Sullinger Embraces New Role With Celtics

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/sullinger-embraces-new-role-celtics



Sullinger embraces new role with Celtics
September 23, 2014, 2:45 pm










WALTHAM -- It seems just like yesterday that Jared Sullinger was gearing up for his first NBA training camp, preparing to soak in as much knowledge as Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics' veterans were willing to pour into him.

Now heading into his third NBA season, the 22-year-old speaks with the benefit of increased wisdom and a voice of experience who will be called upon to be more of a team leader.

And it's a role Sullinger doesn't shy away from embracing.

"Growing up with two brothers, my father, even my mother, they grew up as leaders," Sullinger told CSNNE.com. "They never followed anybody. That's the biggest thing with me."

With several new faces added to the roster, one of the many lessons Sullinger has learned is that each player is an individual and should be treated as such.

"There are certain people you can't attack; certain people you can attack," Sullinger said. "There are certain people you come to on the side and not in front of the team. It's just small stuff like that."

It's the kind of delicate balancing act that's vital to any team's success, but especially one as young as the Celtics will be this season.

Of the 14 players with guaranteed contracts, the average age is 25.4 years old. That number remains relatively unchanged when you add 25-year-old Evan Turner to the mix. The former No. 2 overall pick is expected to sign with the Celtics prior to training camp, which begins on September 30.

And the Celtics have the potential to get even younger depending on what they do with Chris Babb and Chris Johnson, a pair of players with multiyear, non-guaranteed contracts who are each 24 years old.

That's why Sullinger's ability to lead will be so important to Boston's chances of improving upon last season's struggles.

"I was spoiled. I had Paul [Pierce]. I had KG (Kevin Garnett), Rondo, [Chris] Wilcox . . . I had a lot of guys that had been through a lot of experiences," Sullinger said. "So I just listened to their stories and they paved the way for me and I kind of made my own routine, my own path."

And he knows the newest members of the Celtics family will try and do the same. All he wants is to do his part in helping that happen, to provide the team's younger players with similar encouragement and teachings that were doled out to him.

"It feels pretty good," Sullinger said. "Going from almost three years ago thinking that I'm gonna be playing behind KG, playing with [Brandon] Bass, playing with Wilcox and know they're all gone minus Bass. It's kind of crazy. For the longest time, I thought I would come in, do my job; I'm going to be 'this' type of guy. Next thing you know, they're gone and they're like, 'Sully we need you to score more.' "

And while he'll serve up plenty of words of advice, there's one message he hopes they take hold of early and never forget:

"This league changes," Sullinger said. "You have to be prepared for anything."




bob



.

Kind of thought that he already had the crash course last season in being a "main guy."

This year should build upon those experiences.

Blakely was trying to sound profound but must've forgotten that Sullinger already played a year without KG and Pierce around.



KJ

Interesting that the article was ostensibly about a new role and yet never once mentioned anything about his position or duties on the floor.  Well, if leadership is his goal, I hope he leads by example.

Sam