Kelly Oubre Jr. learns quickly, changes his brash approach

By Staff     Jul 9, 2015

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Washington Wizards' Kelly Oubre Jr. speaks during an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Washington. Washington moved up four spots in the first round to get the Kansas freshman in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Oubre with the 15th overall pick in the NBA draft the night before.. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Kelly Oubre Jr. has yet to play even a Summer League game in the NBA, but it appears he is learning quickly. After making some [brash statements about how he compared to other 2015 draft picks][1] in his initial Washington D.C. media appearances, the rookie from Kansas turned down his bravado in his most recent round of interviews.

The most noteworthy player representing the Wizards at the Las Vegas Summer League, Oubre didn’t speak of the “kill-or-be-killed” nature of the NBA when [conversing with reporters after a mini-camp session this week][2]. Instead, the small forward used words like “blessing” and “privilege” when describing what it’s like to represent Washington.

> “I’m ready to earn everything that’s
> gonna be given,” Oubre said.

Although he has only participated in mini-camp practices with D.C., Oubre admitted to already noticing the NBA game is faster.

> “The quicker you adjust to it… the
> slower it gets,” he said. “It’s my job
> to make sure I stay on top of my game,
> make sure I watch film, to make sure
> that I’m up to speed, because it’s a
> new level — bigger players, better
> players — so, I’m ready for it.”

Obviously, we don’t yet have any evidence this more humble version of Oubre translates to on-the-court improvement, as well. He’ll get his first crack at impressing Washington and its fan base Saturday, when the Wizards face Phoenix in Vegas. Asked what he expects out of the exhibitions, Oubre briefly relapsed to a more cocky tone.

> “I’m just expecting to show out. Show
> out within the confines of my team,
> the offense and everything, and make
> sure, most importantly, we win.”

Since arriving in D.C., Oubre has made sure to pick up on what more experienced players offer up in conversation. Reading between the lines, that likely explains why his statements now seem less boastful.

> “A lot of the older guys give me a lot
> of great input, you know, and I put
> that into my mental,” Oubre said. “It
> prevents me from making mistakes. I
> definitely need to listen to every
> single thing everybody tells me.”

Since the draft, when Atlanta took him 15th overall, then traded him to Washington, Oubre has gone “non-stop” with basketball, first in Los Angles, then in D.C., because that’s his job now. He said improvement is a must. That’s the approach any rookie with his head screwed on straight would take.

Oubre said he looks forward to facing some other members of his draft class in Las Vegas. Kentucky’s Devin Booker plays for the Suns, who took Booker 13th overall, passing on Oubre in the process.

> “Whoever’s in front of me, it’s my job
> to pretty much destroy, you know what
> I mean? I’m gonna try to go hard,”
> Oubre began, before catching immodesty
> mid-statement. “And they’re gonna do
> the same, because they’re
> competitors.”

[During a radio interview with ESPN 980 on Wednesday][3], Oubre spoke more about setting the tone for his new career at the Summer League, saying he can make shots and defend.

> “The thing I want to really emphasize
> is being the best playmaker that I can
> be,” the 6-foot-7 swingman added,
> “getting into the paint, not
> necessarily always shooting when I’m
> in the lane, but kicking out to the
> open guy or just making the necessary
> plays.”

Oubre is no dolt. He also spoke fondly of Washington coach Randy Wittman, going as far as to say he loves him.

> “He’s a perfectionist. He doesn’t let
> you get away with anything, and that’s
> what I need,” the suddenly self-aware
> rookie out of KU said. “He’s
> definitely a guy that I can definitely
> learn from and continue to get better.
> I look forward to my long career here
> and I’m definitely blessed to be a
> Washington Wizard.”

The radio platform even allowed Oubre to back off of the bizarre statement he recently made about not being enamored with Kevin Durant, the NBA’s 2013-14 MVP who prior to the draft had wished Oubre luck via an Instagram post.

https://instagram.com/p/4Sz2MYzSrs/

> “We’re just competitors,” Oubre
> clarified of his relationship with
> Durant, a free agent next summer and
> widely expected to be targeted by
> Washington. “He realized I wasn’t
> going to back down from him even
> though he’s KD, so he has a level of
> respect for me and I have the same for
> him. It’s a relationship that we see
> each other, I hit him up, or we’ll do
> some stuff. It’s hard work. He wants
> to be great. He’s on his way to being
> great, very close. And I definitely
> want to be where he’s at one day, so
> he’s like a big bro. … It’s definitely
> a great relationship we have.”

It’s refreshing to hear Oubre’s adapted, less arrogant tone. The way he’s talking now mirrors the approach he took while dealing with media in his one season at Kansas. Whomever convinced him to lead with the hotshot persona before the draft appears to have been drowned out by more sensible voices.

None of this means Oubre will assimilate perfectly to the next level or make an immediate positive impact to the Wizards’ on-the-court product. At least it’s a head-start down a better path than he seemed routed toward a couple weeks ago.

His answer to a question about the kind of feedback he has received from Wizards coaches provides a perfect example of the earliest lesson of his NBA career.

> “Apparently they like me. They drafted
> me,” a smiling Oubre said. “It’s my
> job to put a smile on their face, and
> put money in their pocket, too.”

*- Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA [daily at KUsports.com][4].*

*- [Follow @BentonASmith on Twitter][5].*

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/jun/29/kelly-oubre-jr-talking-a-big-game-as-he-/
[2]: http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/kelly-oubre-7-7-15
[3]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/07/09/kelly-oubre-jr-says-kevin-durant-is-like-a-big-bro/
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[5]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith

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