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Written by Ozzie Gonzalez
In 1993, he was recruited by St. John’s University to play NCAA’s Basketball Division one. His talent was so amazing that even before he played a college game he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the top freshmen in the country. In his four years at St. John’s he averaged 17.6 PPG, 6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. As a senior he led the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament.
At the beginning of the 1999-2000 season, everyone expected Felipe Lopez to step up his game and become the scoring threat and clutch shooter he once was in high school and college. But the 2000 NBA season has been a great disappointment for the once NYC basketball phenom. Lionel Hollins, coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies has confined Lopez to the bench. Lopez's scoring is half of what it was last season (9.3 vs. 4.5 average points per game) and his minutes are down substantially. He has only played in 44 games out of 60 and his starting position was given to another player. Currently, the Vancouver Grizzlies are in last place with the third worst record in the NBA. Management changes is needed with the Vancouver Grizzlies and that may come with the confirmed selling of the team. That change might be a refreshing new start for Felipe Lopez. New management might re-evaluate the team and give Lopez more playing time and bring out the talent that he possesses. It's sad to see such a talented, young player confined to the bench and not given the time he needs to develop in the NBA. Felipe Lopez mentioned at the beginning of the season that " I love New York a lot and I've made a lot of friends there, but in Vancouver, I've managed to win the heart of their people and they treat me like an idol. I don't regret coming to the Grizzlies." If the Grizzlies continue not to give Lopez any playing time, he should re-consider his love affair for Vancouver and demand a trade.
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April 8, 2000 -- He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic. When
he was just 13, his family moved to Manhattan, New York and he
became an instant star on the basketball court at Rice High School. His talent exploded
and by his senior year he was the nation's number 1 player. Felipe
Lopez led Rice to the city championship and was named the High School
Player of the Year.
In
the 1998 NBA Draft, Felipe López was selected in the 24th
spot by the San Antonio Spurs and was immediately traded to the Vancouver
Grizzlies. With a large Hispanic population in San Antonio, he
would have felt right at home and have gotten championship experience with
a team that is playoff bound every year. But, that didn't happen, his rookie
season was spent with the Vancouver Grizzlies where he averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds
and more than one steal per game. He often started and he finished
the season off strong with the Grizzlies, despite their losing
record and last-place finish.|
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