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Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap is proud to be a ... Mama's boy
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
By Trent Toone
Standard-Examiner staff
Surrounded by exetended family , Jazz rookie shines
SALT LAKE CITY -- He may not have the biggest contract or play the most
minutes, but rookie Paul Millsap is still the envy of the Utah Jazz locker
room.
The jealousy is more evident among the younger players, who insist it's not
because the 6-foot-8 forward from Louisiana Tech has become one of the most
productive players off the Jazz bench.
Believe it or not, it's his family.
Millsap's mother, uncle and two brothers relocated from Louisiana to Utah
last year to support him while he adjusts to the NBA lifestyle. His mother
Bettye runs the household, his uncle DeAngelo Simmons is his agent, and
Paul's only job is to focus on being a good basketball player.
The unique arrangement has made a difference for the humble, hard-working
kid with a talent for pulling down rebounds. Millsap, a second-round pick,
is averaging 6.8 points and five rebounds a game. The only player to ever
lead the NCAA in rebounding three straight seasons is also considered by
many as the steal of the 2006 draft.
His teammates don't even give him a hard time for still living with his
mother.
"He's lucky," said C.J. Miles. "He gets home-cooked meals."
Fellow rookie Ronnie Brewer is also envious.
"In your rookie year there is so much stuff going on. You got to learn the
plays, get your laundry done, cooking, cleaning. You're used to playing 30
games and now you're playing 82 plus playoffs," Brewer said. "I think having
his family around has helped him out a lot."
The arrangement is Millsap's way of giving back to the family members who
have always taken care of him. His parents divorced in 1999, leaving Bettye
to work long hours in multiple jobs in order to provide for four growing
boys - Paul and his three brothers John, Elijah and Abraham. No one has any
contact with John Millsap Sr.
Simmons, Bettye's youngest brother and a former college basketball player
himself, worked at a General Motors plant and taught the boys to play hoops.
Paul, who played his first organized basketball in the 10th grade, wasn't
sure how the arrangement might work at first, but has no problem with it now.
It allows him to get plenty of sleep and hang out with his brothers and
teammates. And he will always have a special place in his heart for his
mother's cooking.
"You come home, you got food on the table," Paul said. "There is always
chicken wings somewhere. I try to eat as healthy as possible, but sometimes
it doesn't work out that way."
He's not the only one who loves his mother's cooking. Brewer, who also played
college ball in the south (Arkansas), spent the Christmas with the Millsaps
and relished Bettye's southern hospitality. There is an standing invitation
for any of Paul's teammates to come to dinner.
"She cooks it all -- ham, greens, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, dessert --
I don't gain weight so I can eat a lot of stuff," Brewer said. "I like
everything she cooks."
In addition to the delicious southern cuisine, Brewer has appreciated
Bettye's motherly influence.
"She's been a great mentor. My mom isn't here always, so she gives me advice,
tells me to keep my head up and prays for me," Brewer said.
Bettye admits she misses family back home, her church and doesn't know if
she will ever get used to the weather, but if she can help her sons in any
way, she's happy.
"I'm the chauffer, I'm the house maid, I'm the book-keeper, you name it,"
said Bettye, who has only missed one of Paul's home games this season, and
that was so she could attend his brother's game. "It's gone better than I
would have hoped for."
With the Jazz already guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, the icing on this
season's cake would be if Paul could win the league's rookie of the year
award, Bettye said. That would be fine with Paul, although he is dealing with
an avulsion fracture on the knuckle below the pinkie finger on his right hand
that he suffered in last week's game with Minnesota, but hasn't missed any
action. But even if doesn't get rookie of the year, Paul has achieved more
this season than many anticipated, even his uncle and personal coach.
"I didn't expect (success) this soon. I thought it would take its course,
he had to get acclimated with the NBA atmosphere, but it came quicker than I
expected," Simmons said. "But I expected he would be pretty good because of
his will and desire on the court, his work ethic. This is a perfect fit for
him."
The family expects to stay in Utah for another season, then let Paul have
his space. In the meantime, there are his brother's basketball careers to
consider.
Simmons also represents John, who had a short stint with the Utah Eagles and
hopes to make an NBA roster next season. Paul's brother Elijah just finished
his freshman year at Louisiana-Lafayette. The youngest brother, Abe, will be
a senior at Brighton High School next year. He has already drawn interest
from the a few Division I schools.
By the time the family returns to Louisiana, Millsap hopes he can survive
without his mother's cooking.
http://www.standard.net/live/sports/101188
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