Von Wafer would be a perfect subject for psychologists who study the minds of athletes and the effect the mental game has on their performance.
Never has the 6-foot-5 guard felt better. And he attributes a change in attitude and confidence as reasons he is closing in on his best shot to make the NBA since turning pro two years ago.
Talent never has been an issue for Wafer, who has had the requisite skills to be successful on the NBA level. But he says it wasn’t until he worked with Colorado 14ers coach Joe Wolf that his focus was there. The result was a stellar season in the D-League and a call-up to the Nuggets last season as a part of their playoff roster.
Now, as Wafer gets ready to play on the Nuggets’ summer league team next week in Las Vegas, he sees this as his best chance to take the next step.
“I feel like this opportunity with the Nuggets is the chance to show people the real Von Wafer,” he said. “This is big for me. This is a big job audition for the rest of the NBA to see me and the rest of the world to see. Once you get in, you’re in, but once you’re out it’s very hard to get in.”
Something Wafer knows all too well.
He left Florida State in 2005 after his sophomore season and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (39th overall). With the Seminoles, the former McDonald’s High School All-American was a strong perimeter shooter, making 108 3-pointers in two seasons.
But Wafer’s confidence quickly wilted on the Lakers’ bench.
“He came out of school early, and I think at the time it probably looked like a good move for him,” Wolf said. “But I think he has found that he needs to work on different parts of his game.”
Wafer played in only 16 games as a rookie with the Lakers and was sent to the Fort Worth Flyers of the D-League.
“I was upset at first when I found out that I had to go to the D-League,” Wafer said. “But it’s the best thing that ever happened to me in my life as far as basketball.”
He ended up with the 14ers this past season and quickly became one of the league’s best players, averaging 21.0 points on 48.6 percent shooting, including 45.3 percent success from 3-point range. And that’s what caught the Nuggets’ attention.
Wafer signed a 10-day contract with the L.A. Clippers in February, but when they let him go, the Nuggets, in need of a shooter and without any draft picks, picked him up two months later.
“As we were watching him and projecting this draft, we said, ‘How many guys in the second round could post those numbers in the D-League?”‘ Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said. “Very compelling in Von’s case is his demonstrated – not projected – ability to shoot pro 3s. So we went and picked him up. It was by design a second-round pick. We think we made a nice play.”
All Wafer has to do is prove the Nuggets right.
“This year not only did his game mature playing in the D-League, but so did his body and mind,” Wolf said. “And I think that’s why he’s got a shot with the Nuggets.”
After the summer league, Wafer plans to work out with former Florida State teammate Al Thornton, who was drafted 14th overall by the Clippers last week. The two used to play late- night, one-on-one games on the Florida State campus.
“I feel like I’m a lot better player,” Wafer said. “I feel my game has tremendously improved. I feel like Coach Wolf gave me my confidence back. I got my mojo back. I feel like I can play with anybody in the world.”
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
