The Los Angeles Clippers recently signed free agent small forward Chris Douglas-Roberts to a one year deal. A journeyman early in his NBA career, Douglas-Roberts was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. He spent two seasons with the Nets before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Douglas-Roberts didn’t latch on with a team after his time in Milwaukee and over the last few years, he spent ime playing overseas in Italy before eventual stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. He played in the NBA’s D-League before he found stability last season with the Charlotte Bobcats. A spark off of Charlotte’s bench, he averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, on 39 percent shooting and was the veteran presence the young team needed. “What my time in Charlotte did was give me solidification on what I’ve been thinking this entire time,” Douglas-Roberts tells The Source.
“Now it’s like, ok, keep going, keep proving yourself, and keep going up on fools. Let’s go.”
Check Out Highlights From Last Season
Signed to a one year guaranteed deal with the Clippers, coach Doc Rivers’ team will get a solid defender who shoots well from beyond the arc. The Clippers’ starting five that includes All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin benefit from an already deep bench that has Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Hedo Turkoglu and JJ Redick. Adding Douglas-Roberts to the mix will only help a Clipper team that finished 57-25 last season and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. “I understand the magnitude of this opportunity and I’m approaching it as such,” said Douglas-Roberts.
“I won’t make every shot I take. I’m not saying I won’t have a mental breakdown. What I am saying is I will be overly prepared so I can be the best player I can be for this team this year. I won’t have any effort lapses. I’ll never be out there not competing or not giving 110%.”
More From Chris Douglas-Roberts:
The Source: How excited are you to head back to LA?
Chris Douglas Roberts: Very, very excited man. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to be able to play at the highest level on a championship contender. I totally understand how important this opportunity is so I’m already preparing to do everything I need to do and more, to capitalize on it. I pride myself on being a hard worker and a student of the game. My quote that I live by is ‘Don’t Cheat the Grind.’ I use it for every aspect of my life. In this case if I didn’t over prepare myself for this opportunity I’d be “cheating the grind” so to speak. I’m definitely excited but I know how important it is to get the job done. The real excitement comes when you win a title.
The Source: How big of a confidence builder was your time in Charlotte? How will last season carry over to this season?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: I’ve always been a confident guy. Even when things weren’t looking so hot for me, I always believed in my game and my ability. But when you’re not reaping the benefits for your hard work your mind starts playing tricks on you. You start to think negative things like maybe you aren’t what you think you are. It’s all a part of the journey and the grind. You’ll eventually come to a point where your weaker subconscious will tell you to give up or take an easier way. That’s when your confidence has to be strong. Your belief in yourself is what will take you where you envision yourself going.
The Source: What will you envision your role being this season in LA?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: I spoke to Doc. Doc believes in me. He told me how underrated he felt I was. He couldn’t understand why my journey has been so rough but none of it matters now. He said he picked me and wanted me in LA. It feels great to be wanted by a team of this caliber. He wants me to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. Be that wing player/defender that he sees me as. He told me their goal is a championship and I’m definitely with it.
The Source: How confident are you going into this season? What’s different than seasons before?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Like I said I’m always going to be confident no matter what the situation may be. Being confident is the only reason I’m here today doing this interview. Being an NBA player is damn near more-so confidence in yourself than it is your game because at some point, no matter who you are, your confidence will be tampered with. However this is the first season in a long time where I have a training camp where I’m in the favor. With a coach who sees me as a piece on a championship team. It’s a wonderful feeling going into camp like this. Knowing your coach is confident in you to go do your stuff out there. That’s the difference. S**t everything is different. I’m in the west now man. It’s my first time playing in the west; I’m wearing my old number 14 for the first time since Memphis. I’m pumped for this man!
The Source: Five Guys or In and Out?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: I don’t eat any meat player. I have a plant based diet. Let the animals live man. We’re all equal we all serve a purpose. Go eat some fruit mane!
The Source: What have you been bumpin’ in your headphones all summer while working out and in the car?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Man I’ve been on Migos the whole summer. My agent, Tone put me on to them. I know that sounds funny but he’s the new wave of agents. He’s breaking the mold. But yea my agent put me on to Migos. People don’t understand how crazy Migos’ music is. They have some hot stuff man. Their song writing skills and energy on the beat is in a class of its own. I’ve been listening to them fools all summer. It all depends on the day though. I could go from old 50 to The Weekend to Future to Max Biggaveli in a week’s span. I like all tunes. I also have been on Ty Dolla Sign’s tapes. Beach House 2 is a classic player tape. If you understand the game that tape is for you. You can play it straight through. His last tape Sign Language is also really good. Fools don’t know Ty wrote Loyal for Chris Brown. He’s tight to me; a real talented cat.
