SUMMARY
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James Laput can be whatever PBA teams want him to be.
That is what the 6-foot-10 Filipino-Australian assured PBA clubs interested in him as he fully accepted being a “project” heading into the talent-rich PBA Rookie Draft.
“I know that is what I am going forward,” Laput told Rappler when asked about “The Project” tag he put in the short bio on his social media accounts.
“I’m not going to fight that because I need to embrace all the criticisms and all the pros and all the cons. I have to take it on the chin.”
Although the tallest among the record 97 rookie aspirants, Laput said his credentials pale in comparison to those applicants who played in esteemed leagues like the NBA G League and ASEAN Basketball League.
Following his four-year stint at Young Harris College in the US NCAA, the big man brought his act to the Philippines and suited up for La Salle for a one-and-done season.
Laput, though, played in only 7 UAAP games after sustaining an injury.
He then joined Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D League, but the Aspirants’ Cup got postponed and eventually canceled due to the pandemic.
The 24-year-old saw action in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 before he declared for the PBA Draft.
“[M]y history of playing is just reflective of the fact that I am a project in comparison to these other draftees. But that is not a bad thing,” Laput said.
“For me, it is a good thing to embrace, it is a good thing for teams out there, I can be whatever they want me to be. That is also an edge for me going into this draft,” he added.
Laput said he is willing to be molded into the player a team needs.
“If they want me to be like Rafi Reavis, I can end up being Rafi Reavis, a defensive center. If they want to make me into a bruiser, they’ll make me into a bruiser,” Laput said.
“Every team, they all need somebody different. If you look at it in the league today, San Miguel, their first option is June Mar (Fajardo).”
“On another team, let us say Magnolia, Rafi Reavis is not the first option. He is probably the fifth option on offense. It is completely different roles for what team you get put on.”
Aside from his towering physique and fundamentals, Laput said he is all about team play.
“I’m not selfish, I know how to play proper basketball. A lot of people are in it for the highlights and the oohs and the aahs, all that kind of stuff. My game is team basketball.” – Rappler.com
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