Kris Humphries, the guy many in the organization hoped would opt out of his final contract year last summer, basically has become Mr. Net.
At least that’s how coach Avery Johnson sees him.
“Humphries is what our program is all about: hard work, no excuses, day-in and day-out he gets after it,” Johnson enthused about the 6-9, seventh-season veteran who is leading the team in double-doubles (11), overall rebounding (9.3) and probably positive attitude.
Humphries was on the bench behind, first, the recently-traded Joe Smith and, second, Troy Murphy, whom he eventually supplanted. Humphries proved a revelation — quite the opposite from the offense-first rep he acquired in his journeys through Utah, Toronto, Dallas and then last season, New Jersey.
“I told him I would give him an opportunity to prove that reputation wrong,” Johnson said.
Humphries virtually became a nightly double-double.
So he wound up back on the bench as rookie Derrick Favors’ time to start arrived Wednesday. Not a peep of protest arrived from Humphries, whose energy is a major plus — it drove Carlos Boozer to the Bulls’ bench for the final 14:21 of the Nets’ 96-94 win Wednesday.
“He really is all about Nets basketball,” Johnson said.
And Humphries insists he really is all about trying to establish a winning culture. He wants it to continue tonight in D.C. against the Wizards and then tomorrow at home against Milwaukee. Yeah, he’s thinking win streak. And he’s thinking playoffs. Honest.
“Our goal is to slide into the playoffs. If you look at the East, you can lose eight games in a row and still figure a way to get back on track. So let’s put together a little win streak here,” Humphries said.
“For me, it starts with just trying to have energy,” added Humphries, who against the Bulls took a knee to his quad (not serious, will play tonight) after getting what some players would have seen as a boot to the gut when he returned to the bench. “Coach talked to me about coming off the bench. It was all about ‘you’ll be in the second unit but bring that same energy and try to get us going.’ I think guys like me and Sasha [Vujacic] off the bench can do that and it’s going to help us win more games.”
Spoken like a true Mr. Net.
And it’s that attitude of team first in an age of “hey, look at me” athletes that Johnson admits is “absolutely, very rare.” All things considered, the Nets have to be overjoyed Humphries didn’t opt out.