Nerlens Noel On His Playing Time, Future in Dallas & Message to Fans

As the weird season presses on for Nerlens Noel and the Dallas Mavericks, I sat down with Noel to talk about everything going on.

On February 23, 2017, the Dallas Mavericks traded for their next franchise center in Nerlens Noel.

That was the talk around not only the city of Dallas and the organization, but the entire NBA.

The Mavericks shipped off an expiring Andrew Bogut, an underperforming Justin Anderson and a protected first round pick that turned into two second rounders for the 23-year-old Nerlens Noel. A trade that almost everyone said that the Mavericks clearly won.

Now, nine months later, Noel and the Mavericks have hit rock bottom. Over the past three games, Noel has received three straight DNP-CDs. Before that, Noel hadn’t logged over six minutes in the past eight games.

For a season where Noel bet on himself to earn a big payday next summer, Noel finds himself on the outside looking into Carlisle’s rotation.

I sat down with Noel on Sunday afternoon to have a one-on-one chat about everything going on. For the sake of his in-depth, long answers, I chose to publish his entire answers in a Q & A format.

“Taking it day-by-day knowing that it is only a matter of time until things can play out and get more clear.” -Noel

ME: Where are you at mentally right now? As a person, player, everything.

NOEL: “I am in a laser focused position right now. I am more focused. I simply focused on the simplicity of everything and the situation. Just keep worrying about my stuff and getting better every day. When I come in here I’m looking for the positives as I’m playing basketball in practice. In the warmups, I’m always looking for the positives. Looking for the positives in my day. Whether it is looking forward to lifting before the game, then I’m going to go a little harder knowing the circumstances. If I work out, I’m going a little harder. Those are the things I look forward to and I put my happiness towards into getting better.”

ME: When you came over from Philly and had your introductory press conference, you said something like how you aren’t a 6-8 minute guy, referring to your role in Philly. How is this different in Dallas or is it?

NOEL: “I don’t think it’s my determination to see if it is different. I think it is a position for me that is similar to Philly but it is what you can control. There are different things that I can control here. It’s about taking care of what you can”

ME: Is it going in Dallas like you expected it to?

NOEL: “I’m not too sure of that. I think with time everything gets figured out. That’s really all I’m basing on. Taking it day-by-day knowing that it is only a matter of time until things can play out and get more clear. Until then, I am going to be a better play than I was from September in training camp to whenever I am in the full rotation of minutes. I am going to be a better player through that time that I wasn’t playing that is for sure. I have been doing everything with conditioning, after practice, getting my shots up before and after. I will be a better player when I do get back”

“When I am in my realm, I’ll be throwing hard and there is not really too many people that can get in my way and stop me” -Noel

ME: People are searching for reasons right now for why you are not playing. There was even a recent NBC report suggesting you weren’t a hard worker. How does it make you feel when people question if you are a hard worker or not?

NOEL: “I think you can make anything up. I know I work hard and I do what I got to do. I know the reason I am in the position I am in is because I worked hard. With injuries, I had the ACL injury, I had to work really hard to get back from that. It aint really going to bother me….I’m not really worried if anybody feels sorry for me but I’m just worried about myself and make sure I got to do what I got to do. I’m doing what I am doing even when I am not playing, I think that speaks to more mental work with hard work. I just keep my head down, keep pushing and get better and better.”

ME: Early on it was matchups, but we both know it’s more than that now. Last night, you guys won by 30 and you didn’t see the court. So why aren’t you playing right now?

NOEL: “I really can’t tell you. I know I’m going to continue to get better. I really don’t have an answer for you. I know when the time does come I’ll be ready to go and through that time I will continue to support my teammates and make sure they are playing at the highest level.”

ME: Getting to know you some, you have a really chill personality. Do you think sometimes coaches or people question your drive because of your chill personality?

NOEL: “Yeah I am a chill guy. I think it is the best way to live life if you are chill. Best way for me to live life. I am not screaming, I am not the first person talking in the room. I’m learning. I am a very chill guy that likes to take everything in. Just learn and sponge things up. When I am in my realm, I’ll be throwing hard and there is not really too many people that can get in my way and stop me…I’m always going hard in whatever I do and paying attention. I am a perfectionist, I like to get things right whether it is my first, fifth or tenth try. That’s just the person I am, I stay quiet and take everything in.”

ME: December 15th is coming up and it’s the first day that you can technically get traded because of you signing over the summer. If there was a scenario where a team wanted to trade for you to log big minutes for their team or be their starting center, would you entertain it or consider it?

NOEL: “I have no idea. I really let my agent take care of that. The position I am in right now, I’m just really focused on getting better. When or if that comes about, I 110% let my agent handle that. I just focus on my everyday operations here.”

ME: Has Rich [Paul] talked with the Mavericks about getting you more minutes?

NOEL: “There were some talks early on. It was pretty much based on continuing to go hard and staying ready at all times like I already be.”

ME: At the beginning of free agency there were reports of you turning down a big offer from Dallas and now looking back, is there any regrets with how the summer or free agency played out?

NOEL: “I think God had a plan. I analyze things to a tee. No regrets. I think maybe the way things are now, people look at it as a regret. I don’t. I still know what I am capable of. The way I played on the first night is the way I can play every night. I don’t think they called it a regret then. It really doesn’t bother me, I know how people are and how life is. I let that stuff play it out and I feel like the real always conquer.”

ME: Is Dallas still in your future plans?

NOEL: “[pause]…I think I am in a place where I don’t need to see anything, I don’t think like that. I feel like Dallas is a great place right now. I’m doing what I am doing and getting better everyday. Not getting the most minutes, but I am staying positive. Dallas is a great place. Coach Carlisle is respectable and has a one known name to the organization. I’m just doing what I have to do everyday and see what happens and letting my agent take care of things when the time is right.”

ME: There are a lot of people who have followed you for a while and fans of your game that are waiting for you to see the court. What do you say to your fans that still believe in you?

NOEL: “Means the utmost to me. To value and appreciate the way I play. I definitely appreciate that. Just know that the time is coming and when it does, it definitely will be a great time.”

Next: Non-Top 5 NBA Draft Prospects for the Dallas Mavericks

Until then, fans and Noel wait to see how his time in Dallas will play out and just how long that time will actually last.

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