Indiana Pacers guard Edmond Sumner (5) in action as the Miami Heat played the Indiana Pacers in an ... [+]
Indiana Pacers guard Edmond Sumner is navigating uncharted territory. With the NBA currently suspended, he is going through one of the longest stretches of time in his life that he hasn’t played basketball.
Recently, though, he finally got connected with a private gym, and now his workout regiment can be taken to another level. Such are the challenges for NBA players during the current league suspension. Sumner has to work out at home and in his garage, and running outside on concrete is hard on his knees. Without a gym, working out is difficult.
But the Pacers guard likes the challenge and is making the most of his situation. “I’ve been trying to find alternatives and hit the track,” he said of his running outside. “Been trying to buy a little bit of equipment for [working out in] our garage,” he added. He’s basically had to adapt his entire exercise routine on the fly.
Outside of maintaining his great physical shape, social distancing has been boring for Sumner. Like his on-court play style, he likes to be active and busy. He’s had to find new things to do to pass the time.
Some of the hobbies he picked up are typical for a 24 year-old: he created a few Tik Tok videos and started playing more video games. But some of the other things he’s been doing are more unique. “I taught myself a couple ballroom dances,” he told me. “I've been just trying to find new things [to do]... it's kind of like a blessing in disguise.”
Even in the absence of games, and other stuff to do, Sumner and his Pacer teammates are still finding ways to be connected. He mentioned that players for the blue and gold have had a lot of communication during the NBA suspension, including team meetings and frequent messages in the squad’s group chat.
There are also conversations with team sports performance doctors that give directives for workouts and routines. They provide helpful instructions to stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Trying to keep... up to speed as best as you can, that's the real biggest thing for us basketball players,” Sumner said of working out. “What we got going on right now, I feel like we’ve got a good program.”
Those workouts are great, but nothing can simulate game speed for the energetic Sumner. “I can do all this summer work until I'm in the best shape of my life, and then we get to go up and down. You just get to puffing... you just can't simulate [games].”
Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan, right, talks with guard Edmond Sumner during the second half of ... [+]
Re-calibrating into competitive shape is something that Sumner and I talked about earlier this season. He said that G League games are helpful for him because they prepare him for that speed when returning from injury. This is a good mechanism for rehabbing, which is especially important because the former Xavier guard had a ton of injuries this season.
First it was a broken hand. Then a knee injury. Then another knee injury. And most recently, hip problems. At every turn, Sumner found himself on the shelf, trying to rehab and get back on the court. It was a frustrating third season for the young guard.
“Every time I felt like in the season I was getting comfortable, something happened,” he said. “I feel like a lot of things [were] stopping me from really getting in the rhythm.”
Just before the league stoppage, Sumner found some of that rhythm. He played in five straight games, averaging around six points and two assists per game in just over 15 minutes per night. Baked into that stretch was a 12 point, five assist night in Chicago, perhaps his best performance of the season. He looked effective and spry, and he continued to show why he has a bright future in the NBA. “I was getting in the groove,” the third-year player said. “My confidence was high.”
Then, it stopped. His, and the Pacers’, season halted. No more groove, no more games to grow and stay in shape, no more anything.
The Pacers 2019-20 campaign might be over. It might not be, though. President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said he is “preparing like there's going to be a regular season and playoffs.” It’s not clear at this time.
But if it is over, Sumner is happy with how his third season in the league went. “For me I still take it as a positive year,” he said. “If the season continues, I'm going to build on that. If it doesn't... [I’ll] continue to get better and try to take an even bigger leap next year.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 24: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers goes to the basket in ... [+]
Sumner is always ready to grow. He’s become more eager and less timid since joining the Pacers. He wants to get better and be a consistent contributor to the team. And he’s close to hitting that level.
What are the next steps in his improvement? “Finding my rhythm with shooting,” he said. In the G League, Sumner has been a sniper, hitting 43% of his outside shots this season and 36% this past season. In NBA games, the deep ball has never materialized for Sumner as a weapon. It would help his skill set tremendously.
And that’s not the only area he’s looking to grow. “ [I’m] going to continue to improve on the defensive end,” he said. “I feel like I can be an elite defender in the NBA.”
That’s the end of the floor where he shines now. Any improvements on defense, and they will come, will make Sumner a force. If he simultaneously adds a consistent three-point shot and growth in other areas, then we are talking about a quality two-way contributor. Edmond Sumner kept his body ready, and now when basketball returns, he’s prepared to make an impact.
