, but just when everyone thought that Hood had caught up with the high-hope self of the year, he suddenly suffered from a torn left Achilles tendon, and Hood, who was in the ascending period, had to press the pause button.
A year later, Hood returned to health and returned to the game, but only 5 months later, he suffered a palm fracture again, hung up the exemption card again, long-term absence, but also made the team lose patience, Hood was traded again and again, from the Blazers to the Raptors, and from the Raptors to the Bucks, and now the Clippers, although he has been able to play, but the state is really worrying, as of now, Hood can only get 3.2 points per game, 1.5 rebounds, shooting rate is only 35.9%, three-point shooting rate is only 31.8%, It's hard to influence the game like it was 3 years ago.
It's a pity, whenever Hood enters the fast lane of his career, he will always encounter all kinds of troubles, either being traded, or injured, and then forced to step on the brakes, several times to cycle down, Hood's car has long been scarred, and can no longer withstand any tossing, perhaps, this is the fate.