Former Cougar Kyle Collinsworth Holding On To NBA Dreams
Nov 1, 2019, 11:11 AM | Updated: 11:12 am
Former BYU Cougar Kyle Collinsworth at the Salt Lake City Stars media day. (Photo: Cleon Wall, KSL Sports)
(Photo: Cleon Wall, KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Salt Lake Stars guard Kyle Collinsworth understands why the Utah Jazz traded for him. They want him to help develop younger players, but that isn’t snuffing out his NBA dreams.
The former BYU basketball star is supposed to help the young guys on the Salt Lake’s G-League team get better along with improving his own game. He seems to be fairly happy with his professional career.
“‘I’m just blessed to be able to play basketball and make a living out of it. And To be home this year….I try to fill myself with positivity and just inspire others and just enjoy life,” said Collinsworth at Stars media day.
📓| "I think he’s excited to have an opportunity to play and get better. That’s been the key for us. We bring in guys that really want to work and like playing. That’s what he is.”
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 13, 2019
Collinsworth is also not satisfied to come back to his home state and play in front of a friendly crowd. He wants to get back to the NBA.
The 28-year old got a taste of the big time in the 2017-2018 season with the Dallas Mavericks. He played in 32-games, averaging 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists a game.
The former Provo High School star might have had an opportunity to play with the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors last season, but he broke his foot playing for the Raptors G-League affiliate.
Collinsworth is now on another G-League team with a lot of really good players already suiting up for the Jazz. He realizes the Jazz do a great job with their G-League team in developing players.
"The opportunity to play for the Utah Jazz organization and be home–it's the best of both worlds." pic.twitter.com/qZCIVYspku
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 13, 2019
“If a team doesn’t value the G-League and don’t call people up, then I wouldn’t be here. So that’s why I am here and it’s a good fit for me,” he continued.
Stars head coach Martin Schiller said the Jazz liked Collinsworth so much they tried to sign him in the summer of 2018, but it didn’t work out. Schiller is excited to work with his own personal 6’6″ Swiss Army Knife.
“He can do so many things well…he could play at the one, he could play it the two, three and four. And I have the feeling, not knowing him that well yet, that he’s like somebody who’s focused on helping the team win…And that’s something that is very appreciated,” described Schiller.
In a limited time for the Raptors 905 last season, Collinsworth averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists a game. If Collinsworth is going to make it back to the NBA, he’s going to have to improve one important aspect of his game: shooting.
“From guard spot I’ve got to improve my shot, just be more of a playmaker, more aggressive – but for me, I just gotta stay healthy and just look to shoot more.”
Collinsworth only averaged 9 shots a game his past two G-League seasons and his 3-point percentage has hovered right around 32 percent. If he is going to take more shots, won’t that dampen his effectiveness as positionless basketball royalty? Collinsworth doesn’t think so.
“I think I’ll just rely on instincts to kick in. I’ll just be more aggressive to score for myself. I trust that I’ll make the right play from there. So I think that will actually favor what I do best in the long run,” he concluded.
Collinsworth said in life sometimes you get what you believe. Now, we will see if his belief and better shooting can lead him back to the NBA.
