This is our third in a series of training camp profiles. Today we’ll take a look at Darius Washington. For Wednesday’s profile on Anthony Lever-Pedroza, click here.
Darius Washington is yet another in a group of guards the Spurs have invited to training camp. Unless Beno Udrih is on his way out, I see no reason why the Spurs invited so many guards and didn’t invite people that may improve their depth at small forward or center. However, Washington is the only point guard they have invited.
Both Keith Langford and Anthony Lever-Pedroza are undersized shooting guards, and although Washington, 6-1, plays point guard, he’s not a true point guard. But none of those reasons will stop me from rooting for the former Memphis guard.
He may not possess the skill set of a natural point guard and look to pass first, but there’s plenty to like about Washington.
First, he could probably give Tony Parker some competition for quickest player currently in training camp. He has a quick first step, is great in one-on-one situations and looks to attack the basket, instead of spot up and shoot, although he has definitely shown the ability to stop on a dime and shoot a pretty accurate mid-range jumper.
The other thing I like is that he’s a competitor and plays with a chip on his shoulder, and the Spurs could use a good young point guard with some fire in his belly. His reaction after he missed two key free throws during a game his freshman year at Memphis shows that he’s very passionate and isn’t just out there to earn a paycheck.
He needs to work on decision-making and taking care of the ball, but those are areas which he can certainly improve at over time, and with a player as talented as Washington is with such a competitve spirit, it would be hard to not root for him.
He may have some good competition for the 15th roster spot, if the Spurs even decide to carry another player, but the chance to develop a young point guard who reminds me so much of Tony Parker would be too much for me to pass up. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Austin either.
Check back tomorrow as we profile Kris Lang and Marcus Williams finishing up our training camp profile series.
