SE: Iwundu Uses K-State Experience, Relationships to Grow into Bigger Role in First NBA Season
May 01, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Through his first season in the NBA, Wesley Iwundu learned more than he had time to explain over the phone.
One major lesson he could convey was how K-State never left him. His experiences as a Wildcat and the relationships he formed in purple, he said, have continued to help him develop with the Orlando Magic.
"There's so many ways K-State helped," Iwundu started, before getting specific.
He began by comparing his first professional season, which included playing 62 games in the NBA and nine in the G-League, to his first year at K-State.
As a Wildcat freshman, he averaged 23.6 minutes and 6.7 points a game. By the time he was a senior, he was getting 31.4 minutes of action and contributing 13.0 points a game. He left as the school record holder for starts (120) and the only player in program history to record more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals.
As a rookie, he played 16.5 minutes and scored 3.7 points a game. He looks to build on the limited role and grow into a more complete player in the future, much like he did at K-State.
"From my first year to my fourth year, each year I was maturing and learning something new and just being put in different situations. Whether that was my freshman year where I had a lesser role of maybe just running the floor for fast break, transition points, rebounding and pushing the ball, versus my senior year where the ball was in my hands a lot more, I feel like I went through different roles and just stuck with it and stayed focused," Iwundu said. "Those aspects of K-State really helped me become the player that I am now in the NBA."
Before his first NBA season, Iwundu recalls getting multiple text messages from K-State head coach Bruce Weber. They were worded differently but all had the same theme: You're always being evaluated.
"Which is true," Iwundu said. "There's no nights off in the NBA. That's the professional side of it, the business side of it. Every game you have to produce, in a sense, and go out there and play your hardest."
Wherever Iwundu went, however long he played, he tried to bring a positive impact to the floor.
The 33rd-overall pick in last year's draft, Iwundu played nine games for Orlando's G-League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, and made the most of it by averaging 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
The day after a G-League game on January 5, Iwundu followed with arguably the best NBA game of his young career. Against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, Iwundu tied his career-high with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds, dished three assists and nabbed two steals.
Iwundu said that game was one of the many surreal moments he experienced as a rookie, mostly because he guarded James, one of the best of all time. The former Wildcat's production, however, proved he could play with the best.
"I think if you watched a lot of my games from this year, that was probably one of the best ones," Iwundu said. "For me, moving forward after that game, it just showed me that you belong in this league and there are some good things you can do to help keep yourself on the court."
By the end of the season, Iwundu had earned a more sizable role. In his last seven games, he averaged 28.7 minutes and produced 6.4 points a game. Weber was on hand for Iwundu's season-finale, a five-point, two-assist outing in a win against the Washington Wizards.
"It felt good," Iwundu said of catching up with his former head coach. "Coach Weber, he's a ride-or-die. I've been saying that since my freshman year. He's a real one in the game. He makes sure he text me every once in a while and just keeps in touch. He's busy recruiting but it meant a lot for him to come out and see a game."
Iwundu, while finishing his first season on a high note, also reveled in seeing his former teammates' run to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in March. It made him even more excited for what the future holds for the program.
"Those guys deserved it because I know how hard they've been working, I know how focused they've been, and it's just good to see them get to that point. It's like, 'Why not next year?'" he said. "They have a lot of guys coming back. Plus adding on some more pieces, key pieces, I think the sky's the limit for those guys and Coach Weber. I'm excited for all of those guys to get that experience. That's something they can talk about for a long time. That was history."
As for himself, Iwundu plans to focus heavily on improving his 3-point shot this summer. He made just below 20 percent from beyond the NBA's extended 3-point line this season.
This is not a completely new project for Iwundu, either. He nearly doubled his 3-point percentage from his junior (20.0 percent) and his senior (37.6) season, while making 26 more in his last campaign at K-State.
He plans to use the same blueprint as a pro.
"I really think it's the amount of work you put in. It's something I went through at K-State. I feel like you just shoot it and keep building confidence and it helps," he said. "Reps and just putting in the work, that's what I did at K-State."
