Life as an NBA rookie isn’t easy, whether you’re entering the league with a full hype squad behind you like Lonzo Ball or quietly selected with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft like Jordan Bell.
The success rate of second round draft picks isn’t promising. You’ll find success stories in the second round, certainly, and there is no better example than the Sacramento Kings’ selection of Isaiah Thomas with the very last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. While it’s probably too early to call Jordan Bell one of those success stories just yet, he’s well on his way. Through 22 games with the Golden State Warriors this season, Bell is averaging 4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.o blocks on .742 shooting from the field in just 11.3 minutes per game.
Beyond the numbers, though, Bell has managed to work himself into the regular rotation of the best team in the NBA. That would be an impressive feat for any rookie, and doubly so for a second round pick where expectations can be nonexistent. Bell made headlines immediately, positively for his strong summer league play, and negatively for his flashy, somewhat-disrespectful back-board dunk against the Mavericks in the final moments of a blowout win earlier this season.
A rite of passage for any young NBA big man is the DeMarcus Cousins test. Cousins isn’t just one of the best big men in the NBA today; he also plays with a level of physicality, toughness, and nastiness you don’t see out of too many NBA players anymore. According to Bell, Cousins tested him alright, but he didn’t bite.
The Mercury News’ Melissa Rohlin talked to Bell after practice on Wednesday, and Bell revealed that Cousins tried to bully him in their two meetings this season.
“He thought I was scared of him or something like that,” Bell said of Cousins after Wednesday’s practice. “He trying to bully everybody. But my mom always taught me never let anybody bully you, so I stand up to everybody.”
“I don’t say nothing,” Bell said. “I just let my game do the talking. If he tries to get physical with me, I just get physical right back.”
Bell is wise beyond his years. Cousins is going to look for any weakness he can sniff out, and he’s made a lot of buckets over the years preying on helpless NBA rookies. If Bell shut down those attempts, more power to him.
With that being said, if Bell’s “say nothing” strategy stops working, we might suggest getting some pointers from Zach Randolph. He seems to be able to communicate with Cousins on a level few can.
