Warriors are out there, but Richard Hendrix is all about Bakersfield Jam

December 6, 8:08 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Richard Hendrix 

BAKERSFIELD, CA _ Richard Hendrix is using the D-League to work on his game and improve it enough so that he’ll eventually make it back to the NBA.

The physical and mental parts of his game: They’re NBA ready right now.

That’s obvious from one look at Hendrix’s body and one conversation with the man before the Bakersfield Jam’s game against the Utah Flash on Saturday.

Hendrix was on the Warriors for the first nine games of the season, although inactive for every one of them.

“I view this as a blessing in disguise,” Hendrix said. “I was disappointed, needless to say. You play your whole life wanting to play in the NBA.

“I don’t think anybody grows up thinking they want to play in the Development League. So, at first, I viewed it as: ‘This isn’t what I wanted it to be.’

But I quickly turned that around and saw it was an opportunity for me to get playing time and for me to develop so that when I return to where I want to be I can be a force.”

Hendrix says he plays close attention to the Warriors because “I feel like I’m part of that team; I went through training camp with those guys and went through all of that hard work.”

Put it this way, he knows the Warriors well enough to answer this question: Are you aware the Warriors are struggling rebounding?

“Yes, I am,” Hendrix replied. “I was fully aware by watching on the sidelines (earlier this season) that rebounding … teams would beat us there. It hurt sometimes sitting on the side and feeling like you can contribute in that area. Especially without an opportunity to do that.

“At the same time, I don’t worry about it because I know my opportunity will come and then it’s on me to perform.”

Hendrix entered Saturday’s game averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game, but he’s not crazy about being pigeon-holed as just a banger and rebounder.

By now you’ve heard Hendrix went 3-for-3 from beyond the 3-point arc in Bakersfield’s opener (he hasn’t hit one since) season-opening win. That game he had 31 points and 15 rebounds in just 32 minutes.

“I’ve always had that,” Hendrix said of 3-point shooting. “The main thing that makes a player good is confidence. My whole life I’ve always had confidence to shoot from the outside. I just wasn’t given the opportunity.

"I feel like I can knock down shots if I get a chance. Sometimes, though, I feel like my rebound ability trumps the rest of my skills as a player. So I have to do what I have to do.”

Probably only a matter of time before he’ll be doing it in the NBA.