Detroit Pistons shooting guard Reggie Bullock has become one of the latest 3-point shooting commodities of this NBA season, but his time didn't come without the proper wait to shine.
The fifth-year University of North Carolina product had only seen seven starts in the league prior to this season, primarily a deep reserve during his time with the L.A. Clippers and the Pistons.
“A player with my story probably would have been out of the league or trying to find his way back in the league,” Bullock said when asked if the NBA gives up on guys too quickly, according to Geoff Robinson of The Detroit News. “But I landed in the right position. It was God’s plan for me to be able to watch and learn, and now I’ve got an opportunity to play and to just keep moving forward.”
Bullock got his chance after the Blake Griffin trade, freeing up time at the shooting guard and small forward positions with the departure of the struggling Avery Bradley and the surging Tobias Harris.
Ever since, Bullock grabbed his chance by the throat, becoming one of the most efficient marksmen in the league, making two 3-pointers per game at a starry 44.4 percent clip.
Bullock took a chokehold of his starting job and made consistency his middle name, posting 20 straight starts scoring in double digits and doing so at a 49.3 percent efficiency from the field.
The former Tar Heel has posted 13 points per game since joining the starting lineup — an afterthought when looking at the company he kept during his 2013-14 draft class.
“It’s not easy,” said head coach Stan Van Gundy. “It’s really crazy. It goes to the point of opportunity. People just develop at different rates.”
Van Gundy pointed to the 2013-14 All-NBA Rookie first team, consisting of Michael Carter-Williams, Trey Burke, Victor Oladipo, Mason Plumlee and Tim Hardaway Jr.
“I think you’d take (some) other guys over those first-team rookies,” Van Gundy added. “It just shows that people are in a rush to judge you, and it doesn’t always work that way. Now we’re five years in and it’s a different group of guys you’d rather have.”
Bullock has given the Pistons every reason to stay in the lineup, making the most of that lone chance young players get to make it in this league.
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