Will Tough Love Benefit Anthony Randolph?

In a followup article written by Janny Hu of the San Francisco Chronicle in regards to the current situation with Anthony Randolph. It's apparent that Don Nelson doesn't have any plans in playing Randolph anytime soon. 

Nelson is quoted as saying that Randolph needs to "grow up" and that he's being "put on ice" for the time being. What's even bigger for Randolph is that he's going to have to not only impress his assistant coaches Keith Smart and Rico Hines, but also the three captains of the team Stephen Jackson, Ronny Turiaf, and Andris Biedrins. 

Randolph though seems to have the right attitude he stated this about Nelson, saying "[I] can't do anything about what somebody thinks, I can't control somebody's thoughts. I just go out there and do what I'm doing. If I get my minutes, I play hard, like I do every game."

Yet, even without the promise of playing time he's got hopes for playing time next year due to the fact that Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli didn't play very much last year either. 

Stephen Jackson had this to say about being a rookie, "This is his first year and he's just going through the normal growing pains, learning how to play, how to take criticism. It was the same thing with me."

Even Corey Maggette chimed in stating, "Some 19 year olds, they have the ability to go out there and play right away and some don't. You just got to wait your turn. I tell guys the story all the time: When Michael Redd came into the league, he didn't play a lick. But I always saw him working hard. He got his opportunity... and became one of the best players in the league."

As assistant coach Hines pointed out, "I don't think the world is against him. I just think that a lot of times, guys don't understand that it's an up-and-down season and they got to stay with it. Keep coming to work every day and get better for the long term. That's what I always talk to him about. Keep working, because we're not at LSU. We're in the NBA playing basketball."

The things that Randolph is learning right now is going to help him become a better player. Sure, he would love to be playing right now, but he's going to have to work everyday and eventually this year he's going to prove to his assistant coaches and the three captains that he can get into a game and make positive contributions for the team.