NBA Play-In Picture: Calderón Reflects on Raptors Surprises, Key Decisions Looming

The NBA is entering a crucial period as the regular season nears its conclusion. Fifteen games are scheduled for this morning, determining the final playoff positions across both conferences. The Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, May 15th, and concludes on Friday, May 18th, with these contests set to decide who secures the eighth seed in each conference.

Shortly after the regular season concludes, the NBA’s specialized program, 3+1 by Drafteados, featuring Antoni Daimiel and José Manuel Calderón alongside Sergio Andrés and José Sáenz, provided insights and recalled memorable moments from the league’s history.

Calderón began by reflecting on several players who surprised him during his time in the NBA. “For me, one of the biggest surprises was PJ Tucker,” he stated. “It was during the second round when I arrived at the Raptors. He was really a player who wasn’t able to play at that time.” Calderón highlighted the significance of Tucker’s unexpected success, noting that the player “managed to make an incredible career doing that,” ultimately becoming a dynamic contributor with a consistent three-point shot.

“I didn’t understand it, it wasn’t a 3, it was short, it couldn’t be a 4. It was like: ‘What do you do? Let’s try to help you. How did we give him minutes?’“

José Manuel Calderón

He continued his reminiscences, adding, “It was an incredible athlete, but I couldn’t shoot. Apart from that, he wasn’t one of the best mechanics, he was an incredible worker, yes. In the first years, you didn’t think that, now, what would least use his jump, his athletic capacity,” Calderón explained. “He has managed to have one of the best medium-distance shots in the NBA”.

Calderón also shared his thoughts on other memorable players, including Dennis Schröder, who he described as a “great talent” and a player he believed had the potential to be even better. “He had the talent to be one of the top players in the league,” Calderón said. “You just need his mentality. He feels so comfortable that he doesn’t take risks, and it’s very easy for him to try to have more confidence”

Calderón also recalled Kyle Lowry, highlighting his development and surprising growth. “Kyle Lowry was the third base. The growth he has had… his shot, his way of playing, his evolution was incredible,” he stated.

He concluded with a final observation: “I don’t know how many roles Pj Tucker will have in his career. One of the players that has surprised me the most about that, I said: ‘Impossible, this uncle goes to Europe and we’ll see what he does there’,” Calderón remarked.

As the NBA prepares for its playoff battles, the memories and insights shared by figures like José Manuel Calderón offer a compelling glimpse into the unpredictable and captivating journey of the league’s most prominent players.