INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Danny Granger has compiled an impressive resume over the past few years.
The Indiana Pacers forward won a gold medal with Team USA at the world championships earlier this month. He averaged 24 points a game last season. He was an All-Star and the NBA’s most improved player the year before that.
One thing missing for the sixth-year player is a postseason series win. Granger hasn’t even been to the playoffs since his rookie season in 2005-06.
“I need to win,” Granger said Monday at the team’s media day. “That’s my basic thing. Whenever I’m scoring, I really don’t care. We need to get this team winning.”
Granger is confident that will happen after the Pacers acquired point guard Darren Collison from New Orleans in a trade last month. Collison averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 starts as a rookie last season while All-Star Chris Paul was sidelined by an injury.
“I was very happy, very excited,” Granger said. “I knew he was a very good point guard. I watched him down in New Orleans.”
Though the Pacers had to part with veteran power forward Troy Murphy in the deal, Collison solidifies a position that has been a question mark for Indiana in recent seasons.
“The past four years, we’ve probably had a different point guard every year, so we haven’t had consistency at that spot,” Granger said. “That’s probably the most important spot on the court. Hopefully, Darren will bring us that.”
Granger said he also wants to regain his All-Star status and feels he will if he remains healthy. He missed 20 games last season, mostly because of an injured right heel, and said he focused on strength training and flexibility this offseason to protect himself from injury.
Granger has been a top-10 scorer the past two seasons, but he hasn’t improved as a defender as much as team president Larry Bird would like. Granger said his defense improved this summer from the experience at the world championships in Turkey.
“I grew a lot,” he said. “Over there is a different game. Defense over there is a lot more physical. Everything we did over there probably would have been a foul in the NBA. But it gives you the mindset of how you should play defense.”
Just as important, he spent the summer watching and learning from Denver Nuggets veteran Chauncey Billups.
“Playing with guys like Chauncey Billups, who’s done so much in the NBA – you’re just watching him and some of the things he does and the way he handles himself, the way he talks to other players,” he said. “Everybody really had to take something from that.”
Pacers coach Jim O’Brien already has noticed growth in Granger’s leadership skills.
“I think that is a very important element, not only for Danny, but the rest of our veterans to understand,” he said. “Player leadership is always important. I think Danny’s summer was one of education for him.”
Granger has served as a mentor to first-round draft pick Paul George. The forward from Fresno State had worked out with Granger before the draft.
“I love Paul as a person, as a player,” Granger said. “Even before we drafted him, I loved his game. He has a lot of talent and a lot of upside. You have to get the way right from the beginning. Show him the work ethic and what it takes to become successful in the NBA so he can reach the full extent of his potential.”
Part of Granger’s role has included lecturing players who get in trouble. Brandon Rush was suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Lance Stephenson was arrested last month in New York on assault, menacing and harassment charges. Prosecutors said the Pacers’ second-round draft pick pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, then grabbed her and hit her head on the bottom step.
Both heard from Granger.
“He called me from overseas and gave me an earful,” Rush said. “He told me to move on from it and come back ready when the suspension is up.”
Granger has become more vocal because he knows he needs those players to accomplish that elusive goal of having postseason success. He believes this is the year things will change.
“I honestly think the moves we made this summer and the players we already have – we have a lot of pieces.”
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