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October 9, 2000 -- Felipe Lopez, a once NYC basketball superstar, who was rated as one of the top rookies to enter pro basketball in 1998, has had a tough time adjusting to NBA life the past two seasons. He had a decent rookie season (1998-99) with the Vancouver Grizzlies averaging 9.3 points a game in a starting role. But his progress stalled last season after being sidelined with a dislocated left shoulder, which left him out of the rotation and used mainly a bench player. He played limited minutes and averaged a disappointing 4.5 points a game. Now playing for a different team, the Washington Wizards, in a different environment where the competition for a roster spot is much greater, Felipe Lopez has something to prove to himself, Michael Jordan and the rest of the Wizard's staff. "It's important to show a lot of people that I can play in the league and that I can be more than an extra guy on the team," Lopez said. "I want to show that I'm a guy who can make things happen. I know I can do a lot of things on the court. Everyone's going to fight for a spot. This is just a good opportunity for me to show what I can do." Lopez can penetrate, break down his man off the dribble, pass or finish with relative consistency and is a high-energy player. Early in training camp, Lopez maneuvered through three defenders and threw down a tomahawk dunk over center Jahidi White, causing teammates' jaws to drop during a brief pause for admiration. One guy Lopez is competing with is Laron Profit. Profit is slightly less explosive offensively, but is said to be a better perimeter player. His ball-handling skills are good enough for him to play point guard or small forward. At 6 feet 6, Lopez is two inches taller than Profit. There is a chance both could make the team, although several team officials said the battle between Profit and Lopez is being watched closely. Whether one makes the team or both do, there would be little playing time behind shooting guard Mitch Richmond and his backup, Richard Hamilton. Whatever needs to be done in order for us to win games, I'll do," Lopez said. "If you need for us to stop whoever, that's what I'll do. If you need a guy to break people down off the dribble and create for other guys, that's what I'll do." Felipe Lopez will make $831,000 this season. In this upcoming 2000-21, a handful of Latinos will be entering the NBA like Daniel Santiago, Ruben Garces (Phoenix Suns), Eduardo Najera (Dallas Mavericks) and Ruben Wolkowyski (Seattle Supersonics) who will be the first player from Argentina to play in the NBA. |
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