This was the Darik Whitehead Nets fans wanted to see. I'll be waiting. Frankly, I doubt they'll ever see it.
Hampered first by injury, then by rust, and finally by his own crisis of confidence, Whitehead made his breakthrough Monday in Chicago.
The Newark native scored 18 points and made 6-of-10 shots from deep, showing off the potential that made him a top school prospect just three years ago.
What Whitehead has gone through in that time — two surgeries since being drafted, a missed rookie season — is what made Monday so sweet.
Whitehead showed off his breakthrough by scoring 26 points in his final game in the G League, but even after Brooklyn called him up due to a series of injuries and was given a chance against the Bulls, Whitehead didn't waste it.
“That was a big part of it.” [it]'' Whitehead said. “Scoring 26 points in the G League gave me back my confidence after two years of not dealing with injuries and not believing in myself. I obviously knew the talent was there, but in the past… I did nothing for two years.
“So I think that was a big step for me offensively. It just got me ready.” [Monday] And see if I'm ready. Then my name was called and I was able to come in and contribute. ”
No wonder his confidence was low.
In the words of a great philosopher, basketball is 90 percent mental and the other half physical.
Whitehead struggled with both ends of the equation.
According to Rivals, Whitehead has undergone three surgeries since becoming the top overall prospect in 2022.
The first injury occurred before his only year at Duke University, when he broke his right leg, robbing him of his explosive power.
He then came in the same position again before the 2023 NBA Draft, where he fell to the Nets with the 22nd pick.
Whitehead's third surgery was in January to repair a stress response in her shin.
He essentially wiped out his rookie year and struggled in summer league, shooting just 14.6 percent from deep and just 2-of-24 from deep.
He was called more than a bust.
But the organization showed confidence in Whitehead last month, signing him to a $3.2 million extension for next season.
His teammates also showed confidence in him, which encouraged him.
“It was more like a confidence thing,” Whitehead said. “The more you go out there with them, the more confidence you have in just hitting the shots that you think you can hit. And they have trust in you to make the shots, so they Some of them can go inside.”
I got a lot on Monday. Whitehead, 20 years and 123 days old, is the youngest player in Nets history to hit six threes in a game, and the second in the league this season behind No. 1 overall pick Zachary Lizacher (19 years and 212 days old). It's youth.
“It was amazing,” said coach Jordi Fernandes. “I'm asking him to be ready to shoot and play like he understands what we're going to do, what we're going to do. Don't think too much about it. Look, he did a great job. He hit 10 threes and made six. I'm happy for him.
“But the reality is, he’s put in the work, the coaches he works with, the medical work, he’s gotten healthy, so obviously I’m happy to see that…I’m happy for him.”
Of course, that's only two games, one of which will be in the G League. That doesn't guarantee you've turned a corner, and improvement is rarely linear.
And then there's the issue of opportunity. The Nets lost eight players on Monday, including leading scorer Cam Thomas.
If Thomas returns, Whitehead will have less time to let his guard down.
But until that time comes, Whitehead can keep his eyes open.
“My young bull, Darik? I knew he could shoot the ball like that,” said Dayron Sharpe, Whitehead's teammate on the undefeated 2020 Montverde team. “I’m really happy he was able to show everyone he can shoot the ball like that.”
And remind yourself, too.
