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What To Make of Larry Sanders?

By William Kebbe

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When Larry Sanders entered the league in 2010, he was greeted with many scouts excited about his potential. Larry Sanders was a raw talent out of Virginia Commonwealth University, a Colonial Athletic Association powerhouse. He could score in the post. He could run the floor with amazing speed. He had developed himself from an unassuming freshmen with much work to be done to one of college basketball’s best prospects.

And yet, the best word to define this once talented prospect is disappointing.

Word came out two days ago that Larry was hit with at least a 10 game suspension, his second suspension of the season. His first suspension came from a flagrant two foul on Nicolas Batum of the Portland Trail Blazers. His second was due to violating the NBA’s anti- drug program. Sanders is a repeat offender of the program, with his previous suspension coming no less than a year ago.

“We are disappointed to learn the news of Larry’s suspension. We will continue to work with Larry and the league to ensure he has the support he needs,” the Bucks said in a statement Friday night.

Dec 9, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) fouls Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks organization has had to deal with issues surrounding Larry Sanders numerous times. It was earlier this year that the big man was brought into the spotlight with speculation that he no longer wanted to play the game of basketball, which is surprising considering it was just two years ago that he was averaging close to three blocks a game, while earning recognition around the league as not only a great rim protector, but a player who was developing into an offensive force to be reckoned with.

So, what do we make of Larry Sanders and all the issues surrounding him?

We may not know much for certain, but what we do know is this: Larry Sanders is struggling to commit himself to the rigorous NBA workload. The game that fans like myself enjoy so much is executed with some of the world’s best athletes, and these guys push themselves to the max to play the best and put the game in the best light. Younger players like Larry Sanders can look up to superstars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who 12 months a year, are putting their efforts into perfecting their craft and solidifying themselves as some of the best players in basketball.

What is seems to be is that Sanders is wavering in his commitment to play basketball. His production has slipped every year since the ’12-’13 season. This year, he is only averaging 7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, and 1.4 blocks, and all of these stats are less than those of last year.  All of these statistics are not what you expect from your starting center, especially one with upside like Sanders.

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With a considerable dip in his stats, and trouble with the league, it would be easy to cast off Larry as a bust, claiming that he is unfit to play in the NBA.

However, it’s important to remember that these players are human beings like us. The NBA is a place where the best basketball player’s motivation levels are pushed to the very edge of what a human being is capable of. In order to play in the league, having both physical health and mental health are vital for success.

And it would seem that Sanders is ready to get his mind right.

"“I’m in the process of working things out now to do as best for my psyche and my physical health going forward. There’s a lot of evaluating going on. There’s a lot of inside talk just to put myself in the best place for my health right now,” said Sanders."

It is nice to see Sanders is aware of his current state and showing a willingness to get himself back into a more healthy state of mind.

So it would seem that we shouldn’t give up on Larry Sanders yet. I know that he’s a regular in the NBA’s principal office, but everyone deserves to correct their mistakes. Sanders is young, and so are his Milwaukee Bucks. The core consists of guys who are making names for themselves. Brandon Knight is having a breakout season, Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo is, well, a freakish athlete with  seemingly limitless potential, and O.J Mayo has finally found himself a stable role on a young Bucks team.

So let us give Larry another shot at redemption. Let’s give him time, possibly the rest of the season off, to get his mind right. If he finds the process too difficult, then injured rookie Jabari Parker can surely fill his hole as a scorer and defensive presence.

But if Larry Sanders comes back with swagger and determination, then watch out. His abilities, when motivated, might help the Bucks reach a level they haven’t seen in a long time.

Next: Opposition Intel: Toronto Raptors Q&A With Christopher Walder

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