Nate Darling has a history of filling the scoresheet.
The Bedford sharpshooter has made the shots at every level along his basketball journey. He's routinely scored big at national, collegiate and international competitions.
Now he is facing the largest challenge of his young career - fighting for a spot on the roster of the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Hornets.
Understandably, for the first time, he's finding it more difficult to simply get his shots.
A case in point was Monday night’s pre-season loss to the Toronto Raptors, a game in which Darling played four minutes and didn’t manage to get a shot. During his brief court time, the ball didn’t make it into his hands very often.
That means he has to find other ways to impress first-year Hornets coach James Borrego.
“It’s not just around the game, it’s what I do in practice, what I do in the film sessions and just being a student of the game,” said the 22-year-old.
“I know I’m not going to be a prominent player right away. I’ve got to slowly show every game, even if it’s not making shots or taking shots, that I am out there doing the right things and slowly gain their trust until I can be out there for meaningful minutes and get the ball and take shots.
“It’s a process and I’m starting from square one.”
The six-foot-five guard knows that every minute on the court is invaluable. As a rookie, he’s playing catch up with veterans against whom he is vying for playing time, while still adjusting to the faster pace of professional basketball.
“The basketball is quicker, more fluent,” said Darling. “It’s the best players, everyone knows the game, and everyone is strong athletically. Quicker decisions need to be made, so I’m trying to figure how to keep things quick but also keep the game slowed down in my head.”
“I need to stay confident. It’s hard being a guy who is going to sit on the bench a lot so you just stay ready. It’s a tough job, but that’s what keeps guys in the NBA. If you’re ready when your time comes, that’s how you move up in the ranks. Just staying mentally sharp and prepared for the few opportunities I can get.”
He is still looking for his first NBA point but is confident it will come soon. Darling was 0-for-3 in his first pre-season game on Saturday, also against the Raptors.
Darling is long on confidence for good reason.
He’s the Nova Scotian player that dropped 50 points in a national championship game to beat Ontario in 2015. He helped Canada win the 2017 FIBA World Cup. And last year at the University of Delaware, he averaged 21 points per game.
He knows his shots will eventually fall.
“I was kind of hard on myself when I missed that corner three,” said the three-point specialist about a shot against the Raptors. “I’m sure it will come soon. I’m not trying to force anything, just go with the flow of the game. I feel like once I break that seal, I will have my confidence and will be ready to go.”
Now that I’m here, it’s going to be an even harder journey to stay in the NBA and be considered one of the best basketball players in the world. As far as a career, I’m hoping for a long, healthy career. You have to take a breath and say ‘yah, I made it,’ then you have to get right back to work. My glass is empty and I’m trying to learn everything.
- Nate Darling
Following His Dream
That confidence probably comes from the hundreds of thousands of practice shots and years of work all directed toward honing his game for this opportunity.
“It’s definitely a gratifying situation to be in,” he said. “All that work was worth it, but if I didn’t make it to the NBA I still would have enjoyed my journey in basketball. I’ve always believed in myself so it is a gratifying moment, just being here and putting on the jersey with the NBA logo and my name on the back.”
The undrafted player is signed to a two-way contract with Charlotte and in competition with six other guards for a spot on the team’s opening-day roster. He will either begin the season in the NBA or with the team’s G League affiliate in nearby Greensboro, North Carolina.
“I’m not sure about what they are going to do. I’m just happy to be a part of the organization and I’ll be around for the year, whether it’s on a two-way or not. I’m happy to be here.”
Charlotte camp has generated plenty of buzz with the LaMelo Ball, the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft, and newly acquired Gordon Hayward, drawing most of the attention.
So the signing of a Canadian guard to a two-way deal didn’t make headline news in Charlotte. But it was a big deal for the kid who worked hard late into many an evening in his home driveway.
“This is where I wanted to get to, but not my end goal,” said Darling.
“Now that I’m here, it’s going to be an even harder journey to stay in the NBA and be considered one of the best basketball players in the world. As far as a career, I’m hoping for a long, healthy career. You have to take a breath and say ‘yah, I made it,’ then you have to get right back to work. My glass is empty and I’m trying to learn everything.”
