Dajuan Wagner : The Feel Good Story of the 2k6 NBA Preseason

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 23, 2006 10:07 AM PDT in Links

Tough as nails!
Photo: Warriors.com

I don't know about you all, but I can't get enough of Dajuan Wagner this training camp and preseason. It's been fun watching him in practice and in the preseason games. I'm luvin' his floater like fat kids luv the ice cream man. But even more than that Wagner has to be the feel good story of the entire NBA this preseason. There's a great article in the Contra Costa Times by Geoff Lepper that you should all check out: Wagner has new lease on career. You'll learn a little bit about colitis, the disease Dajuan is suffering from, and the procedure he underwent to correct it too.

Dajuan's got a really positive attitude about his battle against colitis:

Wagner, who is wearing the No. 0 jersey for the Warriors this season to signify a fresh start, said there are no restrictions on his physical capabilities, save for one: "I've just got to drink more Gatorade than everybody else."

Former teammate Darius Miles also had some Dajuan Wagner hype:

Portland Trail Blazers forward Darius Miles likened the old Wagner to Allen Iverson in his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, especially with fearless drives in the paint. "I've seen flashes of (the old Dajuan)," Miles said. "It looks like he's got his wind back. Once he gets his rhythm back, he's going to do what he can do."

Make sure to sip some of that Gatorade this Wednesday which marks a full year since Dajuan's major surgery. Major props to him. He could've easily quit and lived a decent life, but he stayed hungry.

Also check out:

BREAKING NEWS: Warriors Sign Dajuan Wagner
More on New Golden State Warrior Dajuan Wagner: Part I | Part II
Nellie Loves Dajuan Wagner
One More Road to Cross

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AI

I keep reading / hearing people making parallels between AI and Wagner, my favorite being when people tell me he is "Iverson-Lite". I'll take that from our potental 6th man of the year!

by MoUpInTheO on Oct 23, 2006 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

Wagner...

I've loved his game since he came out of Memphis... I knew he was in a falling out with the Cavs but I never knew it was because of a serious illness. As soon as I found out that he wanted to make a comeback back in June I was hoping that Mullin would pick him up (especially after the Fisher for scrubs trade). The story just makes you want to pull for him even more. I thnk that he could not only win the most improved player award but the 6th man award (if Monta doesn't outplay him). This just makes me want to THANK MULLIN!!! because his transactions have either been hit or miss (Richardson, '05 draft, Nelson, Wagner = hits; Foyle, Montgomery, Dunleavy, Fisher = miss) but recent indications indicate that his work has mostly been on hit lately.

by mightymadskillz on Oct 23, 2006 11:38 AM PDT reply actions

please tell me...

...it's not just a one-year contract.

i haven't been able to find details on the contract.

anybody know?

by TMC Forever on Oct 23, 2006 1:21 PM PDT reply actions

It's a two year league minimum contract

The second year is a team option (which should be unofficially guarenteed now)

by mightymadskillz on Oct 23, 2006 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

2 years minimum contract... thats freakin awesome considering how huge he could be for the Warriors coming off the bench. Well worth the $$$.

by the optimus dime on Oct 23, 2006 3:03 PM PDT reply actions

JR Smith the Other Story

There was talk about GSW getting SG J.R. Smith. He was sent from the Hornets to Bulls in a trade and traded to the SG starved Nuggets.

"If J.R. Smith is going to win the Nuggets' starting shooting guard job, he better wake up. Literally. Smith said Nuggets coach George Karl wants him to "be serious" about practice by showing up early. It doesn't always work. "I'm not really a morning person," Smith said. "But I've just got to get into it. I've been trying. I've been making an effort." Rocky Mountain News"

Dujuan Wagner or a guy who can't wake up on time, but is really really trying hard.

by joe sez on Oct 23, 2006 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

wow

thats whack, he's getting paid millions and he can't find the motivation to wake up for practice? i seriously don't like J.R. Smith. Ellis is in another league in both skills and professionalism than Smith, and Wagner has the will to come back from surviving his collitis. Smith's attitude makes me sick and I don't see him becoming what the Nuggets want him to.

by the optimus dime on Oct 23, 2006 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions