Xavier Henry just didn't have the best luck with his introductory years into the NBA. He was a first round pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, but has not seen much prosperity from there. He had multiple surgeries, bounced around the Los Angeles Lakers organization, and finally found himself on the Santa Cruz Warriors, the Golden State Warriors D-League team.

“I’ve been doing a lot of workouts this summer with a lot of different teams and getting feedback and seeing how I feel,” Henry told nba.com. “I’ve been feeling really good. I’m feeling blessed that I can even play basketball again.”

For some, being demoted to the D-League would convince them they were not cut out for the NBA. But for Henry, he sees it as an opportunity for continued growth.

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“It was unbelievably tough,” Henry continued. “For two years (of injuries) — a long time — it’s depressing. You go through so many emotions. So many: ‘Do I quit? Is it over?’… I just know with the person I am for sure, I’ve just always been the tough guy that just won’t say no. I just keep going, keep going.”

All in all, the young shooting guard has plenty of time to develop into the rising star he envisions himself as.

“I’m back to where I need to be,” Henry said. “I’m just trying to show everybody else that I’m back.”