Lester Hudson hasn't always been as aggressive an NBA player as he was this past weekend.
In fact, there was a time when the newest Cavaliers guard kind of felt like he should just stay out of the way.
"I was way too timid," Hudson told FOX Sports Ohio of his previous NBA stint, which lasted a combined 36 games in Boston, Memphis and Washington.
He also bounced around the NBA D-League, which is where the Cavs discovered him a couple weeks ago. But he spent most of this season playing in China.
"When I was in China, I told myself if I ever got another shot (at the NBA), I wasn't going to be timid," Hudson said. "I was just going to be me."
Hudson's 10-day contract with the Cavs expired Sunday night. Considering he scored 23 points in Friday's win at Toronto, and 26 in Sunday's 122-117 overtime loss in New Jersey, it's a safe bet Hudson will finish the season with Cleveland.
And that came straight from the mouth of Cavs coach Byron Scott after Sunday's game. Hudson buried six 3-pointers — including the biggie with 0.3 seconds to send the game into OT. He also took 22 shots, making it easy to believe his statement about no longer holding back.
"The last two games, he's been fantastic," Scott told reporters in New Jersey. "I'm happy for him because he plays so hard. He's a good kid and he gave us a chance again tonight."
Hudson is listed as 6-foot-3 but is actually closer to 6-1. And even that is probably on his tippy toes. He's also been dubbed a "combo guard," but is a lot closer to a shooting guard — or in his case, a scoring guard.
On top of that, he's 27 years old, making him the third-oldest active player on Cleveland's roster.
Hudson isn't exactly the product of one of those major college basketball factories like North Carolina, Kentucky or Duke, either.
Instead, he made his way to the NBA via little Tennessee-Martin. That came after a stint at a place called Southwest Tennessee Community College.
So it hasn't been a typical path to the pros. Nor is Hudson guaranteed anything beyond this season. Heck, as of Sunday night, he wasn't even guaranteed this season.
The Cavs have always needed a little extra scoring punch in the backcourt, and that's especially the case with Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Daniel Gibson (foot) injured. Gibson is out for the year and the same likely goes for Irving.
That is where guys like Hudson, Manny Harris and Donald Sloan come in. All are auditioning for jobs here or elsewhere. So far, it looks like Hudson has the potential to be a real find, someone who might fill a need for Cleveland heading into 2012-13.
If so, it could alter the Cavs' draft plans a little. They will still look for a shooting guard, center and small forward — but maybe now they won't have to worry about the backup spots, or who their fourth guard might be.
Granted, it's very early. No opponent is game-planning for Hudson yet. Neither Toronto nor New Jersey are playoff teams, and neither will shut down anyone defensively.
But all Hudson can do is give it his best shot. This time, he promised, that won't be a problem.
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO
