Analysis of NBA career of former Warriors players: Discussion on adaptability issues

In the years when the Warriors dynasty swept the league, the four words "Warriors' strict selection" almost became the guarantee of the team's immediate combat effectiveness. From Drummond Green to Livingston, from Barnes to Rooney, every role player in Golden State's jersey seems to be able to shine in Cole's system. Omari Spelman was also a member of this list. This young man, known as the "perfect inside line in the small ball era", was once affectionately called "Erpin" by fans and formed the "Hmph and Ha" inside line with the Dream Chasing Dreams.

But no one expected that this five-star high school student who scored 37 points and 19 rebounds in a single game, the hero who helped Villanova win the NCAA championship, and the potential stock that averaged 39.1% three-point shooting percentage by the Warriors will completely disappear in the NBA just two years after leaving the Bay Area. His fall is more rapid than a meteor and shorter than a firework, which is very sad.

1. From slums to five-star high school students: basketball is the only redemption

Spellman's basketball story, with bitterness from the beginning. In the slums in Philadelphia, his childhood had no toys or playgrounds, only the back of his mother, Rochelle Wilson, who was running around for a living in the dilapidated apartment. After his father was imprisoned for the crime, his mother raised him and his two sisters alone. The family of four was crowded in a room less than 50 square meters. There was no heating in winter and full of mosquitoes in summer.

"My biggest dream at that time was to let my mother live in a house with a balcony." Spellman later said in an interview. Basketball became his safe haven. On the court, no one cared whether he had money in his pocket, but only saw who could send the ball into the basket. In order to change his destiny, he went to the court to train before dawn every day, and did not return home until the street lights were on. The GPA 3.2 score proved that he was not a simple-minded player, but he knew better than anyone else that basketball was the only shortcut.

The transitions and turns in high school became the turning point in his destiny. From Master Prep in Pennsylvania to Ma'anshan College in Virginia, Spellman met Pat Craft, the mentor who changed his career. Instead of trapping him at 2.06 meters in the penalty area, the coach formulated a strict weight loss plan, forcing him to practice three-pointers and high-level support. "He told me that in the future, big men must be able to shoot," Spelman recalled.

Spelman broke out completely after the transformation. In his last year of high school, he averaged 28.4 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, leading the team to win the state championship with a record of 32 wins and 2 losses. In the final, he even scored 37 points and 19 rebounds. His accurate three-pointers and flexible footsteps made the scouts exclaim, "I saw the inside template of the small ball era." He was selected into the All-American Best Team and became a five-star high school student. He ranked third in the country in the center position. Invitations from famous basketball schools flew over like snowflakes.

2. The God of the University: Villanova's Champion Puzzle

Choosing Villanova University is one of the most correct decisions for Spellman. This team, known for its "five foreign tactics", is perfectly adapted to his technical characteristics - a height of 2.06 meters and a 2.18 meters wingspan, which can not only bounce three-pointers from a high pick-and-roll, but also grab rebounds and frame protection in the penalty area, and support passes.

In the freshman season, Spelman became an important rotation for the team. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, with a 43.3% three-point shooting percentage, shining on the stage of March Madness. In the Sweet 16th round of the year against West Virginia, he made 4 of 7 three-pointers and scored 18 points and 8 rebounds, helping the team pass the narrowest pass; in the elite quarterfinals, his performance of 15 points and 9 rebounds suppressed the opponent's inside line; in the final, facing the University of Michigan, although he didn't score many points, he grabbed 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, preventing the opponent's core Wagner to only 5 of 16 shots.

"He is the perfect gear of our tactics." Villanova coach Jay Wright said, "When he stands outside the three-point line, the opponent's center must come out to defend, which creates countless opportunities for our breakthrough and empty cuts." Villanova finally won the championship, and Spelman's name was tightly bound to the "champion inside". NBA scouts gave a very high evaluation: "The perfect inside in the small ball era, can shoot three-pointers, protect the frame, and can support it. The upper limit is the All-Star Space-type No. 4 position."

3, Warriors Time: A brief flash and the name of "Two Fatty"

2018 Draft, Spelman was selected by the Hawks at the 30th pick and was then traded to the Warriors. Wearing Golden State's jersey, he seemed to be back to Villanova's system - Cole's tactics also emphasize space and passes, and Spelman's three-pointers and support are exactly what the team needs.

