14-Year Veteran Fires Stern Warning About What It Takes To Stay In The NBA

Despite averaging just 6.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, Temple managed to carve out a career that’s thrice the length of the average NBA player. In a recent interview, Temple explained part of his secret.

14-Year NBA Veteran Garrett Temple On Carving Out A Long Career

Temple was among five NBA veterans who recently spoke to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears about “What it takes to stay in the NBA.”

Temple spoke alongside other veterans such as Draymond Green, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyommbo, and PJ Tucker.

Temple’s advice sounded like it applied to every cautionary tale player who had flamed out for reasons beyond on-court talent.

Professionalism is going to take you further than any talent could ever. And a lack of professionalism will get you out the league quicker than any lack of talent can. Ninety-eight percent of y’all are more talented than me, but 98% of y’all won’t play as long as I’m playing.

Temple added that having the right people around a player goes a long way in keeping them grounded — which also helps keep them in the league.

If you’re talented and professional, then you play as long as you want to. Make sure they have a support system around you that tells you when you’re wrong. Have somebody that can step up to you and let you know when you’re out of pocket.

Temple has never been the best player on an NBA team. He’s never even been a top-3 scorer on a team, having averaged double figures in scoring just once in his career. But the man has proven to be a commensurate professional that’s gotten respect at every stop of his career.