Burke jazzed up about Utah's offseason moves
Trey Burke has enjoyed adding stamps to his passport this summer, but that doesn't mean he's been relaxing.
The Utah Jazz point guard is currently in Johannesburg working with the NBA's Basketball without Borders and made his first-ever trip out of the country to the Philippines earlier this summer.
In the meanwhile, his team added two more point guards to the roster.
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Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke drives around Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs during a game in Salt Lake City last season. Burke lost his starting job during the season and didn't shoot well despite the team's overall improvement. The Jazz have added two more point guards during the offseason and Burke is using that as motivation in his preparations for training camp. Rick Bowmer / AP File |
"It's all motivation," Burke said on Thursday. "I'm as hungry as I've ever been. At the point I'm at right now, I'm not worried about certain signings or whatever's going on.
"I'm always a team guy ... never question anything with the team or anything like that. And I've always felt like I worked for where I've gotten myself to. Nothing's ever been handed to me.
"It's just another test. Another stepping stone where you can use it as motivation going into training camp. Right now, I'm just really dedicating myself. Come training camp I know I'll be prepared. That's all that matters."
Burke is coming off a 2014-15 season that had plenty of ups and downs.
The Jazz improved and had the sixth-best winning percentage in the league after the All-Star break. Individually, Burke's role changed in his second year as first-round pick Dante Exum took over as the starter midway through the season.
Burke became the sixth man and top offensive weapon with the second unit. He faced heavy criticism for shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from 3-point range and questionable shot selection. At the same time, he was asked to be the primary shot-taker with a second unit that lacked offensively.
He said he has been dedicated to the gym despite the travel schedule and has focused on getting in the paint and his overall shooting.
Some fans have questioned Burke's future with the team and took to social media to debate his invitation to USA Basketball's Las Vegas camp.
Burke, who has two years left on his rookie deal, said he tries to ignore the Twitter talk.
"Pretty much my whole career I've had people saying things like that," Burke said.
"It really doesn't bother me. At the same time, at times, I still defend myself if I feel like someone's disrespecting me.
"I use it as motivation. It's something I try not to pay attention to, but It's always in the back of my mind. Once I become the player that I know I can be, it'll all work out."
The Jazz currently have four point guards under contract, including Burke and Exum.
Bryce Cotton received a multi-year deal late in the season after playing on a pair of 10-day contracts. The team signed Brazilian Raul Neto this summer. Point guard Olivier Hanlan was selected out of Boston College in the second round of the 2015 draft, but has yet to sign.
(China Daily 08/01/2015 page11)
