<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As the Sonics' second day of workouts ended and some players began voluntary free-throw drills while others conducted media interviews, Rashard Lewis slid out the back door of the Furtado Center court and into the locker room. He does not want the usual training-camp publicity. Lewis said he has something to prove and would rather shift his full concentration to preparing for the regular season. The Sonics small forward turned 27 about two months ago, and he is entering what many suggest is the prime of an NBA career. Lewis is no longer the high school kid who was a steal in the 1998 NBA draft. He is no longer an emerging player with great skills who needs experience. He is no longer Ray Allen's understudy who is content with dropping in 20 points per game. Lewis' personal quest is to not only make his second All-Star Game but catapult into an elite status reserved for contemporaries such as Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Dwyane Wade. That requires focus and hard work. That regimen began this summer in Houston when Lewis sought to improve his ball handling and become more of a penetrating weapon. "I most definitely view this as an important year for me," he said. "I am anxious to get it started. My main focus is to try to get back to the All-Star level. I feel the game starting to slow down for me and I am a lot more smart about the game." Lewis' biggest detractor in his pursuit for respect is himself. He never wanted to be a me-first player or someone who is perceived as selfish in a generation of players who sell self before team. Lewis wanted the game to respect and laud him while he remained reserved and unassuming. Lewis said he feels underappreciated and realizes the fastest way to personal success -- such as All-Star appearances and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team -- is through team success. So there he was, in a steamy Houston gym, practicing ball-handing drills so he can take more opponents off the dribble. </div> Source
I'm amazed that he is considering not opting out. That is about as humbling of a statement that I've heard from a perceived star in a long time. All this does sound very familiar but the difference is that if he doesn't emerge as first option type of player this year than you will probably never hear star potential ever mentioned again with Sweet Lew. I wouldn't call it a make or break season for him, but at the end of the day if he only averages 20 points a game and the Sonics do not make a serious push toward advancing in the post season than he will become a Detlef Schrempf type of player. A very good versatile player that is best suited as a third option.
I think Rashard is a legit second option when it comes to scoring points, but not leadership. Unfortunately, the leading scorers on a team are usually asked to be the captains.
If a 6'10" guy can't be counted on to rebound, defend, block shots, penetrate, draw double teams, and make clutch baskets then my guess is that he just might not be a top tier second option in this league. Rashard Lewis is one of the best shooting small forwards in this league. He does a very good job scoring out of the post against smaller defenders and he makes good reads out of the post when he is double teamed. To be honest he is a pretty efficient player across the board. But if I were going to look at him as an upper echelon player I would imagine that he'd have a bigger impact than just making uncontested jump shots and scoring in the post against vertically challenged defenders. That is why I feel like he is better suited being on a good team where the ball movement is enough to keep him around the 20 point mark w/o requiring him to lead by example on the backboard, as a defender, or as a vocal leader.
I personally don't think Rashard has the mental makeup to be a #1 guy - every once in awhile he'll step up, but over 82 games I don't see him being able to handle the pressure, frankly speaking.
