Jorge Gutierrez: 15 G, 2 GS, 16.3 MPG, 4.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.67 SPG, 0.07 BPG, .463 FG% .250 3P%, .750 FT%, 8.76 PER, -0.3 EWA
Jorge Gutierrez began preseason at Duke University at Nets training camp, knowing full well he had no shot of making the regular season roster with 15 players already under contract.
After a strong preseason, the Nets let him go. After 35 games with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League, he was called up by the Nets on March 6th. (Memo to undrafted rookies: that’s why you go to training camp.)
He signed two 10-day contracts with Brooklyn, and his solid play in garbage time earned him a non-guaranteed two-year contract.
Gutierrez plays smart and with a chip on his shoulder. He beat out the younger Marquis Teague for the team’s backup point guard role for a stretch in the second half of the season. He also became the fourth Mexican-American player in NBA history.
Though he needs to become a better shooter, Jorge Gutierrez exhibited a high basketball IQ and aggressive defensive style that Jason Kidd became fond of. His most memorable moment came when he earned himself an ejection and $15,000 fine for this hard foul on Bobcats forward Cody Zeller. If he makes training camp next season, it wouldn’t shock me to see him make the 15-man roster.
