Brandon Rush: Is This the End?

In his first season as head coach, Steve Kerr has managed to reinvigorate and even improve most of the players on his roster. Under his tutelage, several players are having career years.

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Klay Thompson became an All-Star, outperforming expectations and justifying the max contract extension he signed earlier in the season. Draymond Green became one of the league’s best defensive players, after spending several seasons in the league as an energy guy off the bench. Leandro Barbosa successfully returned to the NBA after spending a season abroad, to which many thought his NBA career would be over. Shaun Livingston continues to build on his post-injury comeback, and is leading one of the best bench units in the league. Harrison Barnes has rebounded from a disastrous sophomore season, and Andre Iguodala is finding second life as a sixth man off the bench.

But there’s one player who hasn’t quite benefited from Kerr’s magic: Brandon Rush.

Mar 28, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) puts pressure on Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Rush (4) in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

When Rush was signed in the offseason on a two-year deal, many (including me) saw it as a low-risk, high-reward deal. It was also a sign of loyalty – a player who’s promising career was cut short by a nasty injury, and was subsequently traded away to make cap room for signing Iguodala. Welcoming him back for his second stint was mostly regarded as a gesture of good will.

The best-case scenario for Rush was that he would be able to contribute key minutes off the bench as a 3-and-D player. Rush could provide size on the wing and shooting off the bench – something that the Warriors’ bench was lacking in. In his prime, Rush shot 45.3 percent from the wing, and averaged 9.8 points per game.

However, Rush’s post-injury comeback hasn’t panned out well at all.

He has struggled for playing time this season, averaging 8.2 minutes in 31 games off the bench. The Warriors have been comfortably putting away opponents this season, and with Kerr regularly clearing his bench, it is a surprise that Rush hasn’t been able to play more minutes. He has scored 23 points all season, and has only made 2 of his 24 three-point attempts.

Watching Rush play is almost heart-breaking at times. As someone who was legitimately excited for his second stint with the franchise, the Rush on the court isn’t recognizable from his pre-ACL tear days. He lacks the athleticism, the bounce, and the drive to get up and down the court. And to make matters worse, it looks as though his shooting touch has deserted him.

The problem is, when Rush tore his left ACL in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012, it wasn’t his first ACL tear. Rush had torn his right ACL in his college days, back in 2007. We’ve seen what a torn ACL has done to Derrick Rose’s athleticism and style of play; just imagine what the impact of having two torn can do to Rush.

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Honestly, at this stage, it’s a surprise that he is still striving for a chance at an NBA career.

But, with just nine field goals this season, Rush’s NBA career might be coming to an end. With a bright future ahead of him, his potential was harshly cut down by a career-ending injury. It only seems fitting that he finishes the season with a chance at a ring, even if it means doing so from courtside.

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