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http://tinyurl.com/2dknz4y
Ask anybody in the Mavericks' organization what their first thought was when
they heard DeShawn Stevenson was going to be part of the trade that also
netted Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, and the analysis would likely have
been something like this:
Free spirit, full of himself, flaky.
On the court, opinions may have been even worse.
Eight months later, the shooting guard has proved every one of those
observations dead wrong.
Stevenson's iffy reputation may have been justified earlier in his career. In
fact, he realizes now that it probably was well-deserved. But those tough
times have served him well later in a career that is entering its 11th season.
He knows now that some of the harsh things that happened when he was a
first-round pick as a teenager for Utah worked out for the best.
"Playing with Jerry Sloan – Jerry's a strict coach and we had our ups and
downs, but I think he made me stronger as a player," Stevenson said. "I try
not to get mad about certain situations now.
"He [Sloan] was tough, but he made me who I am now. If I didn't go through
that kind of system and that caliber of coach, I wouldn't be in the NBA right
now."
But he's still here, preparing for tonight's preseason opener against
Washington, his former team, and he's operating on the final year of a nice
contract that will pay him over $4 million this season.
Stevenson, 29, is a member of the crowded house at shooting guard. In the old
days, that might have bugged him. But he's learned that coach Rick Carlisle's
tendency to go deep into his bench could actually fit Stevenson's style.
"The one thing he's been for us is extremely reliable," Carlisle said. "If
you need him to be your 12th man, he's going to find a way to impact the team
positively. If you need him to start and guard Kobe Bryant, he'll make a
positive impact there. If you need him to play three minutes in a game, he'll
do that well. He's a pro."
Maybe it's maturity, or maybe it's simply learning that the NBA requires you
to roll with the punches.
Owner Mark Cuban remembers thinking the worst when Washington wanted to
include Stevenson in the trade. But not for the reason most people would
think.
"It wasn't because of his reputation; it was because of the money," Cuban
said. "DeShawn's a good guy. We've all seen that."
The prevailing wisdom among the Mavericks is that if Stevenson's jump shot
was more accurate, he'd be a full-time starter for most teams in the league.
Interestingly, his 3-point shot was once his strength. He had surgery for a
herniated disk that ended his 2008-09 campaign and he said he wasn't himself
last season
"Last year, I was fresh off back surgery and I wasn't real confident,"
Stevenson said. "This summer, that was the thing – to get up a lot of shots.
I think in this offense, I'll be able to get wide-open looks. I have shown I
can do it. I just have to do it. I used to 3-point everything."
He showed that old touch Monday night in the Fan Jam at American Airlines
Center, making his first 3-point attempt.
The Mavericks know he will defend and play hard. It's the shot that may end
up earning Stevenson more playing time this season.
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