LAS VEGAS — Perhaps this was the pause former Toledo men’s basketball star Ryan Rollins needed.
After a wild few weeks that saw him selected in the NBA draft by the best team in the league, Rollins is sitting out his first opportunity to showcase his talent in an NBA uniform.
A stress fracture in his right foot has the former Toledo Rocket bouncing around Las Vegas due to what his new team describes as “precautionary measures.”
“If I keep pushing on it and don’t let it heal, it could get worse and potentially break,” Rollins said. “So I’m just relaxing right now letting my foot heal on its own. I should be ready by training camp.”
Instead of competing on the court, the 20-year-old is learning through “mental reps” — film and more film. He doesn’t sit completely idle at Warriors’ practices, though. At the team’s Summer League training facility in northwest Vegas, Rollins works with a pair of coaches on free throws and stationary dribbling exercises. The rest of the Summer League players run through drills across a half dozen other courts.
It’s all part of a plan Golden State assistant coach Jama Mahlalela has put in place so Rollins doesn’t fall behind.
“Form shooting is one of the most important pieces of an athlete’s development, and we’re making sure Ryan is still getting reps,” said Mahlalela, who’s serving as the team’s head coach for Summer League. “The feel of the ball at your fingertips and the repetitive motion can feel good even if you’re in a boot. And the more times you build confidence putting the ball through the hoop, whether it’s one foot away or 30 feet away, it’s still building confidence, and it’s still good for you.”
‘A team of NBA All-Stars’
Just putting on a Warriors uniform is still a dream come true for Rollins, who grew up in Detroit and used to cheer for the Pistons.
Rollins admitted he hit the jackpot when the reigning champs traded up seven spots and spent $2 million to make him one of their newest players. Instead of idolizing Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Rollins now calls them teammates.
“It’s crazy, especially meeting Steph,” he said. “It’s a team of NBA All-Stars and superstars. It’s been incredible, for sure. I have to keep reminding myself I’m on the team now so I’m a part of this group.”
Rollins flew to the San Francisco Bay area the day after NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum called his name at the draft. In his new hometown, he met the team brass: Curry, Steve Kerr, Warriors GM Bob Myers and Mahlalela. His first interaction with Draymond Green came Saturday afternoon at Summer League practice.
Mahlalela was one of a handful of Warriors staffers to enjoy dinner with Rollins and parents Toni and Chris in San Francisco.
What stood out immediately, Mahlalela said, was the rookie’s quiet demeanor.
“He doesn’t say a lot, but what he does say is impactful,” Mahlalela said. “He has an incredible family, and I could tell he comes from great roots.”
Already confident in Golden State’s system
Cracking the Warriors NBA rotation could be challenging for Rollins in Year 1, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. Golden State is famous for developing its own talent, and seven of the Warriors’ 10 rotation players on last season’s championship team were drafted by the organization.
First, he’ll have to adapt quickly to the differences between Mid-American Conference basketball and pro ball, especially the size and strength of both his teammates and opponents.
“It’s a big step for me,” he admitted. “It’s the size and athleticism, but also the pure skill of these guys.”
Rollins has so far been pleasantly surprised with the simplicity of the Warriors offense. It focuses on moving the ball and getting open shots.
“Just playing the right way,” Rollins explained. “It’s all about making the easy passes and not forcing shots, which is how I think I play already. Hearing that from the coaches and knowing it fits my game gives me a lot of confidence that it’s going to work here.”
Mahlalela is also bullish on the UT product, saying Rollins’ ability to play downhill and score in the pick-and-roll gives him the chance to be a dynamic NBA player on offense. The coach commended the 20-year-old as a scrappy on-ball defender capable of fighting through NBA screens, but said Rollins must work on guarding away from the ball.
“The pop that he has, the pace that he has, getting to the rim, being crafty and slithery but really strong and effective, Jordan Poole-esque, is an attractive component for us,” Mahlalela said. “We just have to work on his off-ball defense a little bit to make sure he doesn’t fall asleep and lose any cutters.”
First Published July 15, 2022, 2:10 p.m.
