Dec 10, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Daxter Miles Jr. (4) and Virginia Military Keydets guard QJ Peterson (22) fight for position during the second half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball: VMI at West Virginia
(New York, NY) — Unless you’re a real NBA nerd, chances are you aren’t watching much NBA Summer League.
But if you want to keep tabs on any aspect of it, give the story of QJ Peterson a read.
Peterson, 28, has mostly played overseas but is on the New York Knicks’ roster this summer. On Instagram, he posted a long summary of his time in Vegas and how he worked his way into the Knicks’ rotation.
He spoke of his initial invite to Knicks minicamp, playing well, and chatting with Coach Tom Thibodeau about how he could improve as a player (defense, he told Peterson). He also talks about being invited onto the team despite knowing that younger players will get time ahead of him.
“The Knicks let me come in early June 29th to start working out before actual practices for summer league started on July 4th!” he wrote. “Every day I was there from June 29th- July 7th, I was the first one in the gym and last one to leave, every day! Every day Coach Thibs watched me do defensive slides full court every workout against the staff, incorporating offense into it, taking everything Coach Thibs told me to heart!
Peterson didn’t play in the initial games, but was a vocal and supportive teammate. He then says Thibs stepped in and helped Peterson get his first crack at play. From there, despite the team struggling, Peterson improved with every game, culminating in a 25-point performance that earned him praise from his teammates.
These were the penultimate paragraphs of his story:
“I turned a lot of eyes with different NBA teams at summer league solely off my ENERGY and EFFORT and affecting the game in a positive way by just playing hard, showing a great attitude, and being a great teammate and leader!! All the feedback received had nothing to do with me being able to score, it was all because of the things listed above, playing like my life depended on it!!
What I want you all to take from this, no matter where you come from, no matter your height, whether you’re 5-star athlete or no star athlete, always bet on yourself! Always be ready so you don’t have to get ready, and be a great teammate and person! Do all of the little things. because the little things matter!! Find your WHY that makes things bigger than just yourself, to help you keep going when things get tough!!”
Even though Peterson may never see time in a real NBA game, his energy is something that deserves to be commended.
