Prominent member, with DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and Aaron Bradshaw, of the “superteam” of “freshmen” at Kentucky next season, Robert Dillingham knows that he will have to adapt to a new environment, much more competitive than what he experienced in high school and then in Overtime Elite last season.
Soloist of great talent in attack, the native leader of North Carolina will indeed share the floor with other big individuals of the high school circuit at the start of the school year, all led to become NBA players, and must therefore accept a new reality: that he will no longer be the undisputed leader of his team on the offensive level.
An observation that he also accepts willingly, with humility, showing maturity and an approach to be welcomed for a player only 18 years old: a competitive environment can only make him better.
” I try to play cleaner basketball », thus explained Robert Dillingham, who took 15 shots per game last season in Overtime Elite (against 12 for the highest total in Kentucky). ” We have a lot of very good players, and it would be disrespectful to them to pile up shots. So my goal is to focus on good shots, but also on defending and respecting my teammates. »
More concretely, the future leader of the Wildcats wants ” eliminate dribbling, take more good shots and fewer contested shots “, he details. ” So make better decisions, above all. I already have the feeling of having progressed in my reading of the game, of being a better passer. My game is more structured. »
Sharing the “backcourt” with DJ Wagner, the challenge of the season
Among the Wildcats, Robert Dillingham will not be the only leader with great offensive potential since he will share the back line in John Calipari’s rotation with DJ Wagner, the latest to date from the “superteam”.
A fascinating duo on paper for the striking power they embody in attack, but the reality is that sacrifices will be necessary on both sides: “there is only one ball”, as we often say …
A refrain that does not particularly worry the son of Dajuan Wagner, however, who ensures that everyone in Lexington is on the same wavelength: the collective success of this ambitious team comes first.
” [Robert Dillingham] is a great player, we complement each other well », says DJ Wagner. ” And more broadly, everyone wants to win. Everyone spins the ball, we all love each other’s game and we enjoy playing as a team. So there are not really stories about the failure that there is only one ball or that a particular player would take all the shots… Nothing to report from this point of view. »
First outing this week, in Toronto
We will also have the opportunity to observe a first version of the game proposed by this “superteam” from Kentucky this week, in Toronto. On the occasion of the GLOBL JAM, this mini-tournament between four U23 teams organized in the capital of Ontario from July 7 to 16 by the Canadian basketball federation, the Wildcats will indeed represent the United States, and will face the Germany on July 12, Canada on July 13 and an African selection on July 15.
A good first test, after only a few weeks of training, for this very young team, which will certainly be keen to prove its worth against older and experienced opponents.
Photo credit: Overtime Elite
