Yogi Ferrell is making the most of his opportunity in Dallas. Since the Nets decided to go in another direction earlier this season, by waiving him, Ferrell has found a home with the Mavericks in their starting lineup.
That’s not bad for a rookie 6’0″ point guard, undrafted, out of Indiana University. Ferrell left Brooklyn with his NBA future up in the air and he’s now running the offense for Dallas.
“We were all banged up,” said Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle. ” We had a lot of guys out. We desperately needed a guy that could play the position and hold the fort. I wasn’t sure he was going to be a starter right away, but the way we were structured at the time it seemed like the best way to go. He started the first game, did a lot of good things and had a really terrific first couple of weeks. Now, we’re at a point where he’s pretty much held that position and he’s done a lot of good things.”
There was Ferrell on the court at Barclays Center Sunday afternoon, this time in a visiting uniform for Dallas. Ferrell was starting opposite Jeremy Lin, the Nets point guard he could’ve been backing up this year.
From the opening tip, Ferrell’s ability to create for his teammates, with his speed and impressive courtvision, helped set the tone for Dallas as they built up an 18-point lead over the Nets.
The Mavericks would go on to secure an 111-104 win over Brooklyn, it was a must-win for Dallas after getting blown out 48 hours earlier in Philadelphia. Ferrell finished with eight points and five assists, in 22 minutes of play.
Ferrell managed to flip a 10-day contract into a multi-year deal within only a handful of games with his new team. The Mavs, in the midst of a youth movement, saw enough of Ferrell to make it easier for them to part ways with veteran point guard Deron Williams. Yes, the former Nets point guard, Deron Williams, that guy.
The ball has a funny way of bouncing. When this season started Ferrell was doing his best to work his way into a permanent roster spot on the Nets. Multiple trips between the Nets and their developmental team kept Ferrell in the mix until the numbers game eventually caught up with Brooklyn.
There’s no numbers game to worry about for Ferrell in Dallas, the Mavericks made that clear when they signed him to a two-year contract. It’s Ferrell’s show to run in Dallas, he’s now bringing the ball up the court and setting up the offense for Dirk Nowitzki, Mr. Maverick himself.
It’s not luck, that much is a fact. All Ferrell has done, since the conclusion of a great four-year run at Indiana, is work for his opportunities. He plays on the court as if there’s no tomorrow, perhaps because that’s all he’s seen since making the move to the pros. An uncertain tomorrow.
From going undrafted, to playing in the summer league, all the way to forcing the Nets to keep him or let him go. Ferrell didn’t give up on himself, he took that 10-day contract from Dallas and made it his very own audition.
Sometimes in life the doors won’t open how we want them to. Think about Yogi Ferrell, the uncertain tomorrow, and the NBA dream he’s turning into reality one chapter at a time.
And One’s
The Nets fell behind the Mavericks early and didn’t have enough left in the tank to come from behind. Dirk Nowitzki finished with 23 points to lead Dallas to a 111-104 victory, Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center.
J.J. Barea scored 20 points off the bench, including nine straight in a critical stretch late in the fourth quarter, to help Dallas get back on track after an ugly road loss to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers Friday night.
Brook Lopez finished with a game-high 27 points for the Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points off the bench. Starting point guard Jeremy Lin went down in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle following a drive to the basket. Lin subbed out and didn’t return to the game.