Former Laker Von Wafer hitting his stride
Now with the Houston Rockets, he scores a career-high 23 points in a loss to the Lakers and he's encouraged by Kobe Bryant's positive words.
By Broderick Turner
January 15, 2009
Reporting from Houston -- He spent one season with the Lakers, playing in only 16 games during his rookie year in 2005-06, never quite making an impact.
Three years later, after playing on three other NBA teams, after plying his trade with two NBA Development League teams, Von Wafer is starting to flourish Wafer started his seventh consecutive game for the Rockets on Tuesday night, providing Houston with his best offensive performance.
He scored a career-high 23 points, doing so against a Lakers team that drafted him but let him go after one season.
"I was excited about playing against my former teammates, but I wasn't going to try to do too much out of the ordinary," Wafer said. "I just had it rolling."
The Lakers selected Wafer in the second round (39th overall) out of Florida State in 2005, right behind first-round pick Andrew Bynum (10th overall) and second-round choice Ronny Turiaf (37th overall).
Wafer, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, was waived by the Lakers in October 2006.
Over the next two seasons, he spent time with the Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and Fort Worth Flyers and Colorado 14ers of the D-League.
Wafer signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Rockets last September for $797,581 and appears to have found a home.
He has been starting while Tracy McGrady heals from a sore left knee, and Ron Artest gets well from a sore right ankle.
"I told him during the game how I was proud of the way he's been playing," Kobe Bryant said. "He's doing a fine job."
Wafer was 10 for 14 from the field (three for four from three-point range) in 39 minutes in Houston's 105-100 loss to the Lakers at the Toyota Center.
The athletic Wafer did much of his work against Bryant.
"He told me he was proud of me," Wafer said. "I've got a lot of respect for Kobe. He told me he was proud of me, that I've come a long way and just keep it going."
Wafer recalled the days he spent with the Lakers, the long practices, the sessions in which Bryant was relentless against him. Wafer didn't back down. For him, it was learning the game from the best player in the world.
"I learned a lot from Kobe that I've put in my game today," Wafer said. "There's a lot more that I want to learn from him. Hopefully I can work out with him this summer.
"It was fun being there. I loved playing for Coach [ Phil] Jackson. He's one of the best coaches to ever coach. I had fun playing for him."
Wafer has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games. His previous career high had been 18, which he did twice this season.
Wafer had a big moment in Houston's win over the Celtics in Boston, when he made a three-pointer late to seal the Rockets' victory.
"He has come a long way," Bryant said. "I expect a lot from him. I expect him to continue to expand his game and get better and better in all facets of the game. He's doing a good job."
There was only one thing Bryant took exception with: Wafer's Mohawk haircut.
"Now that's got to go," Bryant said, smiling.
Wafer has increased his scoring average to 9.2 points. He's making 48.7% of his shots and 44.4% of his three-pointers.
Wafer is hopeful that he'll stick with the Rockets, that he has finally found a home after bouncing around.
"I was just waiting for my opportunity," Wafer said. "I was just working hard. That was all I could do. I couldn't sit around and mope and complain about it. I'm just trying to do all I can while I'm out there. Hopefully I get to stay out there."