By Johnathan Kendrick
Karl Malone left town and the free agent market dried up fast. The
Jazz, for the first time in over two decades find themselves with a
power forward sized hole in the starting line up. For Jazz fans,
it's an unfamiliar situation to not only have an available spot at
power forward and point guard, but also to be without 2 of the 50
greatest players in the history of the NBA. For Michael Ruffin, it’s
a very familiar situation.
Michael Ruffin was drafted with the 32nd overall pick in the 1999
draft. Being drafted in the second round, Chicago had his rights and
he went to summer league without a guaranteed contract. Things
worked out well for Ruffin. The Bulls had just lost two of the top
50 players in NBA history in Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen .
They were beginning their now seemingly endless rebuilding process
and they too had a hole at power forward.
Ruffin made the rebuilding team and played in 71 games his rookie
year, starting 6 games. The next year, Ruffin began to make a name
for himself the same way the power forward before him did in
Chicago. Well… in the same way in the game of basketball. Dennis
Rodman had been the starting power forward in Chicago the years
before Ruffin arrived. Rodman made a place for himself by
rebounding. Ruffin, the leading rebounder in Tulsa history,
naturally fit into the pattern in Chicago, pulling down 18 rebounds
against Orlando in his second year as he worked his way in to the
starting lineup. However, after starting for 17 games, Ruffin
fractured his hand against the 76ers, pulling down 14 rebounds and
playing with the pain. After missing 18 games, Ruffin returned for 8
games before finally breaking his left hand and being out for the
season.
Had he remained healthy he may still be rebuilding in Chicago.
Ruffin spent part of the 01-02 season in Philadelphia before being
cut from the league, until now. Ruffin remains in great shape and
looks to have added more muscle to his already strong build. Ruffin
is a good defender and rebounder. Over his young NBA career, Ruffin
is averaging just over 13 rebounds per 48 minutes. Not a prolific
scorer, Ruffin is especially good at cleaning the offensive glass
and getting himself or his team second chance points.
For his career, Ruffin is shooting 43% from the field and 49% from
the free throw line. Ruffin is also averaging 1.65 blocked shots per
48 minutes. If he has worked on his shooting, he will be a lock to
find a home in the NBA again. With the Jazz in need for a big man or
two to play the power forward position, don’t be surprised to see
the Colorado native in a Jazz uniform next year.
Michael Ruffin is defiantly one guy Jazz fans should keep their eye
one at the Reeboks Rocky Mountain Revue.
First game of the tournament, Ruffin played excellent scoring 13
points of 5-8 shooting from the field and 3-6 from the free throw
line. He displayed some good back to the basket skills underneath.
Ruffin, true to form, blocked 2 shots Friday night while pulling
down 11 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive.
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