Through his first season in the NBA, Wesley Iwundu learned more than he had time to explain over the phone.
One major lesson he could convey was how K-State never left him. His experiences as a Wildcat and the relationships he formed in purple, he said, have continued to help him develop with the Orlando Magic.
"There's so many ways K-State helped," Iwundu started, before getting specific.
He began by comparing his first professional season, which included playing 62 games in the NBA and nine in the G-League, to his first year at K-State.
As a Wildcat freshman, he averaged 23.6 minutes and 6.7 points a game. By the time he was a senior, he was getting 31.4 minutes of action and contributing 13.0 points a game. He left as the school record holder for starts (120) and the only player in program history to record more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals.
As a rookie, he played 16.5 minutes and scored 3.7 points a game. He looks to build on the limited role and grow into a more complete player in the future, much like he did at K-State.
"From my first year to my fourth year, each year I was maturing and learning something new and just being put in different situations. Whether that was my freshman year where I had a lesser role of maybe just running the floor for fast break, transition points, rebounding and pushing the ball, versus my senior year where the ball was in my hands a lot more, I feel like I went through different roles and just stuck with it and stayed focused," Iwundu said. "Those aspects of K-State really helped me become the player that I am now in the NBA."
Before his first NBA season, Iwundu recalls getting multiple text messages from K-State head coach Bruce Weber. They were worded differently but all had the same theme: You're always being evaluated.
"Which is true," Iwundu said. "There's no nights off in the NBA. That's the professional side of it, the business side of it. Every game you have to produce, in a sense, and go out there and play your hardest."
Wherever Iwundu went, however long he played, he tried to bring a positive impact to the floor.
The 33rd-overall pick in last year's draft, Iwundu played nine games for Orlando's G-League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, and made the most of it by averaging 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
The day after a G-League game on January 5, Iwundu followed with arguably the best NBA game of his young career. Against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, Iwundu tied his career-high with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds, dished three assists and nabbed two steals.
Iwundu said that game was one of the many surreal moments he experienced as a rookie, mostly because he guarded James, one of the best of all time. The former Wildcat's production, however, proved he could play with the best.
"I think if you watched a lot of my games from this year, that was probably one of the best ones," Iwundu said. "For me, moving forward after that game, it just showed me that you belong in this league and there are some good things you can do to help keep yourself on the court."
By the end of the season, Iwundu had earned a more sizable role. In his last seven games, he averaged 28.7 minutes and produced 6.4 points a game. Weber was on hand for Iwundu's season-finale, a five-point, two-assist outing in a win against the Washington Wizards.
"It felt good," Iwundu said of catching up with his former head coach. "Coach Weber, he's a ride-or-die. I've been saying that since my freshman year. He's a real one in the game. He makes sure he text me every once in a while and just keeps in touch. He's busy recruiting but it meant a lot for him to come out and see a game."
Always great visiting with our NBA #Family. @_Iwundu25 #KStateMBB #EMAW pic.twitter.com/56yjs3ViHW
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) April 12, 2018
Iwundu, while finishing his first season on a high note, also reveled in seeing his former teammates' run to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in March. It made him even more excited for what the future holds for the program.
"Those guys deserved it because I know how hard they've been working, I know how focused they've been, and it's just good to see them get to that point. It's like, 'Why not next year?'" he said. "They have a lot of guys coming back. Plus adding on some more pieces, key pieces, I think the sky's the limit for those guys and Coach Weber. I'm excited for all of those guys to get that experience. That's something they can talk about for a long time. That was history."
As for himself, Iwundu plans to focus heavily on improving his 3-point shot this summer. He made just below 20 percent from beyond the NBA's extended 3-point line this season.
This is not a completely new project for Iwundu, either. He nearly doubled his 3-point percentage from his junior (20.0 percent) and his senior (37.6) season, while making 26 more in his last campaign at K-State.
He plans to use the same blueprint as a pro.
"I really think it's the amount of work you put in. It's something I went through at K-State. I feel like you just shoot it and keep building confidence and it helps," he said. "Reps and just putting in the work, that's what I did at K-State."
Players Mentioned
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