Pelicans Forward Discusses What it Was Like Sitting Out With Injury

It is hard to be injured in the NBA. Not only are you unable to help contribute to your team, but you also aren’t able to play the game that you love. There are financial implications, too. A major injury can set back your earnings in a big way. But still, the hardest part of being injured is watching your teammates go to war without you.

Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey recently spoke about what his experience was like while recovering from an injury that held him out for all of last season.

“Watching the game, man, and just learning a lot of the intricate details in the game of where I could impact when I come back. And then off the court, man, just real spiritually, like having to really humble myself in life in general and knowing that the game can be taken away from you so quick, man. So, I learned a lot through that process…I work on everything every game and every year. So I make sure that no matter what the team needs, I’m able to fulfill that role. So for me, when it's like whatever the team’s been needing, I’ve been trying to fulfill that.”

Sometimes it takes an injury to bring a new perspective and appreciation to the game. Bey used his time away for positivity, and he is playing like his time off was good for him. He’s improved his scoring, assists, and steals from two seasons ago. 

While no player wants to get injured, Bey’s story is a good reminder that even time away from basketball can be spun positively.