Ronald Dupree
There are going to be a lot of folks in Orem rooting for Ronald Dupree when he goes to training camp with the Jazz next week. By all accounts Dupree was a great guy who helped the Utah Flash to the D-League Finals last season.
Most fans have an appreciation for just how tough life in the D-League can be, with players making $30,000 a season along with $30 a day in per diem on the road.
Not only was Dupree, a five-year NBA veteran, willing to spend all of last season in the D-League, but he did something sure to bring a smile to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's face when he learns about it.
While he was with the Flash, Dupree would cook meals at home to bring on the Flash's road trips. The team would get on its flight to wherever in the D-League and Dupree would have a tub of red beans and rice with him.
Not only was he able to save some money, Dupree figured he was eating better than he would at whatever fast-food joint on his D-League per diem. Needless to say, with his appreciation for self-sufficiency, I'm sure Sloan would be impressed.
Dupree came to the Flash in a mid-season trade from Tulsa and made an immediate impression. He flew into town and arrived so close to game time that the Flash coaches basically diagrammed three plays for him under the bleachers.
Although he came off the bench, Dupree went out and totaled 16 points and eight rebounds and played 30 minutes in that game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
He's described as having a lot of similarities to Matt Harpring, whose role Dupree could wind up filling. Not a great shooter, Dupree nevertheless has proven he can score as an explosive slasher and impressive athlete.
Dupree's greatest strength is probably as a defender. During another game with the Flash, Dupree found himself switched onto Sioux Falls point guard Sean Singletary, even though Dupree is 6-foot-7 and Singletary is listed at 6-foot.
On assignment from the Charlotte Bobcats, Singletary scored 14 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Dupree drew the assignment from there and Singletary scored just two points the rest of the way.
We're going to have to revisit the cooking story, though, before the Jazz leave on their preseason trip to London and Madrid, Spain. That certainly would be a lot of red beans and rice for Dupree to have to make.
--Ross Siler
Most fans have an appreciation for just how tough life in the D-League can be, with players making $30,000 a season along with $30 a day in per diem on the road.
Not only was Dupree, a five-year NBA veteran, willing to spend all of last season in the D-League, but he did something sure to bring a smile to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's face when he learns about it.
While he was with the Flash, Dupree would cook meals at home to bring on the Flash's road trips. The team would get on its flight to wherever in the D-League and Dupree would have a tub of red beans and rice with him.
Not only was he able to save some money, Dupree figured he was eating better than he would at whatever fast-food joint on his D-League per diem. Needless to say, with his appreciation for self-sufficiency, I'm sure Sloan would be impressed.
Dupree came to the Flash in a mid-season trade from Tulsa and made an immediate impression. He flew into town and arrived so close to game time that the Flash coaches basically diagrammed three plays for him under the bleachers.
Although he came off the bench, Dupree went out and totaled 16 points and eight rebounds and played 30 minutes in that game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
He's described as having a lot of similarities to Matt Harpring, whose role Dupree could wind up filling. Not a great shooter, Dupree nevertheless has proven he can score as an explosive slasher and impressive athlete.
Dupree's greatest strength is probably as a defender. During another game with the Flash, Dupree found himself switched onto Sioux Falls point guard Sean Singletary, even though Dupree is 6-foot-7 and Singletary is listed at 6-foot.
On assignment from the Charlotte Bobcats, Singletary scored 14 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Dupree drew the assignment from there and Singletary scored just two points the rest of the way.
We're going to have to revisit the cooking story, though, before the Jazz leave on their preseason trip to London and Madrid, Spain. That certainly would be a lot of red beans and rice for Dupree to have to make.
--Ross Siler
10:43 PM
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2 Comments:
it is tough to replace matt. it is difficult for anyone to bring what matt brought to the table. hopefully we dont compare Dupree with matt, because it can derail his career. hopefully, Ron can bring his own brand of toughness and presence for jazz.
Glad to know he can defend. The question is does he want to? everyone can play defense but only if they want to.
Ross,
There is still talk out there about a potential sign-and-trade with the Knicks - Boozer for David Lee. I think Lee could replace some of Harpring's hustle play, but I'm not sure he could play at the same time as Millsap. What do you think?
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