The Need To Lower Expectations For Damien Inglis

They say absence can make the heart grow fonder, and for Damien Inglis and fans of the Milwaukee Bucks that has definitely been the case.

Having been drafted with the 31st pick of the 2014 NBA Draft in spite of breaking his foot in a pre-draft workout, the 20-year-old Frenchman has taken on a mystique of sorts for the people of Milwaukee.

Sure, they’ve gotten to know a jovial and smiling youngster through his various appearances off the court, but having not set foot on a basketball court wearing Milwaukee’s colors, nobody could really be sure what to expect from Inglis.

Everybody had heard that he was talented, athletic and had great upside. We all knew that he was a projected first rounder before the injury gods frowned against him. And word had traveled around that he was long and versatile, in other words a perfect fit for this young and developing Bucks’ core.

When there’s no evidence to the contrary, or not a whole lot to dampen expectations, these things can have a snowball effect though, and get a little out of control.

That’s what has happened with the Damien Inglis hype.

This isn’t a knock on Inglis, or the player that we all hope he could turn out to be, but it’s more a call for realism, perspective and patience.

Last night, we all finally got the chance to see Inglis take to the floor for the Bucks albeit for a very short period of time.

The official line has been that he was on a planned minutes restriction, but one way or another Inglis looked both hurt, and sort of lumbering.

And that’s okay too, it’s to be expected really for a young player making a comeback from a broken foot that required surgery.

In his ten minutes of play, Inglis picked up four points, two rebounds and one assist, and when his night was cut short then, the disappointment that most fans expressed was at the fact that they didn’t get to see him do and show more.

Personally, I think the only real disappointment should be that Inglis didn’t get a chance to play more minutes to find his feet again, to work the kinks out in his game, and generally just settle into himself and his new surroundings.

Inglis spoke of the need to find a flow with Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

"I’ve been through a lot. Now, as I’m on the court, I just have to forget about that and go out there and play. That’s all that matters right now, playing hard.To be back in the flow and playing, I’m really starting the process now of getting ready for the season. It’s all good stuff."

Inglis was nervous, and Coach Jason Kidd expected that:

"It’s the process and journey of him going forward and getting better, and I thought this was a good start for him.He should be (nervous). He hasn’t played for a year. I thought it was good to get him out there, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow."

If indeed, the Bucks planned on limiting his minutes just as much as they were eventually curtailed, well you know what, then that was a good night for the player, and a sensible move for the team.

Just because Inglis has been around the team for a year, it doesn’t mean that has learning curve as a rookie is going to be any less steep than it is for most who enter the league.

When the Bucks traded Jared Dudley away to the Washington Wizards, a common reaction from Bucks fans was that this cleared the way for Inglis in the rotation, or showed the team’s confidence in the 6’9″ forward’s ability.

I’d read that a little bit differently though.

Inglis is in no way NBA rotation ready just yet, but if the Bucks do end up pencilling him in for Dudley’s minutes it will be a move designed to blood him, and make him serviceable sooner rather than later. More of a bet on his potential than on his skills right now.

All in all, Inglis is a second round pick out of Europe who is a facing a troublesome injury from day one in the NBA.

He hasn’t come to the US after dominating in the EuroLeague, or one of the continent’s premier basketball competitions, instead he posted distinctly pedestrian numbers while predominantly playing in France’s lower tier professional leagues.

Sure, Manu Ginobili and Marc Gasol were international second rounders who turned out to be stars in the NBA, but the list isn’t long otherwise, and even in their cases it took them time.

Inglis is talented and, injury-permitting, will get great opportunities in Milwaukee this year. He still couldn’t be much more of a work in progress though, and Bucks fans need to be both fair to him and fair to themselves with their expectations.

If you’re expecting a consistent and meaningful impact off the bench from Inglis this season, you will most likely be disappointed.

Instead, be patient, grounded and realistic and the best could be yet to come from the exciting young European, and for these Milwaukee Bucks.

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