After spending four years with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, Jodie Meeks finally had the breakout season he was looking for with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. Meeks maximized his golden opportunity with the Lakers while Kobe Bryant was still nursing an injury putting up the best numbers of his career averaging 15 points per game and converting more than 40% of his shots from beyond the arc. His solid outing with the Lakers consequently earned him a three-year, $19.5 million deal from the Detroit Pistons in this year's free agency.
Meeks reportedly patterned his work-ethic from Kobe Bryant according to Detroit Free Press and it was big reason why he was able to elevate his game last season. Now with his brand new contract and an even bigger opportunity with the Detroit Pistons, Meeks is ready to take on the next level: to become part of USA Basketball in the 2016 Olympics.
"(Being on the Olympic team in 2016) would be an honor and a dream come true," Meeks said per The Bellingham Herald. "I know it's a long way down the line, and we still have a full season ahead, but anytime you have a chance to play for your country, it's an honor."
Meeks will have to compete with a bunch of elite guards in the NBA if he want's a shot at USA Basketball in 2016 and his chances are quite slim, realistically speaking. His move to Detroit, though, will give him plenty of opportunity in the shooting guard position especially with a Pistons team who were one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season. Meeks has also shown significant strides in his ball handling skills and ability to get to the basket and his best basketball years are still ahead of him at the age of 27.
Working with Kobe Bryant last season with the Lakers was a monumental part of Jodie Meek's career. He witnessed first hand the exceptional work ethic of one of the greatest players to have ever played the game and now he knows that hard work would take him in the next level of his game. Whether he will make the USA Olympic team in 2016 remains to be seen but it certainly is something that he dreams of in his future.
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