The buzzer going off at the scorer’s table is stuck, and it won’t turn off. The Washington Wizards’ Jarvis Hayes pauses, somehow holds his thought despite the distraction and continues answering a question right where he left off.
Now Hayes hopes he can do the same with his career.
The Wizards’ first-round draft pick in 2003 was named second-team all-rookie his first year and looked like he would blossom last year after a breakout stint with the Wizards’ summer league team. But last season, when the Wizards steamed into the playoffs for the first time since 1997 and advanced to the second round for the first time since 1982, a broken kneecap — exacerbated when Hayes played on it for a few games — ended his campaign prematurely in February.
That explains why Hayes, who started 22 games and averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, waived off reporters who tried to talk to him a few days after the Miami Heat swept the Wizards in the second round of the playoffs.
“Words can’t explain, especially when you compare the season we were having last year compared to my rookie year,” Hayes said yesterday. He is attending the Wizards camp for rookies and free agents at MCI Center but is still unable to participate in contact drills. “It was tough sitting and watching the turnaround and towards the end not being a part of it. It’s the most I’ve ever sat out in years. It was a pretty tough thing to deal with.”
So tough that Hayes, who left Washington for just two weeks following the conclusion of the Wizards’ playoff run before returning to continue his rehab, didn’t want to leave the house some days or talk to anybody.
Hayes was his usual affable self yesterday. He spent much of the morning session on a stationary bike, and his stroke looked good in shooting drills. But he’s unlikely to participate in the Wizards’ 10 or so games in the Vegas Summer League from Wednesday to July15.
“I’m probably about 90-to-95 percent, so it’s coming along real well. I’m itching to get to that point because I haven’t had any contact since February. It’s coming. This takes time, but I think I’ll be ready.”
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said yesterday Hayes probably won’t play this summer, indicating it’s far more important for Hayes to be ready for the start of the season.
“I’m not concerned about Jarvis. He’s got good experience and a good work ethic,” Jordan said. “It’s just a matter of him getting healthy enough and that’s all because he has proven himself in my mind. He knows what the NBA is about and what it takes to be a good player.”
Hayes also isn’t concerned about his contract; the Wizards have the option for 2006-07 and must decide whether to pick it up by the start of next season, which several league sources have said is a virtual certainty.
“I haven’t thought about that,” Hayes said. “I just want to get healthy. I do that and everything else will take care of itself.”
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