One season with the Warriors, Spelman averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and a three-point shooting percentage of 39.1%. Although the data is not amazing, it is extremely efficient. In the game against the Suns, he came on as a substitute for 25 minutes, scored 16 points and 8 rebounds on 4 of 5 three-pointers; facing the Thunder, he made a three-pointer at a critical moment, helping the team win narrowly. Fans like to call him "Sei Fat", forming an inside partner with "Big Fat" Rooney, one flexibly shot and the other hard rebound, which became the fun of the Warriors' bench.

Spelman at that time seemed to be on the right track. Cole publicly praised: "He has a high basketball IQ and knows when to shoot three-pointers and when to pass the ball, which is rare." The Warriors management also regards him as an important puzzle for the future, believing that he can take over Green and become another inside core in the small ball era.

4. Death is the end of the team: In two years, the turning point from the NBA to the overseas league was caught off guard. In the summer of 2019, in order to strengthen the lineup and strive for the championship, the Warriors traded Spellman to the Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins. This decision became the watershed in his career.

Spelman lost control of his emotions after learning about the transaction. He publicly stated that he would not play for the Timberwolves, and even refused to participate in team training. The Timberwolves management was not polite and hid him directly, allowing him to play in three games throughout the season. This period of being hidden in the snow became the beginning of Spellman's depravity - losing the team's constraints, he completely gave up self-management, and his weight soared from 111 kilograms when he entered the league to 130 kilograms. His originally flexible steps became bulky, and he was out of breath after running two steps.

In 2020, Spellman was traded to the Knicks, but his condition disappointed the coaching staff. The training was late, the attitude was scattered, the running position on the field was chaotic, and the three-point shooting rate plummeted to 23.8%. In less than two months, the Knicks cut him. Since then, no NBA team has extended an olive branch to him. He can only travel to overseas leagues such as South Korea, Puerto Rico, Türkiye, etc. The former five-star high school student has completely disappeared from the NBA's vision.

Why is this happening? Jay Wright's evaluation came to the forefront: "Omari should have been the main force of the NBA for ten years, but he always chose shortcuts at critical moments."

5. The root of the fall: Talent is the ticket, and attitude is the pass

The fall of Spellman was not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of attitude and professional qualities.

First of all, it is disrespect for the profession. Being traded is the norm in the NBA, but Spellman chose to vent his dissatisfaction by confronting the management. This behavior touched the team's bottom line. In the NBA, no team will tolerate players challenging authority, especially young players. The hiding of the Timberwolves during the Timberwolves was more of a lesson than a punishment, but unfortunately he did not learn it.

is followed by self-management out of control. As a professional player, weight management is a basic skill, especially for space-type insiders that rely on flexibility. After leaving the Warriors, Spellman completely indulged in his weight and gained 20 kilograms, directly destroying his athletic ability. The three-pointers and footsteps that he once was proud disappeared under the drag of weight, which is also the direct reason why he was eliminated in the NBA.

Finally, there is an imbalance in mentality. From slums to five-star high school students, from champions to Warriors star, Spellman's life went so well that he failed to learn to face setbacks. Being hit by the trade made him unable to recover and gave up his love and pursuit of basketball. As his mother said, "He always felt that he had succeeded, but forgot that success required daily persistence."

Conclusion: The disappearance of genius was never a sudden

Spelman's story, it was the NBA version of "Sad Zhongyong". He has the most scarce inside talent in the small ball era, but he has ruined his future with his bad attitude and casual professional qualities. From the Warriors' "strictly selected inside" to being eliminated by the NBA, in just two years, his experience has been like a mirror, reflecting the cruelty of professional sports - talent can allow you to enter the league, but only attitude and hard work can keep you in the league.

Spelman is only 27 years old now. It should have been the golden period of his career, but he can only struggle in overseas leagues. Occasionally, fans always sigh when they mention him: "If he could control his weight, if he could correct his attitude, would he still be an important player of the Warriors?"

Unfortunately, there is no if on the basketball court. Spelman's story tells us: In the NBA, there is never a shortage of talented players, but those who can turn talent into continuous efforts. Talent is the ticket, but attitude is the only pass to success.