It is hard to be a rookie in the NBA. A young man has to come in, be a professional, make the transition from college to the pros, and he has to learn an entirely different lifestyle.
Combine all that with the current situation the world finds itself in with the global pandemic and it makes it that much tougher.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Isaiah Joe, the 49th pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is coming in under unique circumstances and he understands all of that. He just wants to learn the game in his first season in the league.
“This season is all about learning,” said Joe. “I’m a new rookie coming into this league and as much as I can learn right off the bat, that’s going to be the better. Building a chemistry and a bond with my teammates, assert myself on the court, and build a bond with the rest of the staff, this franchise is great. I’m just looking forward to getting out on the court with the guys.”
Now that he is with the team in training camp, he has got to lean on the veterans ahead of him. Guys like Seth Curry, Danny Green, Ben Simmons, and others who have been in the league for a long time and have been through some wars.
They will have to be the ones to help Joe out this season and he’s taking advantage of it all.
“Oh man, 24/7, 365,” Joe said with a smile. “I’ve already asked a handful of questions to each of them and so they all have some great knowledge being vets. They have some great knowledge to drop down and they’re willing to help teach us rookies and that’s one thing I really appreciate them for. They’re great players, but they’re also great people, and they’re willing to drop down their knowledge of the game.”
Not only is he trying to figure out NBA life on the court and the way the game is played at this level, but he also has to adjust to a new city. He has to adjust to a new life off the floor and the veterans and the staff of this team are helping him with that as well.
“I think they just do a really good job of how the lifestyle is, how you got to watch your money off the court,” the rookie added. “On the court, you really have to be the first guy in and the last guy out, that’s real, so they really take notice of that stuff. I think they have done a really good job in helping me learn and not even just that, learning where I’m at, learning the city, taking me to restaurants, and stuff like that. I think they’ve done a really good job of giving me information.”
Joe will be on this roster on opening night when the team hosts Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards so he will get his chance. He just has to keep on developing his game to move forward. [lawrence-related id=39850,39847,39844]