Josh Smith: 'I've got a lot to prove' Hawks player is gifted with huge potential that he burns to realize By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 10/01/06 往事历历在耳。当两年前选秀会当晚，ESPN 的 NBA 评论员 Jay Bilas 认定Smith 将是所有球员中「最有可能打不出半点名堂」，Smith 从来 没有忘记。 那依然是Smith 维持季後训练、持续以微笑面对众多质疑的动力来源。 那不是单纯孩子气式地将负面评论转化为正向提升的能量，而是一位被 寄予厚望、持续成长的年轻人，发现自己离完美还有很长的一段路要走。 Smith 说到：「职业生涯的第三年，我必须证明许多东西，但不是证明 给除了我以外的任何人。对我：一个不受尊重的高中跳级生而言，我所 努力作的，是专注向前，战胜不利的情况，朝脑袋中的目标奋斗。而我 正在这个过程中，我认为今年自己将会有突破的表现。」 已经连续七个球季被屏除於季後赛门外的老鹰，於星期二正式展开训练 。他们将指望不断成长的年轻新秀，Smith 就是其一。 JJ是这支球队最贵的球星，极有可能入选未来的全明星，也在今年夏天 代表美国队出赛。他的表现将左右这支球队的胜负。 二年级生 Marvin 是去年的选秀榜眼，入选新秀第二队，并於今年七月 抱走了夏季联盟的 MVP 大奖。他的巨大天赋，潜能与市场价值（呃..） 也是这支球队的重要支柱。 但是没有任何一位球员比亚特兰大出身的Smith 更适合最为重建计画的 一环。这位乔治亚的超级新星，正踏上当年 Nique 站立的舞台。 面对球队 20岁的 Smith，代表了老鹰总管 BK 的选人哲学。毫无疑问，这位高中 跳级生还不知道他的极限在哪里，他甚至还没有接近。 Smith 的父亲 Pete 信心满满地说道：「Smith 成长的过程中，总会招 来批评，但是某些人不论你做什麽都不会停止批评。你必须学着接受， 不用浪费时间证明自己的能耐，证明自己不是他们批评的那个人。你必 须向自己证明自己，接着让其他人用他们的眼睛见证。」 即将进入第三年球季的 Smith，虽仍未成为完全体，但已有成为联盟精 英级的年轻新秀之势。他是一位能够同时主宰攻守两方的球员。 如果去年Smith 球季尾声的表现能够代表什麽，那麽他的确成长了。上 季最後 12 场比赛，Smith 平均 17.5 分 7.5 篮板 4 助攻与3.5 火锅 。而这全能的表现不过是他的起步而已。 用他的话来形容，他花了一整个夏天让自己接近极限。如此方能以更完 美的状态面对第三个球季更加困难的状况。 BK说：「Smith 目前所显露的才能不过是冰山一角。他非常独特，能够 做许多NBA 球员连想都不敢想的动作。他有机会成为杰出且完全不一样 的球员，能够以各种方式影响球赛。」 伟大的球星，制造中。 For all the positive vibes generated by Smith's vast potential, the sobering reality is that he's still two months shy of his 21st birthday. He should be entering his rookie season and not his third. The NBA's age-limit rule wasn't instituted until after the heralded high school class of 2004, where a record eight high school players were drafted in the first round, led by fellow Atlantan Dwight Howard. "I don't regret anything," Smith said. "I can still get my [college] degree. But playing in the NBA was a dream for me, and it came true. And living on my own and paying rent and being responsible for my own business has taught me some things that college never could have. I'm growing more mature each day. I learn new things and gain wisdom by going through these experiences I have gone through." Smith has packed an extra 10 pounds of muscle on his 6-foot-9 frame and will check in for training camp at a rock-solid 240 pounds. He'll need it if he's going to split his time between power and small forward, the latter being his more natural position. Smith said he's ready for any role he'll be asked to play. With he and Marvin Williams and rookie power forward Shelden Williams all vying for most of the time at the forward slots, the competition should be fierce. Between the three, the club hopes to make up for losing veteran forward Al Harrington, traded back to Indiana for a 2007 first-round draft pick. "I think the competitive nature of camp will be good for everybody," Smith said. "All of us are hungry, but we know this is a family. I think Marvin and I showed last year after the All-Star break that we complement each other really well when we're on the floor together. So I don't think it's an issue of playing time. But it's up to the coaches to decide who goes where, and we all have to be ready to take it to the limit wherever we play." It's statements like that prove to Knight, as well as Hawks coach Mike Woodson and his staff, that Smith is coming into his own. "All these guys and their games are maturing," Knight said. "Josh is also maturing as a man. I've talked to both him and his dad about this, and I think we all realize that everyone has to take a step back and let him go, and not to the wolves and predators that prey on the NBA young. But he's been through this for two years now, and people have to take a step back from him and allow him the freedom and latitude to grow into the man he will be and can be. Because I can see leadership qualities in Josh now that I didn't see in his first two years. "From a basketball