A Rising Star in his hometown, undrafted Kendrick Nunn admits ‘I never envisioned this’
A year ago when guard Kendrick Nunn was playing as a reserve in the G League, he never could have envisioned where he would be a year later.
Playing as a starter on one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. Earning three Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards before the All-Star break. Playing in the Rising Stars game in his hometown of Chicago.
Just hours before stepping onto the United Center court for the Rising Stars game on Friday to kick off the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, Nunn reflected on his rapid rise from G League reserve to quality NBA starter.
“This is a dream come true,” Nunn said. “I never envisioned this happening. I put a lot of work in to be able to be in this position.”
Nunn went on to finish the Rising Stars game with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 shooting on threes as Team USA defeated Team World 151-131 on Friday. Fellow Heat rookie Tyler Herro was also voted into the game, which features first- and second-year players, but he watched from the bench as a foot injury kept him out.
“It’s a lot. Emotionally, it hits me,” Nunn said of playing in the Rising Stars game. “Because the journey has been a long one. I’ve been patient and disciplined about my journey and how I go about things and my approach to the game. Just to see success paying off, it feels good.”
Nunn’s efficient shooting night Friday is a positive sign, considering he shot 22 of 83 (26.5 percent) from the field and 7 of 33 (21.2 percent) on threes over his final five games before the All-Star break. But, of course, there isn’t much defense being played during All-Star Weekend.
Still, Friday’s stat line is not surprising for those who have watched Nunn, 24, play this season. He entered the break averaging 15.3 points on 43.9 percent shooting, 2.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 51 games (all starts).
Nunn is ranked third in the NBA among rookies in scoring average behind only New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Memphis’ Ja Morant. While Morant is the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award, Nunn is on the short list of realistic candidates for the honor.
Just a year ago, Nunn was working to earn an NBA opportunity after going undrafted out of Oakland University in 2018.
“I didn’t expect this,” said Nunn, who spent last season with Golden State’s G League affiliate. “I didn’t put a cap on it either, though. I just put my head down and worked as hard as I could to grow my game and to become better. That’s what I’m going to continue to do and hopefully have more success in the future.”
With the Heat eyeing Nunn for most of last season, Miami signed him to a non-guaranteed deal on the final day of the 2018-19 regular season. Nunn then secured a spot on the Heat’s regular-season roster with an impressive summer league campaign, earning a spot on the NBA Summer League First Team.
It took just one summer practice for Herro to realize Nunn was special.
“The first day of that summer league training camp, they matched me and him up in every drill,” said Herro, who has formed a close friendship with Nunn as they navigate their rookie seasons together with the Heat. “We just continued to try to push each other. At that point, I knew we had something in common. ... I didn’t know who he was before summer league. But obviously, I know who he is today.”
With “close family” in attendance at the United Center as Nunn played in the Rising Stars game, he now knows he’s on the right track. Nunn started for Team USA on Friday alongside four players who were top-five picks.
And Nunn insists he’s not just a one-season wonder.
“My journey has been more than one year,” Nunn said. “The work that I’ve been putting in has been more than one summer. It has been over years. I just want to continue that and continue to get better, and develop my game and you’ll see me here for a while.”
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 10:56 PM.
