Utah Jazz's Trey Burke: Players need 'to grow every day'

Feb 21, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke (3) drives to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz Trey Burke took home almost every major award in college basketball last season while leading the Michigan Wolverines into the National Championship game.

However, he quickly found out the NBA is a different animal.

“I think I’ve adjusted pretty quickly. The guys at this level are just as fast, bigger. It’s not really about natural talent anymore,” Burke told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “It’s about seeing the game, making the right reads, playing defense. The great point guards, that’s where they separate themselves. They may not be the most athletic guy. Take a guy like Chris Paul, he’s a smaller guard but he’s able to see the game at another level, and that’s where I’m trying to get to.”

Burke, who has seemingly hit the “rookie wall,” says he needs to keep improving.

“That’s what it’s all about, you’ve got to get better in this league,” he said. “You’ve got to continue to grow every day, grow physically and mentally, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

Burke is averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game this season.

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Utah Jazz’s Trey Burke: Players need ‘to grow every day’

By Andrew Melnick | Mar 2, 2014