The lockout is not easy on players. Taking away basketball has taken them out of their rhythms, soon will be taking away paychecks and left them wondering what is next. Nobody likes an uncertain future.
But for Glen Davis — Boston’s “Big Baby” — it has been more than that. The lockout took away the acceptance he has craved his whole life, and it forced him to be introspective and think himself in a new way.
Davis lets it all out in a fascinating interview handled very well by Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com.
The other people he tried to please, the people he wanted acceptance from where his teammates and coach, as well as the fans. Basketball was his social network, his second family, and it was where he got validation.
“I would have to say [it is important to me to please others] just because of the way people perceive me to be,” he said. “They perceive me to be this fat guy who’s kind of just making it in the league, he’s just here. I want people to like me. I want people to say, ‘Hey this boy can really play, he can play the game, he is a great player.’
“I just want people to love me, to love Big Baby. That’s why I try to have people remember me for my personality, for who I am as a person, outgoing, having fun. I just want to be accepted.
“That’s just something I’ve learned in the offseason -- a lot of people might not like you. You have to love yourself because at the end of the day when it’s all said and done, nobody’s going to take care of Glen but Glen. It’s just all about growing up. I’ve grown a lot this offseason and hopefully it will help me with my career.”
That career will not go to China next, Davis said talks with a Chinese team got very serious but in the end he didn’t want to go.
But where it will go is not known — Davis is a free agent. He says he’d like to stay in Boston but realizes he could land just about anywhere next year. He’s come to grips with that, too. And he wants to bring a mature Big Baby to his next team.
