If it weren't for Indiana Pacers fans, the name Al Jefferson would probably have been forgotten by many people by now. This once the most powerful offensive killer in the league, now has a sense of presence that is really not high. So far this season, he has averaged a career low of 13.3 minutes per game and 3.8 rebounds, and his 6.8 points are only a little higher than in his rookie season.
Fast forward to the 2004 draft, when high school student Al Jefferson, although not prominent in various draft predictions, averaged 42 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks per game in high school. Jefferson, who was selected by Celtics in the 15th round, also improved at a steady pace in Boston, and by the third year of his career, he could already achieve a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds per game.
In the 2007 deal that shocked the league, As one of Garnett's key chips to the Green Army, Al Jefferson was sent to as far away as Minnesota. As Garnett's replacement for the Timberwolves, Jefferson's performance did not disappoint, with 82 games in his first season, averaging 21+11 per game. In his second year in Minnesota, the 24-year-old Jefferson improved his scoring average by two more points per game, averaging 23.1 points, 11 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Such a performance, at least from the perspective of paper data, is not at all inferior to Garnett. With such a brilliant performance, Al Jefferson also earned the nickname "The New Wolf King".
But Al Jefferson was injured just as he reached his peak. In the middle of the 08-09 season, Jefferson, who was in hot form, suffered a serious injury from a ruptured precruciate ligament in his knee during the game against the Hornets, and the season was reimbursed, which directly hindered Jefferson's upward momentum. By the time the new season returned, Jefferson's form had slipped a lot compared to before. This serious injury also directly led to the Timberwolves sending away the "new wolf king" they wanted to focus on cultivating a year later.
After three years of mundane time in Utah, 29-year-old Al Jefferson, who had his second spring of his career with the Charlotte Bobcats, averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. In March and April, the most pivotal months for the team to impact the playoffs, El Jefferson led the team to a record of 16 wins and 8 losses, and successfully reached the playoffs. Al Jefferson was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for two consecutive months. After helping the team qualify for the playoffs, the team's owner, Michael Jordan, bought an entire section of the local newspaper to praise his outstanding contribution to the team.
Speaking of El Jefferson's strengths, it is clear that he has the ability to attack. The height of 2.08 meters is really not high for the center position, but Jefferson has compensated for the height disadvantage with his excellent offensive skills. With steady and gorgeous footing under the basket, small hookers on the left and right sides of the basket and soft mid-range shooting, Jefferson on the offensive end is like an inside textbook, using various techniques to score for the team reasonably. As a center who doesn't rely entirely on his body and tonnage, scoring 40 points four times in his career is a good proof.
Al Jefferson's shortcomings are also obvious, trapped by the characteristics of short height and slow speed, and defense is obviously Jefferson's biggest drawback. If in the first few years of entering the league, he could still make a certain contribution to the defensive end with his athleticism and enthusiasm, then after that serious injury, Jefferson's defensive quality has dropped significantly. Jefferson himself is not willing to invest too much energy on the defensive end, which may also reduce the possibility of Jefferson becoming a superstar to some extent.
Today, with the increasing speed of offensive and defensive conversion of the league's teams, it is increasingly difficult for the traditional interior line to survive in the league, which is not difficult to explain that jefferson, who is only 33 years old, has difficulty becoming a regular rotation of the team. In the twilight of the traditional center, the former "new wolf king" still sticks to the alliance, trying to prove that he still has the strength to fight in the limited time and opportunity!