Activated

By Adonal Foyle

In late November, I was finally activated from the inactive list and played my first game of the season against the Houston Rockets. I thought I played well (I scored four points and pulled down seven rebounds in almost 13 minutes).

But during the first 12 games, it was getting very difficult to sit on the bench with street clothes. I never thought I would reach a point where I hated wearing suits.

It's one thing when you can no longer play the game. But when you still feel like you can play - and your coach tells you that you won't be suiting up - it's very mind-numbing. It would be like someone telling you "You are a good business person. But I would prefer not to use your expertise on this particular project."

Being healthy and inactive is a very frustrating thing for a player. Because being a player means you have to play. But when you feel like you can still work hard, and you feel like you can still contribute to the team, not being on the floor is extremely difficult.

That said, I want all the fans to know that I haven't been hurt. In fact, I'm actually in very good shape. I've been working extremely hard and waiting for the opportunity to play. It has been the coach's decision to put me on the inactive list to start the season. And that's part of being on a team sometimes. You have to take the brunt of the coach's decisions and roll with it. As difficult as it had been, that is what was asked of me and I try to carry it out to the best of my abilities.

Whether you're a starter or the 12th man, when you're suited up and getting ready for battle, you prepare for each game as if you're going to play a lot of minutes. But when you don't suit up at all and you have a seat behind the bench, the best way I can describe it is "numbing". Because when you're suited up, at least you can participate in warm-ups. When you're in street clothes, there is no reprieve or anything else of redeeming value for that night. It is what it is.

If I am inactive, the best way for me to approach the game is by doing some extra workouts before warm-ups. Once I'm in my suit, I will try to look at the game from the perspective of a coach. How would I look at how the team is playing? What would I look for from the opposing team? I would try and see how each player is doing. And if they were doing something different, I would tell them at halftime or at the end of the game. So I'll break down the game the way a coach would. I'll break out a notepad and write notes, look at the stat sheet and try to get a different perspective on how to approach the game.

That intellectual curiosity is enough to intrigue me to relieve my boredom. But don't take it the wrong way. We have a great team and I'm enjoying the season. I appreciate everyone's concerns and I assure you that you won't see the last of me on the floor.