Each time the Boston Celtics send rookie James Young on a day trip to their NBA Development League affiliate in Vacationland, the announcement is met with groans from a vocal group of fans that desire to see the No. 17 pick in June's draft get an opportunity with the parent club rather than toiling for the Maine Red Claws.
It's not hard to understand their grumbles. As the Celtics navigate the second year of a rebuilding process, there's a case to be made that getting young players extended NBA minutes could expedite their development. The fact that Boston is nine games under .500 and owns an offense that has slipped to the bottom third of the league in efficiency is only additional fodder for those that leading the #FreeYoung movement.
But if there is one necessity in rebuilding, it's patience. And that virtue extends to the development of Young.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.
On This Day In UK Basketball History
- On March 19, 1966, Pat Riley joined the 1,000-point club. He did it in 54 games.
- On March 19, 1966, in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, top-ranked UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
- On March 19, 1989, in the wake of an NCAA investigation, Eddie Sutton resigns as UK basketball coach.