Spurs 'Gym Rat' Malaki Branham Looking to Avoid Rookie Wall
San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Malaki Branham is focused on continuing to improve.
In a recent interview, Branham revealed some of the reasons why he’s been able not only to avoid hitting a rookie wall but propel his game forward down the stretch of this season.
“Just taking care of my body, Branham said. “I’m a gym rat. I love to get in the gym. I’ve been doing a lot of treatment.”
Over the past 10 games, Branham has seen both his minutes and stats increase in nearly every category versus his season average, including scoring, where his points per game average has improved by over six points, and his three-point shooting percentage is up by more than seven percent, hitting 38.5 percent from deep as of late.
Branham stated that even if the team were to have a day off, you’d likely find him in the gym improving anyways.
He also emphasized the importance that veterans on the team have played in setting an example for him. Crediting his recovery treatment routine to ‘mimicking how they take care of their bodies.’
As Branham said, “Every person's path is not the same.”
Touting one of the youngest rosters in the league, it’s only a matter of time before Branham is the veteran player next season, setting the tone for an incoming class of rookies.
San Antonio has the third-worst record in the NBA, giving them as good a chance as any team to land the coveted number-one overall pick and potentially elevate themselves from postseason irrelevancy.
Although the Spurs are in the middle of a rebuild, Branham’s dedication to improvement behind the scenes is promising for what San Antonio’s future may hold as he helps establish a winning culture sooner rather than later.
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