This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Toronto rapper Drake, in his own words, "started from the bottom, now we're here." One young Toronto Raptor, meanwhile, hopes to follow a similar path to success.
Former Runnin' Ute Jakob Poeltl has gone from college star to the NBA starting line, but the affable Austrian is anything but discouraged as he returns to Utah for the first time as a pro.
"Obviously it's not easy because it's a new situation," Poeltl said in a phone interview Thursday, waiting for the Raptors' charter to leave for Salt Lake City. "You have to work your way from the bottom to the top. But that's just how it goes. You have to put in a lot of work. You have to earn your respect and earn your minutes. That's what I'm trying to do."
Poeltl will be back in a familiar place Friday night, with a handful of his old college buddies and teammates cheering for him at Vivint Smart Home Arena. But those are about the only guarantees for Poeltl's homecoming.
A season ago, Poeltl was playing 30 minutes a night for the Utes, averaging better than 17 points per game en route to a Sweet 16 appearance and Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. Those accolades helped make him the ninth overall pick in last summer's NBA draft. Now, the rookie is dealing with the realities of the next level, where he has logged a total of 30 minutes of game time over the past month.
"The toughest part is just learning our role, which is a pretty hard one," he said, "because I always have to be ready to play but never know if I'm actually going to play. That's really not an easy thing to do, but that's how it is as a rookie.
"If your name gets called, you have to be ready to perform. But there might be games where you don't play at all and you have to find different ways to support your team with your energy from the bench."
At the start of the season, Poeltl was battling for Toronto's backup center position with third-year player Lucas Nogueira, and even started two games when veteran Jonas Valanciunas was sidelined by an injury. Since then, Nogueira has supplanted Poeltl for that spot, and the rookie has realized how much work he must still do.
"What [Raptors coach Dwane Casey and I] have talked about is mainly understanding the game in the NBA," said Poeltl, who has averaged 2.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. "Understanding defensive rotations and all that stuff. All of the other guys on the team have been here for three, four, five years if not longer. They understand the system so much better than a first-year player. That's something he values a lot."
The 21-year-old Poeltl said his transition to the NBA has been made easier thanks to his relationship with fellow Ute Delon Wright, the Raptors' first-round pick a year ago.
"It's been mainly off the court because he's been injured," Poeltl said of his relationship with Wright, who underwent shoulder surgery in August. "Hopefully he'll be able to recover soon and be back in the game. It's still great to have him just because it's his second year and he's already been through a lot of the stuff that I'm experiencing right now."
The Raptors, Eastern Conference finalists a season ago, come to Salt Lake with a 20-8 record, good enough for second place in the East.
For a rookie like Poeltl, that kind of success has its pros and cons. But even if it means spending more time on the bench, he said the good will outweigh the bad.
"It has its advantages and disadvantages," Poeltl said. "Overall, I think the advantages are better. I might not get as much playing time in Toronto as I would at a different team, but we have a whole different culture. There is a winning culture I maybe wouldn't be able to experience at another team."
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
About Jakob Poeltl
Position • Center
Height, Weight • 7-0, 248
Drafted • Ninth overall by Toronto in 2016
2015-16 (Utah) Stats • 30.4 minutes, 17.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
2016-17 (Toronto) • 11 minutes, 2.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.3 blocks
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Jazz vs. Raptors
P At Vivint Smart Home Arena
Tipoff • Friday, 7 p.m.
TV • ROOT
Radio • 1280 AM, 97.5 FM
Records • Jazz 18-12; Raptors 20-8
Season series • First meeting
About the Jazz • Squandered a 20-point lead in a one-point defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. … Center Rudy Robert has notched nine straight double-doubles, the first Jazzman to do that since Carlos Boozer in 2009-10. … Guards Danté Exum (knee tendinitis), George Hill (sprained toe), Alec Burks (ankle rehabilitation) and Rodney Hood (flu-like symptoms) all missed Wednesday's game.
About the Raptors • Split the two-game series with the Jazz a season ago. … Guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combine to average more than 48 points per game. … Forward Jared Sullinger (left foot) and former Ute Delon Wright (right shoulder) will not play.