Luther Head Getting Back on Track

It’s been a rocky road for Luther Head at this stage of his career. After being waived by the Houston Rockets in the 2008-09 season Head played only 57 games with the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. Despite going through a rough patch in his career, Head had a great start in the NBA.

After reaching the NCAA National Championship in 2005 with Illinois, along with Deron Williams and Dee Brown, Head was drafted No. 24 overall by the Rockets. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning spots in the 2006 Rookie Challenge and on the 2005-06 All-Rookie Second Team.

The next season he averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and one steal as his playing time slightly decreased from 28.9 minutes to 27.6 minutes per game. Again, he made the Rookie Challenge and finished the season shooting 44.1 percent from beyond the arc, third-best in franchise history and fourth best of the season.

Just when it seemed like Head was primed for a breakout season, things would go in the opposite direction. The Rockets went on an incredible 22-game win-streak while Head saw an 8-and-a-half minute drop in his playing time and scored only 7.6 points. Head averaged three points per game through 12 games combined in the 2006 and 2007 playoffs.

Things only got worse as the injury bug caught him the following season. During that time, a sore foot caused Head to miss 20 games. He was benched for 18 games and placed on the inactive list three times while healthy. He appeared in only 22 games, averaging 4.8 points in 14.6 minutes per game before he was waived. He played for the Heat for 10 games later in the season but a broken left hand forced him to miss the final eight games of the regular season and the playoffs.

Not much would change for Head after he landed with the Pacers for a season. He appeared in only 47 games, averaging 7.6 points in 17.3 minutes per game.

Now, entering his sixth season, Head finds himself on the Sacramento Kings with a non-guaranteed contract worth the $992,000. The Kings were a team looking to bring in shooters over the summer, and their need was right down his alley.

“They didn’t have a lot of guards coming back this year who played last year,” he said. “Being able to play the one and two slot that was something I was looking for whoever I signed with. Just the opportunity.”

Over the summer, he agreed to join the New Orleans Hornets with a two-year, $2.5 million deal, but after general manager Jeff Bower left the Hornets, the team withdrew the offer after telling him he failed their physical, pointing out his left ankle he injured with Indiana.

“I felt like I was healthy then before I went and took the physical with them,” he said on media day. “I took the same physical with them and they said I passed it. So I’m just rolling with that.”

While joining the Kings, Head joins two former Rockets teammates. Kings forward Carl Landry and Kings scout and ambassador Bobby Jackson. “It’s exciting man,” he said about reuniting with them. “Especially Carl. Playing with him, being on the court with him, it’s fun again. We always had a connection from over there. I always like to see him flying high so I was able to give him passes for dunks.”

For Landry, the feeling was mutual. “He’s just a wonderful player,” Landry said about Head. “He can play the one, two or three. He’s doesn’t have the size to guard the three, but the heart and determination and will that he has. He’s a great player and is definitely a great addition to this ball club.”

Even before B-Jax was traded to the Rockets, Head was studying him. “I learned so much from him before he got to Houston,” he said. “I actually watched him to learn Rick Adelman’s offense. When he got there, to see it first hand, he just been great.”

Although he’s not an assistant coach, Jackson assists with the Kings’ practices and has seen what Head has been able to do in Sacramento. “He’s been a constant professional,” Jackson said about Head. “He‘s been here, competing every day. He brings that outside shooting, that quickness, he can create his own shot at the guard spot. He always wants to get better.”

At 6-feet-3-inches he’s considered an undersized shooter but he insists that there’s more to him than that. “A lot of people say my shooting, but I would say my defense,” he said when asked about the strongest aspect of his game. “I try to keep my guy in front of me at the one guard, play some two. I think I do both pretty well.”

Head will see some time on the floor with last season’s Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and Landry thinks that they compliment each other. “They can both get to the hoop,” Landry said. “They both shoot, they’re both fast, both smart players.”

Going into the season, Head wants to show the 29 other teams in the NBA that he can still play. ”It’s that year to put myself on a positive (mindset) and take myself of that negative mindset of a lot of people,” he said.

To Head, getting another contract isn’t a priority right now. “I love it here (in Sacramento),” he said. “If I could get a contract that would be a blessing but I’m not trying to think about it now. I’m just playing, coming in practice, truing to do what I can do to get better.”

Even with all of the bumps in his career, bumps that could have knocked him out of the league, Head still sees a long career ahead in the NBA. “I want to play as long as I can,” he said. I’m going to keep doing the things that’s keeping me around. Defense, knocking down open shots and you might see a little bit more from me.”

Head has overcome his injuries for a chance to stay in the league. Now he has the chance to show the Kings and every other team that he can still be productive in the NBA.