There have been plenty of naysayers who doubt Tyler Hansbrough's ability to transition from the college game to the NBA. Well I say nay to their nays.
Hansbrough played four successful years at UNC at Chapel Hill. He is not what some would call a "natural athlete," but for anything he lacked in raw talent he more than made up for by putting in blood, sweat, and tears. In the workout room he even earned himself the nickname "Psycho T" for his high intensity, maximum effort workouts.
Many question whether his 6'9" 250 pound frame will be well suited for banging around under the boards in the NBA. To make his game more complete and well rounded at UNC, Hansbrough worked tirelessly to improve his outside shooting. By the end of his tenure are UNC, all of his hard work and extra practice helped make him a threat even outside of the paint. His work ethic and leadership contributed to the Tar Heels' success and helped them bring home the 2009 NCAA Championship.
As the 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Hansbrough has what it takes to fit in well with the Pacers' approach and philosophy. Their fast paced style correlates closely to the tempo that UNC Coach Roy Williams ran with his team.
Pacers President of Basketball Operations and NBA legend, Larry Bird, once said, "If you don't do your homework, you won't make your free throws." (From all of his hard work, Hansbrough improved his college free throw shooting from 73.1% freshman year to 84.1% his senior year.) Like Hansbrough, Bird wasn't necessarily the most naturally gifted athlete out on the court, but he put in the work to be the most effective player he could be. Bird can recognize a player who has the heart of a champion and who will push himself past his limits to succeed. He found exactly that type of player by drafting Tyler Hansbrough, a player who when asked to give 100%, will give 110%.
It is with Hansbrough's determination, hunger to compete, and will to succeed, that he prospered with UNC and it is with those exact same attributes that he will prove his naysayers wrong. Hansbrough will add another dimension to the Indiana Pacers to help them become a dangerous team this season.
For those who still doubt the potential abilities of Hansbrough, I must ask, how many other athletes have been able to reunite a lost puppy with its owner?
Godspeed Tyler Hansbrough.
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