‘You never know where you’re going to be’: life on a two-way NBA contract
AAccording to the rules of physics, a body cannot be in two places at the same time. But some current NBA players are trying to prove this scientific maxim wrong. Yes, the subsection of professional basketball players on “two-way” contracts often feels like they are in multiple places at any given time, spread across different teams, playing styles, positions, playbooks, and cities. But such is the life of a two-way athlete, someone who walks a double path, while trying to find a permanent home in the league of milk, honey and millionaires. But how do these guys adapt to this unique lifestyle and what does it take to succeed?
“Every day,” Jared Rhoden of the Detroit Pistons told the Guardian, “you never know where you’re going to be or what’s going to happen. What your role will be, what position (you’ll play). It’s about staying ready asset. “
When it comes to two-way guys like Rhoden, the future – whether it’s the next day, the month or the season – is largely unknown. This can be a harsh reality, devoid of clarity. But it is also a dream that many are willing to live to achieve their dream of becoming an NBA player. And maybe, one day, an NBA veteran. So for Rhoden, given this level of uncertainty, his strategy is to have his mind and body ready at all times for the unexpected. Who knows when you might get a call to suit up for the NBA franchise?
So, be prepared.
“It’s difficult,” Rhoden said, without complaint. He’s just being honest about the gig. “There were times last year where I was on the road and I was called to fly somewhere else to play. It’s a challenge for your body and for your mind.
Rhoden says teams typically give players about a day’s notice of their next assignment, whether it’s with a G League team like the Detroit Cruise or playing with the high-flying Pistons. An NBA franchise may need a two-way player if someone on its everyday roster is injured. Or if the team just, say, made a three-for-one player trade and the remaining roster is thin. During the pandemic, with all the positive Covid tests, teams are often expected to bring in two-way players to supplement struggling rosters. And when a two-way player is called up, he may stay with the team for a few games or a few weeks. “They’ll let you know,” Rhoden says.
But for Rhoden, he is used to the difficult path. He wasn’t a top four or five star recruit coming out of high school. Instead, he says he was “under the radar” and attended Seton Hall. But he is proud of his work ethic and his character. And Rhoden is lively, lively. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard, whose father worked on Wall Street and who grew up playing football, knows that effort is the key to professional winnings. He admired his entrepreneur father, learned from him his passion and dynamism. And in his own life, Rhoden wanted to emulate his father.
To start his career, Rhoden, now 24, played in the summer league with the Sacramento Kings last season. From there, he signed a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers and played the preseason with the franchise. But the Blazers waived him. Next, he played for the Atlanta Hawks’ G League developmental team. It was on Christmas Day 2022 that he completed his two-way deal with the Pistons. (Santa stopped by!) Rhoden has been on the Motor City team ever since, playing in 14 NBA games last season, averaging 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Rhoden, however, is not alone. For Orlando Magic two-way player Kevon Harris, this circuitous life seems pretty familiar. The 26-year-old 6-foot-6 shooting guard, who played in 34 games for Florida last year, averaging 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds, says he credits his focus and dynamism to his mother (“Ma Dukes”). She taught him to be motivated. Since then, Harris has strived to achieve more in life. A player who enjoys the physical side of the game and a self-described “underdog my whole life,” Harris says he always wants to work “hard.” Yet he also knows how much the life of a two-way player involves many sacrifices.
“Man, that’s a lot,” Harris said. “Obviously, in two teams, you always have to be ready, you always have to be prepared. So that’s a lot. But that’s part (of the job). It’s a chore. At the end of the day, you like the game, so you’ll understand. »
Harris, a product of Stephen F Austin in East Texas, has shared time between the NBA and Orlando’s G League franchise, the Osceola Magic. He remembers playing a game in one league one night, then going to the other league and playing a game the next night. “It’s just the typical two-way life here,” Harris says. For the shooting guard, however, the way to succeed is to maintain the same approach to the game, no matter where he plays. “Go out there and try to find ways to win,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.” By keeping this principle, the adjustments he had to make along the way were “much easier.”
Harris and Rhoden say that while it’s a tough lifestyle, the opportunity to play and learn basketball on multiple levels is something of a gift. “The best thing about a two-way relationship,” Harris says, “is just getting a taste of both worlds.” I just understood. Being able to get as much information as possible and being a sponge. With everything he’s learned, Harris shares his expertise with his Osceola teammates, he adds. And Rhoden notes that being close to NBA stars is an invaluable perk of the job, especially “learning and picking the minds of some veterans,” he says, like “some of the best players and coaches in the world “.
Rhoden cites moments with Portland’s Damian Lillard and Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanović that had a significant impact on him as a human being, not just a player. Rhoden says he went through some “personal tragedies” while in Portland last season and during that time, Lillard, a perennial All-Star, made sure to call him, text him and to monitor him. It was a big moment for Rhoden, who said he idolized the former Portland point guard growing up. Most recently, Bogdanović took Rhoden under his wing and showed him around Motown while giving him advice on what it takes to survive in the league for years to come. These life lessons also translate into Rhoden’s daily life off the basketball court.
“What you are on the field is what you are off the field,” Rhoden says. “Any lessons you can experience, you can take and put anywhere. That’s the best thing about this league: you mature quickly. You learn and adapt quickly. It was special.
With retainer two day dealswhich are only available to players with four years or less of service, there are contracts in the NBA known as 10 day offers, which, once signed, keeps a player on a roster for 10 days or three games. There are also unguaranteed products Exhibit 10 offers. The rules for each of them are constantly evolving. But each is a tool for franchises to keep their rosters full and for management to see who they have in their development pipeline. As the college game and the NCAA continue to evolve (NIL agreements; realignment), NBA teams are taking more advantage of the minor league. These tactics pay off for both players and teams. Harris and Rhoden are great examples, as are others like Admiral Schofield, Ron Harper Jr. and more. As for the upcoming season, Harris says he’s looking forward to the next step in his career: showing he’s worthy of a full-time NBA roster.
“To continue to prove why I’m going to be a big part of this Orlando Magic organization,” he said. “Just go out there and change the narrative of the Magic this year. Go further into the season, play longer and be a big part of it. That’s all I was thinking about. Playing with that chip on my shoulder, going out there and proving myself every game.
As Rhoden gains more experience, he sees the NBA landscape clearly. When asked what advice he would give to younger players about bilateral deals, he said success in the NBA comes down to behaving the right way on and off the court. Hustle, ask questions, talk and engage with players and coaches. These are essential. Just like you have to work better than everyone else and believe in your talent. In reality, this is the case for all professions. And in the NBA, that’s what leads to wins — something the Pistons and Magic could definitely use more of this year.
“Basketball teaches me to have a certain threshold in my life that I’ve never reached with anything else,” Rhoden says. “Having that mental capacity to resist pain, trauma or things that don’t go well. It ultimately catapulted me to become a better person and a better man.