Has Kenneth Faried Earned a Second Shot in the NBA?
Kenneth Faried found success with the Denver Nuggets from 2011-17, where he carved out a role in the rotation and was known as the big energy guy. He developed into much more than that, though.
He had a career year in 2014, playing in 75 games and averaging 13 points per game and nine rebounds. Going into that year, he had signed a massive extension with the team for another five years at $60 million.
However, after the 2014-15 season, he would see his numbers drop off before being traded away to the Brooklyn Nets in 2018. He would only see the floor for Brooklyn for 12 games before moving on to Houston. Once the Houston experiment did not work out, he would go play overseas.
Now, after regaining form, he has signed to a G League team and is ready for a return to the league.
“At the same time, patience is a virtue. I’m very patient,” Faried said, via hoopsrumors.com. “I’m working hard towards showing that I can still do it at that level. … I’m ready, I’m focused, I’m locked in, I’m a better vet, a better person, a better leader and I don’t even need to be a leader. I can be quiet and sit back and just follow whoever the leader is.”
Faried is just one of a handful of former NBA players in the G League trying to make a return, including Shabazz Napier, Gary Clark and Mason Jones.
“For us to now be on a team, and all trying to have the same kind of goal to make it back to the NBA and try to find a way is great, because we’re not trying to be selfish to each other,” Faried said. “We’re trying to help each other. And everyone’s here trying to help each other get better, trying to showcase that we’re still good enough in great shape and ready for whatever may happen, ready for a contract for real.”
As someone who has watched Kenneth Faried play live and the type of energy he brings to the table night-in and night-out, I hope to see him back in the league. He could be a post-trade deadline signing that could bring a lot of value to a team looking to make a playoff run. It could also be a lot of fun to see him back in the Mile High City.
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