Once a hotly-discussed celebrity and then the NBA’s most hated player, Kris Humphries is thankful that his personal life is a bit more confined than it has been in the past.
Humphries, a partner in the famed 72-day marriage to Hollywood darling Kim Kardashian, has spent the last couple of years being talked about more so for his off-the-court festivities rather than his efforts on the hardwood. But it’s his hard work and perseverance as one of the league’s most underrated big men that he is most proud of.
“Since I got in the league, I’ve been a guy that’s had to work for everything, and grind it out to stay in the league, and get in this position, so I don’t really care,” Humphries told the New York Post. “To me, it’s about our team, winning in Brooklyn.
And Humphries should be a vital piece of a winning product in Brooklyn for the Nets. He is one of just five players to average a double-double in points and rebounds over the last two seasons, keeping company with four men that no one overlooks — the Los Angeles Lakers’ center Dwight Howard and forward Pau Gasol, Minnesota Timberwolves’ power forward Kevin Love and L.A. Clippers’ windmill-extraordinaire forward Blake Griffin. Humphries posted career highs in those departments last season, averaging 13.8 points and 11 rebounds per game and ranked fourth in offensive rebounds with 233 in 62 games.
With the addition of scoring guard Joe Johnson in the off-season and a starting five that has never had the pleasure of playing with one another at the same time, the Nets look like a surefire contender in the Eastern Conference. Humphries likes their prospects.
“We have such a dynamic group,” he said. “As we get going, it’s just going to get better and better. We’re just getting through camp and stuff right now, but as we get towards the end of preseason, everyone starts to get their legs all the way back under them and we’re gelling as a team and knowing each other’s tendencies and all the plays are coming together.”
The nine-year veteran has never been a part of a team as exciting as what he has here in Brooklyn. Humphries has played in the playoffs just twice in his career, appearing in nine games for the Toronto Raptors when he was still just blossoming into serviceable contributor off the bench.
Five years later, while most living in their little bubble fueled by gossip rag banter assume Humphries is the most egotistical player in sports today, the 27-year-old Net is just looking to help his team in any way necessary.
“It’s not, ‘I have to show that I can do this’ this year and not this or whatever,” Humphries said. “I think if we play as well as we’re preparing to play, no one’s going to care who is doing what. It’s all going to be about we’re having a great time winning.”
The Nets and their players have made it abundantly clear they want nothing more than to win this upcoming season. Predictions for 50 wins and NBA championships have come from all over in the organization. With such a talented roster and a dependable, capable coach at the helm like Avery Johnson, such success is not ridiculously out of the question this season or going forward.
Much like the Nets, Humphries, who has heard his fair share of boos and insulting nicknames in recent history, is ready to turn the page and play successful basketball.
“I’m going to take the same mindset coming into this year that I always take,” he said. “Play hard, do what I have to do to help my team. For me, it’s all about winning and whatever we’ve got to do to win.”
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcasting Network covering the NFL and NBA. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.