SE: McGruder Staying Positive, Visualizing Strong Return from Injury
Oct 25, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Rodney McGruder had 56 tickets held at will call for the Miami Heat's final preseason game on October 13, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
He had hundreds of purple-cladded K-State fans in attendance, some hanging over the tunnel entrance to get his autograph before the game.
He had a former teammate suited up for the opposing team.
Everything was set up for a special preseason finale. That was until a few days before it, when McGruder learned he had a stress fracture in his left tibia that would require surgery and an undetermined amount of time to recover.
Still, despite the obvious setback and understandable disappointment, McGruder refused to show any signs of defeat. It would have been understandable, however, considering the long and winding path he took to earning a starting spot in the NBA.
Instead, McGruder shifted conversation away from his unfortunate injury and onto others. He talked about his teammates seeing more time while he was out, and how happy he was for his former K-State teammate Jacob Pullen, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in that final preseason game.
"One of my teammates is getting an opportunity to play in the NBA, and that's what means a lot to me. I really wanted to come here for his moment, enjoy his success," McGruder said. "I wanted to see some of the camp guys get in and do their thing. That's why I really wanted to come because I've been in their position before, so I just wanted to be here for support.
"I'm just trying to enjoy life. It's going to hit me once I have surgery but right now I'm just enjoying the game of basketball. It's showing me how much I appreciate the game and don't ever take anything for granted. That's what it's really teaching me."
McGruder underwent surgery last week for an injury commonly confused for shin splints at first, which was the case for the former Wildcat. After treatments showed no significant improvement in the pain, McGruder had an X-ray that revealed the fracture.
"It sucks," he said, "but nothing I can't get over."
Undrafted out of K-State in 2013, McGruder's journey to becoming a starting guard for the Heat was not without adversity.
Two NBA teams waived him, as did one G-League team. He even spent a season in Hungary. Eventually, he returned to play for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat's affiliate team, and had a standout campaign to help propel him to a spot on the Heat's 15-man roster last season.
"Rod's one of the toughest guys I played with, so I think he'll be alright," said Pullen, who accepted a two-way contract with the 76ers for this season. "He's really settling in at Miami. He's found a home, and I told him that's a blessing in the NBA when you get the opportunity to do that. A lot of guys don't get that opportunity, so it's great for him."
As a rookie, McGruder started 65 games, averaged 6.5 points and grabbed 3.3 rebounds a game. He finished just two votes shy of making the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
While excitement was building for McGruder's second season, he will have to improve from the sidelines for the near future. Ironically, he's using a story from history, specifically the Vietnam War, as a reminder of one way to do so.
The story, told to McGruder by K-State Director of Sports Psychology Ian Connole, is about James Nesmeth. An American Major, Nesmeth spent seven years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. During his time of captivity, Nesmeth intensely visualized playing his favorite golf course over and over to keep his mind occupied. Upon being released, Nesmeth played that course and shot a 74, roughly 20 strokes under his handicap.
"The mental aspect of everything, just learning more and doing mental reps of anything," McGruder said. "I can do mental reps of shooting. I've learned a lot that those reps are just as important as taking the reps out there on the court."
Mental toughness will also be key during his road to recovery. Fortunately, McGruder said he developed this skill during his time at K-State, where he left as one of two Wildcats (joining Bob Boozer) to rank in the top 10 in both career scoring (7th) and rebounding (8th).
"When you become mentally weak, it's hard to recover," he said. "If you stay mentally strong, you tell yourself everything's going to be OK, it ends up being that way."
So far, he's off to a good start.
"This is nothing I can't get over. Some people are worse off with injuries. They don't complain about life. You just have to keep pushing," McGruder said. "It's just another bump along the road. You just have to get better… stronger and better."
Rodney McGruder had 56 tickets held at will call for the Miami Heat's final preseason game on October 13, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
He had hundreds of purple-cladded K-State fans in attendance, some hanging over the tunnel entrance to get his autograph before the game.
He had a former teammate suited up for the opposing team.
Everything was set up for a special preseason finale. That was until a few days before it, when McGruder learned he had a stress fracture in his left tibia that would require surgery and an undetermined amount of time to recover.
Still, despite the obvious setback and understandable disappointment, McGruder refused to show any signs of defeat. It would have been understandable, however, considering the long and winding path he took to earning a starting spot in the NBA.
Instead, McGruder shifted conversation away from his unfortunate injury and onto others. He talked about his teammates seeing more time while he was out, and how happy he was for his former K-State teammate Jacob Pullen, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in that final preseason game.
"One of my teammates is getting an opportunity to play in the NBA, and that's what means a lot to me. I really wanted to come here for his moment, enjoy his success," McGruder said. "I wanted to see some of the camp guys get in and do their thing. That's why I really wanted to come because I've been in their position before, so I just wanted to be here for support.
"I'm just trying to enjoy life. It's going to hit me once I have surgery but right now I'm just enjoying the game of basketball. It's showing me how much I appreciate the game and don't ever take anything for granted. That's what it's really teaching me."
McGruder underwent surgery last week for an injury commonly confused for shin splints at first, which was the case for the former Wildcat. After treatments showed no significant improvement in the pain, McGruder had an X-ray that revealed the fracture.
"It sucks," he said, "but nothing I can't get over."
Undrafted out of K-State in 2013, McGruder's journey to becoming a starting guard for the Heat was not without adversity.
Two NBA teams waived him, as did one G-League team. He even spent a season in Hungary. Eventually, he returned to play for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat's affiliate team, and had a standout campaign to help propel him to a spot on the Heat's 15-man roster last season.
"Rod's one of the toughest guys I played with, so I think he'll be alright," said Pullen, who accepted a two-way contract with the 76ers for this season. "He's really settling in at Miami. He's found a home, and I told him that's a blessing in the NBA when you get the opportunity to do that. A lot of guys don't get that opportunity, so it's great for him."
As a rookie, McGruder started 65 games, averaged 6.5 points and grabbed 3.3 rebounds a game. He finished just two votes shy of making the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
While excitement was building for McGruder's second season, he will have to improve from the sidelines for the near future. Ironically, he's using a story from history, specifically the Vietnam War, as a reminder of one way to do so.
The story, told to McGruder by K-State Director of Sports Psychology Ian Connole, is about James Nesmeth. An American Major, Nesmeth spent seven years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. During his time of captivity, Nesmeth intensely visualized playing his favorite golf course over and over to keep his mind occupied. Upon being released, Nesmeth played that course and shot a 74, roughly 20 strokes under his handicap.
"The mental aspect of everything, just learning more and doing mental reps of anything," McGruder said. "I can do mental reps of shooting. I've learned a lot that those reps are just as important as taking the reps out there on the court."
Mental toughness will also be key during his road to recovery. Fortunately, McGruder said he developed this skill during his time at K-State, where he left as one of two Wildcats (joining Bob Boozer) to rank in the top 10 in both career scoring (7th) and rebounding (8th).
"When you become mentally weak, it's hard to recover," he said. "If you stay mentally strong, you tell yourself everything's going to be OK, it ends up being that way."
So far, he's off to a good start.
"This is nothing I can't get over. Some people are worse off with injuries. They don't complain about life. You just have to keep pushing," McGruder said. "It's just another bump along the road. You just have to get better… stronger and better."
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