Mason Plumlee is learning the hard way what the life of an NBA rookie can be like. The former Duke standout is now on a team with some of the most praised veterans in the league who notice every mistake. The Brooklyn Nets forward is getting an increased amount of playing time each game as he shows improvement, but simple mistakes have caused him to get an earful from teammates like Kevin Garnett.
The rookie saw his first taste of real NBA action against the Utah Jazz, but things did not start out well for him. Just forty-two seconds after checking into the game, Plumlee was called for an offensive foul that was met with heat from Garnett. The veteran told the rookie he needed to calm down and player more alert basketball. Plumlee is used to the raised motivation.
"Used to it," Plumlee said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "At this point we've been through preseason, so I've been yelled at by a lot of people. I feel like Mario Chalmers."
Plumlee's comparison is slightly laughable considering he is right. The Miami Heat point guard was constantly yelled at his first year by veterans like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. It clearly helped him since Chalmers has been a vital part of the two championship rings Miami has earned.
Garnett's words were clearly heard by the rookie. The 23-year-old put up a nice alley-oop shot from point guard Shaun Livingston with a two-handed slam. He finished with five points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
It was great," Plumlee said. "I was out there with Kevin and some of the guys in the first rotation, so it's always fun to play with them. I just tried to bring energy, because that's all you can really do coming off the bench."
Garnett has proven to be every bit the vocal leader of the Nets and the incident with Plumlee is just another example. The veteran continues to give passionate speeches to the team. Following a loss to the Orlando Magic, Garnett opened up on the trip home saying the team needed to be more alert during games and giving more effort than what was seen that night.
"I was just letting them know consistency is the difference between great teams and OK teams," Garnett said.
The forward might be limited from a minutes perspective, but his presence is always being felt on and off the court. He has quickly made an imprint on the team that will last throughout the year.
