In a conversation with Sam Yip of HoopsHype, Kenneth Faried admits that it has been “extremely difficult” to be out of the NBA since 2019, since he believes that he’s still capable of playing at that level and helping a team. Faried is currently suiting up for the Mexico City Capitanes in the G League as he seeks an NBA comeback.
“At the same time, patience is a virtue. I’m very patient,” Faried said. “I’m working hard towards showing that I can still do it at that level. … I’m ready, I’m focused, I’m locked in, I’m a better vet, a better person, a better leader and I don’t even need to be a leader. I can be quiet and sit back and just follow whoever the leader is.”
As Yip points out, Faried is one of several NBA veterans playing for Mexico City’s G League team. Shabazz Napier, Gary Clark, and Mason Jones are among the other Capitanes players hoping for a call-up.
“For us to now be on a team, and all trying to have the same kind of goal to make it back to the NBA and try to find a way is great, because we’re not trying to be selfish to each other,” Faried said. “We’re trying to help each other. And everyone’s here trying to help each other get better, trying to showcase that we’re still good enough in great shape and ready for whatever may happen, ready for a contract for real.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Don’t expect the NBA’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement to include an upper spending limit (ie. a hard cap), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during the latest episode of his Hoop Collective podcast. The NBA was reportedly pushing a de facto hard cap earlier in CBA discussions, but Windhorst believes negotiations between the two sides would be far more contentious if the league was still prioritizing that concept. He does think there will be changes made to the luxury tax system, however.
- Although the 2017 CBA improved the guidelines for veteran contract extensions and led to a huge uptick in those deals, the rule limiting players to a 20% raise for the first year of an extension is outdated, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN, who notes that it makes it virtually impossible for clubs to extend players who are coming off team-friendly deals. Marks suggests tweaking the rule to allow teams to offer the same amount in an extension that they’d be able to in free agency.
- Top prospect Victor Wembanyama is expected to play for France’s national team in two World Cup qualifying contests next month, as Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops writes. The February 23 and 26 games conflict with the EuroLeague schedule, but Wembyanama’s Metropolitans 92 aren’t a EuroLeague team.
- Twins Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, projected top-10 picks in the 2023 NBA draft, are looking forward to competing against other top players from their draft class and showing how the Overtime Elite program has benefited them, writes Jacob Polacheck of ZagsBlog.com.
Chicago’s recent ascent up the standings is making it more difficult, but Orlando needs to do whatever possible to draft these Thompson boys with their 2 lottery picks this summer. Maybe that’s what they’re hanging on to Suggs for
What does Faried even offer at this point? He’s a good pick-and-roll scorer and… nothing else. He’s a player with good athleticism, but he’s also 33 and is only going to slow down. Enes Freedom is the only player as one-dimensional as he is. Small wonder both are out of the league.
Prime example of exactly what you haters sound like
I love that you want to call me a hater because I disagree with you. Faried isn’t good anymore. That’s not an unfounded opinion, it’s honesty. I liked watching him in his prime, but realistically, he’s not a NBA-caliber player anymore.
Smh you’re just a natural born hater lol nothing is gonna change that. I just hope you’re not influencing any youngsters
Believe what you want, man. I’m not going to waste more time on trying to convince you otherwise.
Trolls gonna troll.
How excatly would you know that.
Since his last playing days he posted (2018-19)
24 mins, 13 pts, 8 reb.
The last time he actually played was
2018-19 playoffs for the Rockets. And he had some good gms. He’s in NBA shape. He can help. Cause his gm was all about effort.
A career 24.4 mins, 11.4 pts. 8.1 reb
You can look all this up !!!!!!!
Yeah I’d say you’re hating a bit.
It sounds to me like dude hating very hard on Kenneth Faried. Faried was a very good rebounder. He’s a rim runner and extremely athletic. Then plays with a ton of energy. I think he will look great as backup big on a playoff team. I think if you put him on a team like the Miami Heat and backup Bam Adebayo instead of Dewayne Dedmon he will do a much better job.
I saw him suit up in Summer League play in 2021, and while he continued to demonstrate great work on the glass, you could tell Faried lost quite a few steps. Now 33, I just don’t see him being able to contribute in any meaningful way. Really good career though.
Those Thompson boys are the biggest risk in the draft. Both will be in and around that top 10 and I think on potential alone both guys are top 5 with VW and Scoot. But considering they went to Overtime Elite and not overseas or college it’s hard to compare there talent right now. Both guys floor is also really low so it’s a risk.
It remind me of the Ball brothers, Lonzo went to college and looked amazing and was probably drafted a little too high but he looked amazing. LaMelo went overseas to multiple countries and in Australia looked pretty darn good but it was hard to compare that to his pairs besides RJ Hampton who he outplayed. And going into the league he’s been one of the best players from the class so it was a great decision by the hornets.
It’ll be interesting to see where they end up and how they develop and play in this league
Ar least they are playing the same NBA brand of basketball…
There’s no college 3 point line to grow out of or other silly college rules…
Too bad the Twins can’t end up in Minnesota !!
Just quickly on the fairies thing and people debating how good he is and stuff.
You just need to look at UH. He’s clearly not good enough to be in the league anymore but he still has something important to offer. What the league has done is cut out a bunch of the vets. It’s mainly from a tax and salary perspective. But teams still need guys like Faried.
Youngster come into the league and get handed franchise and have these huge expectations, not only on their own performance but the team’s performance and it must be tough. Even the 2nd round picks etc, they don’t have older guys showing them the way and making it tough. Heaps of current players have come out and said the league misses its vets.
Faired would’ve been that vet, who can occasionally give you minutes and buckets but more of a locker room guy. The league has just phased that kinda guy out now days
With NIL I don’t understand why top players go to these G league teams. If the moneys even remotely close you get so much more exposure playing in college that your endorsements will be much higher.
Scoot is a good example. If he was playing in college right now he’d be on TV every night and even casual basketball fans would know his name.
Cause money doesn’t make you a better player. They are training for a career in this. Not for a year of college. For a lifetime of success. At 18-19 yrs old. You get that from better comp. And already being in the system. That’s real money there …. For life.
Nah college is over rated by US people…
If you want international attention you go to the G-league, Europe or Australia…
There’s far more money in international pockets with the NBA being a global game now…