Trey Burke on Exum injury: 'I have to be ready to step up'
In his two seasons with the Utah Jazz, guard Trey Burke says that he hasn't met the goals he's set for himself. But all he can do is keep working hard and make the most of his opportunities.
Burke's latest chance comes with a rather large downside, as the season-ending injury to point guard Dante Exum means Burke will need to come up big if the Jazz are to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. And Burke knows that all eyes will be on him (via Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune):
"It's always unfortunate to see that," he said of Exum's injury. "You don't want to see that for nobody. But it's a part of the game and unfortunately it happened to Dante. It's something that I really felt like [this year] was a opportunity either way. But I guess people see it more as an opportunity now because obviously we play the same position. I have to be ready to step up again and just make plays for the team. I think the biggest thing for the team is just winning. I could sit here and talk about a lot of personal things, but as long as we're winning everything else will take care of itself."
Burke added that his mentality is just to keep working and improving. He took a step back as a second-year player in the NBA, shooting the ball a little worse when accounting for free throw percentage and 3-point shooting on the way to the same exact player efficiency he posted as a rookie.
But the Jazz emphasize player development across the board, working on all aspects of a player's game down to the fundamental movements he's made his entire basketball life. That kind of work can take time to turn to results. As long as Burke is keeping with the program Utah has in place for him, a big leap in 2015-16 isn't out of the question.
(h/t Salt Lake Tribune)