standpoint, I think that growth has been evident. The first year Josh was an athlete feeling his way around. Last year he proved he could make face-up jumpers and compete every night on a higher level. This year, I want him to take another step. I want him to get to that point where he plays hard every night, no exceptions, and add that next piece to his game. I'd like to see him add a post-up piece to his game. But that's what you have with young players. They evolve." Atlanta's own If the Hawks have their way, Smith will evolve into a homegrown sports icon. They've struggled to gain an identity in Atlanta because they haven't had an elite talent like Michael Vick or Chipper Jones to market. Smith's popularity exploded after he won the slam-dunk competition during All-Star Weekend his rookie season. And his meteoric rise after the All-Star break last season showed what could be in store this season. "Our team has several up-and-coming NBA stars whom we will continue to promote throughout the marketplace via media, advertising, and community development programs" said Lou DePaoli, the Hawks' executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Josh, at only 20 years old, is arguably one of the league's most exciting players and has been a fan favorite since day one with his ability to create highlight-making plays. Much like his on-court ability, we feel the sky is the limit when it comes to his local and national marketability." Smith insists that representing his city is something that's always been important to him, even if he hasn't been afforded the hometown hero treatment. He's always an easy target when the Hawks struggle, mostly because the perception of him has been that he doesn't play to his potential, something that has shadowed him since he starred at McEachern High. It's often a burden on those players who have been blessed with extraordinary athletic gifts. "I don't think there's any question about it," Knight said. "There are always unfair expectations, in this whole day and age with everything that goes on in the media. Josh has certainly had unfair things said about him. I've heard things said about him that I think are utterly ridiculous. We don't pay attention to them because we know him. We know he's a great young man. And we know you can't pay attention to that kind of stuff these days." The Smiths can't help but pay attention to it. They're connected to the city in ways that the other players on the Hawks roster never will be. Whenever Josh Smith hits the streets in his hometown, he knows he's not only representing the Hawks organization but the hopes and dreams of long-time fans of a franchise whose glory days are faded memories. "There's no doubt that it's an awesome responsibility for Josh, especially at 20 years old," Pete Smith said. "But he's Atlanta born and Atlanta raised. Josh wants to be known as an Atlanta Hawk. When we're out there in the streets and around town people recognize him that way. And he wants this team to be in the playoffs and ultimately wants to lead them to a championship. A lot of that is not in our hands. But he's already made up his mind that he wants to be a part of the Hawks' resurgence in this city." So much so that he's willing to keep sweating through workouts with those voices in his head, urging him on with their negative words. "It's time for me to let it all hang out and not hold back," said Smith, who ranked fourth in the NBA last season in blocked shots with 2.6 per game. "That's what I did the second half of last year. I realized that the responsibility for my actions was on me. I love being responsible for the Hawks name in my hometown. And I'm as eager as anybody to see what we're going to do this year." 资料来源 http://0rz.tw/471WB --

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