Los Angeles – When Kelsey Plum entered her new basketball home, the camera was already prepared to follow her every move. Jumbotron from crypto.com arena showed her wearing a sparks jersey, her name was scattered throughout the building, approaching the podium, and hype videos were played in the background. The group of media members present was actually praised when she was featured (usually a fake in the journalism industry).
But it was already big in the ume of the stars in Los Angeles, and her first day was a complete showcase of the cheerful nature she brings along with the power of her stars. She joked about traffic, thanked her for attending the media and seemed shocked that her primer press conference was worthy of being aired live.
“I'm so grateful to be here,” Plum said. “I'm just in awe of respect.”
But despite her humility, Plum deserves scrutiny. On the first day, she joins this team as the most skilled player on the roster. She made it WNBA She has won two titles over the past three seasons of the All-Star team, and is the sixth female of the year in 2021, helping Team USA win Olympic Gold this summer in Paris.
The Sparks, who trade the second pick to get the plum, are clearly indicators that they are in winning mode despite missing out on the playoffs in the past four seasons.
“We needed to improve our backcourt,” said Reagan Pebley, Sparks general manager.
It was a clear need for this team as they have not had a consistent play from that position since Chelsea Gray's departure in 2020. It was also no coincidence that Sparks made it to the playoffs. The organization feels that Plum could influence them in a similar way to her current ace teammates, and will soon compete for competitiveness in ways that rookie guards cannot at the start of the upcoming WNBA season. Ta.
“The basketball style we want to play, and the standard of excellence that Las Parks continues to feel like every road points to Kelsey,” Pebley said. “And we weren't hesitant to do what it takes to make sure Kelsey sat here today.”
Now Plum holds the key to this spark's offense and she has not held back on what it means to this team to have the ball in his hand.
“I've always been shifted to two guards because of my ability to shoot and play,” Plum said. “It's great, but in the coaching system, I think we can see a little more positioning and more ability to get people involved. I'm definitely going to be in the top five with assists this year. That's what I'd say. Because I have the opportunity to do that.”
Last season, Plum averaged 4.2 assists. To enter the top five in that category in the WNBA, you will need to jump up to 6.2 dimes per game. It's not a huge task, but it's still a huge improvement.
How does she do? Simple: I feel like I'm supplying the ball to the front court.
“I think it's a cam [Cameron Brink] Plum said. “Rikkea” [Jackson] It's an all-star. Rae Burrell's incredible talent and I think she can be one of the best two-way security guards in the league. So, looking at versatility, anyone can shoot, play multiple positions, defend multiple positions, and are all competitors.
“They want to win, they want to be better, they want to be great. That, for me, it really stood out. In this league, your big name will take your place. Championships. Looking at the team below the line, there are usually three [and] 4 is committed to running to the championship. Just looking at it, it's the best frontcourt in the league and not nearby either. ”
The idea is for plums Take this young core to the next level. She can become a connector that turns that possibility into production, bringing sparks out of the bottom of the WNBA rankings and returning to competition.
Plum may be a spark in her early days, but she already feels connected to this community.
“I just felt like an overwhelming sense of love. I feel like my arms are spread out. I was actually at the airport this morning, and I was just getting some water. And the man was like, “Go to Sparks!” I'm excited about it because I feel it. Because I feel like people are already wrapped around me. I haven't played the game yet. I welcome my teammates, coaches, Raygan and ownership. I already feel very loved. ”
And that connection with LA goes beyond LAX employees and Spark members. She even has a recent connection Lakers The legendary Kobe Bryant, he A huge advocate for women's games.
Kobe offered flowers to players, shocking every opportunity. This included Plum, who he congratulated on Twitter after breaking the highest scorer ever as the Washington Husky.
She reciprocated that love and called him a “true goat.”
After the presser, Plum spoke only to breakaway about the moment he had with Kobe a year later.
“I was able to meet Kobe,” Plum told Breakaway. “He actually took his daughter and their AAU team to Vegas and saw us play. This was years ago and I remember seeing him. It was cool. He said one of the players on his team was left-handed, so he said, “I've shown her your film.” And it was like, for me, a man, a day was made, a life was made.
“But I grew up watching Kobe in a pizza parlour with my dad and am really excited to be able to play here in this historic building. I still call it Staples. It's It's like how it sinks in my brain, but he's one of my favorite players and that means you can just be here.”
Sparks has players on their roster now that they know Kobe is approved.
For someone who grew up in Poway, California, just two hours south of Los Angeles in San Diego County, it's cooler than knowing that your game is on a level that's good enough to show his player as an example. Not about how to play basketball.
It all makes this a plum full-sake moment. Now she plays in the area where she lives, and can make memories of herself in the buildings built by Kobe.
Children wear plum jerseys at pizza parlors all across California, watching the new era of Sparks basketball. What's the rest of the work to finish Plum? Do what great people like Kobe have done and raise the banner within Crypto. The building's name may have been changed, but the standard remains the same. Win the title, raise the banner and leave legacy.
