A.J. Price comes to Pacers’ aid as team manages list of injuries

A.J. Price was at home in New York with his family when he got the phone call. He was close to finalizing a deal with a basketball team in China, but this phone call changed that. For now, at least.

“The funny thing is, [if] anybody else I probably would have just went to China,” Price said. “The familiarity with everybody here, the organization, I figured I’d come in and help the guys out.”

Price happily returned to Pacers’ locker room to provide temporary relief, and more.

The Pacers were able to sign Price, 28, after being granted the NBA’s hardship waiver, which is available for teams with four or more players injured or sick for three or more games. The Pacers obviously qualified. Price’s expectation is to be with the team for roughly 10 days.

“Just come in and try to spell some guys until guys get back.” said Price, who is hopeful to have another opportunity in the league when this one concludes.

Price, who the Pacers selected with the 52nd pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, was going to proudly don a Pacers jersey once again. With George Hill, C.J. Watson, and Rodney Stuckey all on the injury list, the team needed help at point guard, one of the most importantly positions on the floor.

Sloan had held down the fort fairly well, even scoring a career-high 31 points last week in Washington. He was playing a team-best 36 minutes after playing in just 48 games last season.

“He’s come right in and grasped everything we’ve been doing,” said Sloan, who leads the team in minutes through seven games. “A lot of stuff he’s very familiar with from when he was here. He’s playing his game, and definitely giving us the spark we need at the point guard spot off the bench.”

Price was in training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even faced the Pacers back in early October at Xavier University. He averaged an efficient 7.2 points and 1.5 assists in 13.3 minutes per game, but things didn’t work out.

Price doesn’t know why specifically, but says he has moved on.

“I’ve always been told you can only worry about what you can control,” he said. “When I got out there, whether it be a game or a practice, I was just doing what I could. I had a good showing, which was good for me. The reason they went whatever direction they went is unknown to me. That’s what they wanted to do. I can’t worry about that. The game keeps on going, life keeps on going, so you just have to keep on going.”

Price appreciated being able to spend the last week with his girlfriend and two-year-old daughter in New York, but basketball is his life. And, also how he makes his living.

Last Friday, he joined the Pacers in Boston and though the system is similar to his previous time with the team, he quickly had to learn the play calls.

“Just trying to learn the plays as much as I could real quick,” he said of that morning’s shootaround, where he stayed after with head coach Frank Vogel and others to be prepared for that night’s game. “I’m still learning on the fly but coach Vogel has been doing a great job of just keeping it simple for me.”

There was already a comfort level for Price with the same training, public relations, and support staff who were with the team during his first stint (2009-2012). He says he is close with George Hill, Roy Hibbert, and David West. But in two years, some things have changed. (They have to, or else teams would blurt out their play calls and know exactly what to do.)

“A lot of it is close to the same, with slight variations,” he explained after being with the team just two days. “Terminology and language is the same, which is really helpful. When I hear certain words for a play call, I already kind of know what to do and that has been very helpful to me.”

Price — who now changes in what was Rasual Butler’s corner locker because Chris Copeland occupies his old locker — had two other stops before his return to Indianapolis. He was with the Washington Wizards in 2012-13, and the Minnesota Timberwolves the following year. While with the Wizards, Price was given the biggest opportunity and, in turn, he took advantage. It was that year — he started 22 games and averaged 7.7 points and 3.6 assists per game — when he made his largest growth.

“That’s where I got to play the most so I think that helped me,” he said. “Teams were then able to see me more, see what I can do in terms of running a team. That’s where I got the most opportunity and I was grateful for that. I thought I did well, but it just didn’t work out since then. I haven’t really got a chance to perform as much as I would like to.”

And so far, the Pacers like what Price has provided.

“He’s doing a good job out there,” said Vogel. “[He’s a] familiar face, a good friend, and someone I consider part of our [Pacers] family. And we need him right now.”

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