The Brooklyn Nets selected Chris McCullough with their first round pick, 29th overall, in the 2015 NBA Draft because they saw it as a value pick. Before McCullough tore his ACL in January many viewed him as a potential lottery pick so the Nets didn't want to pass up on that kind of talent even if he would have to miss time during his rookie season. It is being reported now that McCullough may sit out the entire season, according to Mitch Abramson of the New Yor Daily News.
The idea of McCullough sitting out the entire 2015-16 season is nowhere close to set in stone but he said he would be willing to if it meant he could come back healthier and better. McCullough tore the ACL in January and since the injury typically takes about a year to recover from he would technically be able to come back towards the end of the season but he says he won't rush it.
"I can do a little bit, but I'm not going to force it, there's no pain at all; pain has been gone for two months now. I'm going to wear a brace in games, but I feel good right now. Like I said, I'm not going to rush it," said McCullough.
McCullough said that he follows Shaun Livingston's path in the NBA because he knows that he tore his knee up in a horrific injury and came back to play at a high level. McCullough claims to have a lot of doubters but he thinks he can prove them wrong and come back better than ever from the injury.
"I feel like a lot of people sleep on me, on what I can do period, in basketball, anything in life, it doesn't matter to me, I let them sleep, they'll see," said McCullough.
McCullough was only able to play in 16 games as a freshman at Syracuse before injuring his knee and then declaring for the NBA Draft. In those 16 games the 6 foot-10 forward averaged 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. His head coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, said that the 20 year old has "as much potential as anybody that I've ever coached" which is high praise considering he coached Carmelo Anthony.
McCullough may have to wait a year to silence his doubters but he's okay with that because he knows it wil just be better for him in the long run.
