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Rod Strickland admits lack of professionalism hurt his NBA legacy: "I just wanted to hoop"
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- Rod Strickland admits lack of professionalism hurt his NBA legacy: "I just wanted to hoop"
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Rod Strickland admits lack of professionalism hurt his NBA legacy: "I just wanted to hoop" originally appeared on Basketball Network .
The name Rod Strickland may not ring a bell for many casual basketball fans, but for those who remember his playing days in the NBA, he was one of the coldest court generals the league had ever seen. A 6'3" point guard from the Bronx, Hot Rod was one of, if not the most underrated guard of the 1990s.
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From 1990 to 2000, Strickland averaged a near double-double of 15.4 points and 8.4 assists for the San Antonio Spurs , New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers . His peak years were with the Washington franchise, particularly during the 1997-98 season when he led the league in assists, averaging an impressive 10.5 per game. He also posted a stellar double-double that year, contributing 17.8 points per game.
Curiously, despite his stellar play during that stretch, he was never named to the All-Star Game. In an interview, he shed light on why he believes he was never able to genuinely make his mark in the big league, pointing to his lack of professionalism as the primary culprit.
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Hot Rod got distracted by too many things
Like most NBA stars, Hot Rod felt untouchable during his first decade in the league. As his play dazzled fans and frustrated foes, he knew he would be starting for any team he was on, regardless of his off-court, late-night shenanigans. However, what he didn't realize was that his laissez-faire approach would bite him in the behind late in his career.
"After my 12th year, you could see the slide, right? And I got to tell on myself a little bit," Rod disclosed . "You know, if you look at my first 12 years, you look at the numbers — you know, I probably averaged like 16.8, 8 dimes, about four rebounds, almost two steals during that period. But because of my unprofessionalism and things, the last five years were tough because no one trusted me then."
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By the 2002-03 season, Strickland was relegated to being a backup point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves and it was all downhill from there. His last few seasons in the NBA saw him average 5.9 points on 41 percent shooting and 4.0 assists.
Didn't get to the games early
While individuality is encouraged in the league, players are still expected to adhere to specific team rules and protocols. Strickland's decline in the final years of his career can be traced to his habits off the court. He often stayed out late, followed an unhealthy diet reminiscent of a teenager and neglected the importance of arriving early to games to properly prepare his body.
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"I was a party animal. I hung out. I did all that. You know, probably the professionalism — being on time, you know, regular shit. I was one of those dudes like, 'I don't want to get to the game too early,'" he said. "I didn't want to come to the game early 'cause I didn't know about stretchiness. I wanted to hoop."
"So, you know, when you're on and you're balling, it's all good. It's all good. But once you start hitting the slide a little bit, now you're looked at different," Rod added.
Professionalism is a staple of pro sports. While talent, skills and athleticism can usually carry a basketball player through the first part of his career, it's often the intangibles that separate the good from the great. Hot Rod's failure to prioritize self-discipline in maintaining his physical health and following team rules ultimately prevented him from securing a legacy as one of the all-time greats.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
