Welcome to The Craft, a serial look inside the world of player development in the NBA.
Kent Bazemore has already won. It was only five years ago that nine teams auditioned Bazemore in private workouts and 30 passed on him in the NBA draft. He was signed and sealed to begin his basketball career in Ukraine on a contract that would pay $90,000. All that stood in his way was an NBA out, hinged to a long-shot summer league appearance with the Warriors.
Golden State saw enough in Bazemore’s boundless energy and seven-foot wingspan to offer him a deal, but not guarantee it.