Baron Davis and Jerome Moiso stepped on the court at Staples
Center for the New Orleans Hornets Monday night for a game against
the Clippers. Back home in Los Angeles, the two former Bruins were
reminded how lackadaisical UCLA has become since they left.
Content atop their comfortable NBA perch, the two players said
they weren’t content with the UCLA basketball team’s
status.
“As talented as they are, it is kind of discouraging and
saddening to watch that team play,” Davis said. “They
play with no passion and it’s like they don’t care.
They gave up before the season even started.”
“I know they’re struggling, but it’s hard to
follow them,” added Moiso.
Davis played under head coach Steve Lavin from 1997-99 and Moiso
from 1998-2000. Both refused to comment on Lavin’s job
status, although Moiso adamantly defended him.
“I know everybody is trying to push coach Lavin out, but
I’m still looking after him,” he said.
Davis was more judgmental of the players themselves, and showed
little remorse for this year’s Bruins squad. He felt that
they were just as capable of being successful as UCLA teams of the
past.
“I think they’re just as talented as our team was,
but when you give up as a whole and when your leader gives up,
you’re never going to win,” Davis said.
Both were on winning teams at UCLA, but they nonetheless
abdicated their eligibility to pursue the NBA. Since then, their
careers have taken entirely different paths. Davis is an All-Star
and has developed into a marquee NBA player, while Moiso is still
struggling to find his role in the NBA.
“My career has gone well,” Davis said. “I
learned a lot in the NBA. I’ve gotten better as a player,
playing against the best competition every year.”
Davis was selected third overall in the 1999 NBA draft following
his sophomore season.
He’s taken the Hornets to new levels since then and has
appeared in 23 playoff games with the team. Over his four-year
professional career, Davis has averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 assists
and 1.79 steals per game. He even set the Hornets rookie franchise
record for assists with 598.
When asked if it was the right move for him to leave college
early, Davis said it “absolutely correct.”
“My goal is to get better and better, and if I keep doing
that, I will have a successful career,” he added.
After playing in 36 games this season, Davis suffered back and
knee injuries on Jan. 28. He has already sat out a month and will
be reserve-listed for a couple more weeks as he continues
rehabilitation.
Regardless, he is doing everything he can to further himself,
including going back to school.
“I’m starting to go back (to UCLA),” he said.
“I’m taking some classes and working towards getting my
degree. It’s working out the way I planned it.”
However, his teammate has not been so fortunate.
Moiso was selected 11th overall by the Boston Celtics in the
2000 draft following his sophomore season. He came into the NBA
with high expectations but has had little impact thus far.
Over his three-year career, he has averaged 2.4 points, 2.2
rebounds and 8.2 minutes per game. Although he doesn’t regret
the decision outright, Moiso appeared disappointed with his
opportunity to jump to the NBA early.
“Actually, I think it would have been the same thing if I
left this year,” he said. “I would have met the same
trouble. It’s not a question of me being able to play, but
it’s just a question of some soul-searching I have to
do.”
Moiso was traded from Boston to Charlotte via Philadelphia in
2001 before the Hornets moved to New Orleans. He’s played
only 72 games over three seasons going into Monday’s
matchup.
During the game against the Clippers, he played eight minutes
and recorded two points and two blocks.
This performance gave Moiso some optimism for his future ““
he said he’d continue to work out, go into summer training
and improve.
“I’m feeling ready to play so I’m just going
to have to keep working … and hopefully get in the right
fit,” he said. “I need to do the job.”
If Moiso would have remained at UCLA, he would have graduated
last June; Davis would have graduated in 2001.
When the two played together in Pauley Pavilion in 1998-1999,
UCLA won 22 games and finished third in the Pac-10, before losing
to Detroit-Mercy in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Now, Davis hopes to again be an impact player when he returns,
and together the two former UCLA teammates are expected to turn
their team into a playoff contender.