Bobcats rookie Henderson learning patience in NBA

[King Taharqa]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke product Gerald Henderson was allowed to skip a practice and a shootaround last week to travel to Indianapolis, where he sat in the stands and celebrated his old school winning the national championship.

He returned the next day to a Charlotte Bobcats team owned and coached by North Carolina guys holding bragging rights -- just not a spot in the playing rotation -- in what's been a frustrating rookie season buried at the end of coach Larry Brown's bench.

"I've gotten a lot of congratulations," Henderson said of the Blue Devils' victory over Butler, "which my teammates always say, 'Why are you congratulating him? He didn't win anything."'

Trouble is, Henderson is virtually a non-factor with his current team, too, appearing in just 41 of 80 games and scoring 95 points.

Just how insignificant is the shooting guard's role on the playoff-bound Bobcats? The most talked-about moment of his brief NBA career is beating new owner Michael Jordan in two games of H-O-R-S-E in what's become a YouTube hit.

"I'm playing on a team with a lot of (veteran) guys and I really haven't gotten my chance yet," Henderson said before not playing in his sixth straight game Saturday against Detroit. "It's just how it is. Coming from being a guy who played as many minutes as I wanted, it's just a little different."

That Brown is not playing Henderson probably shouldn't be a surprise. He's never been a fan of rookies. But Henderson still hoped to contribute after leaving Duke a year early and being the 12th pick in the draft.

Instead, Henderson is shooting 33 percent from the field, 22 percent from 3-point range and has appeared in three games in the past month.

"I keep things in perspective. I know I still have a lot to learn about this game. I have to get a lot better," Henderson said. "Obviously, I want to get out and play. I've been wanting to play all season. But with the way the season has gone and the makeup of our team, it just hasn't happened like that."

The son of the former NBA player of the same name, Henderson started the season playing some behind starting shooting guard Raja Bell. But he slowly slipped out of the rotation after Charlotte traded Bell for Stephen Jackson, and when Flip Murray became a better scorer off the bench.

After Murray was traded, Henderson played in nine straight games until Charlotte signed veteran Larry Hughes, who has since gobbled up Henderson's minutes.

"He's got to work on his ballhandling. He's got to work on his shooting. He's got to work on guarding people on the perimeter," Brown said of Henderson. "But I would say that to just about anybody."

Brown said it "would have been great if he had played in the D-league," and Henderson acknowledged he declined his recommendation to play the NBA's minor-league circuit.

"Maybe about a month and a half, two months ago, we had talked about that," Henderson said. "I kind of started playing a little bit in a few games and I thought it would be better for me, if I was going to get a few minutes, to stay here."

"Earlier in the season when I wasn't playing at all, that might have been a better option for me."

Henderson wasn't interested in looking back at his decision to turn pro, a move that guarantees him about $3.4 million for this year and next, with the Bobcats holding options totaling about $4.5 million in the following two years. He wasn't sure if he'd be a national champion if he stayed for his senior season at Duke.

"If I would have came back it would have been a different team," Henderson said. "Who knows, but they played great. It's pretty cool to see their progression throughout the season. I'm just really happy for them."

Henderson will likely spend the playoffs on the bench before beginning what Brown calls a critical offseason that will include him playing for Charlotte's summer league team.

"He just needs the opportunity to play," Brown said.

Until then, Henderson will have to relish Duke's national title -- and his H-O-R-S-E victories over North Carolina's biggest star.

Jordan later joked that he let Henderson win to boost his confidence.

"All I know is that I'm a two-time champion," Henderson said, grinning. "That's all I can say. But Michael is a great guy to have around."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-04-11-2524780112_x.htm

Cranston.

[CatMan72]

He'll get his shot soon enough.

[mj4life]

henderson will be a good rotation player at some point, if he improves his shot and ball handling his time on the court will increase. some people are down on him but remember g-force rode the pine in sac-town for awhile and still became a productive player.

[Hotsauce]

Whats the deal with ANjinca?

[Implied Volatility]

Whats the deal with ANjinca?

He's injured at the moment. He was playing in the NBDL before his injury and had started to look pretty good. He actually made the NBDL All-Star team. And he also put on a lot of weight, up to about 250 pounds now.

[King Taharqa]

I think Gerald is gonna be a productive player for us. Lets not forget, Larry Brown wouldnt give minutes to LeBron, Melo, & Wade in 04 Olympics over vet guys like Richard Jefferson, Shawn Marion, AI. He dont like playing rookies, and he's hard on young guys. Gerald will get his chance, and I think he will be ready.

[Panthers128]

Hendo should have went to the Dleague ages ago.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Hendo turned down going to the DL because he was scraping minutes up at the time.