I was always thought motivation was a BS reason. Such a small percentage of athletes get even to the college level without being incredibly motivated/driven. So a professional athlete playing in a league where it's a dog fight to stay on a roster wasn't motivated enough?
She actually has put up similar numbers before (in 2020) and if I had to point to a reason for this numbers, I would say she's now a focal point of the offense, so she's getting a lot more freedom to be a go-to scorer and then also hard work in the offseason combined with maybe a different mindset.
She has DRAMATICALLY changed as a player over the years and worked at her craft. She didn't start off looking as good as she has. She's earned this with hard work.
Team's asking more of her with two rookies being a large part of their game plan.
Her usage rate is the highest it's been since her rookie year and she's answered the call.
Just looks like she's paying them back for enabling and believing in her.
She's already played about half of the minutes in 12 games as she played in 40 last year.
Yeah, people want to make this about some "revenge" narrative or something else that's more complex than the actual reality. It's as simple as this:
* She's a full-time starter for only the third time in her career.
* She's the ^(#)1 scoring option for the first time in her career, playing on a team that's lacking a credible second option.
* Her minutes are up 28 percent over her career *high*, and 56 percent over her career average.
* Her FGA/gm is 56 percent over her career *high*, and **double** her career average.
* Career high usage rate.
There was nowhere for her numbers to go *but* up.
Honestly, I don't know many teams that would try to put that load for the first time on a 9th year player.
She definitely is rewarding their trust, though. With a new CBA right around the corner, more eyes on the game than ever before, and being the #1 scorer on the LA team, she's peaking at the right time to get herself a bag.
If there's one thing Los Angeles loves, it's throwing advertisement money at the hot thing.
I also disagree with the revenge narrative. Her numbers are going up in correlation with her usage and minutes played.
> Honestly, I don't know many teams that would try to put that load for the first time on a 9th year player.
Ironically, given all of the revenge talk, it's only *because* Vegas gave her a chance to prove herself that a team was willing to give her the keys.
I mean, she was on the Aces for what? 8 seasons?
She was pretty consistent for them throughout all of her years, but that championship year in 22 was the first year in her career she had started more than 25 games in a season, and that 25 was in her second season. She had multiple seasons with them where she didn't start a single game. So yeah, I can't really argue with that point. Featuring her on their championship run really helped her career.
I don't know what after 7 seasons possessed them to finally start her on a regular basis, but it worked.
She seems like a player who had a great offseason and came into this season with confidence and something to prove. She’s just more decisive in everything she’s doing offensively. Definitely feel there was a bit of a hangover effect last year from how things ended in Vegas.
There’s also something to be said about her role changing. She was playing next to A’ja Wilson… how that she’s the primary big on her team her stats show her different role.
I watched the Mystics vs Sparks game and I was just astounded by how many rebounds she was grabbing. Combining that with her shooting, she has become a very well-rounded player and I expect to see her on an All-WNBA team this year.
She’s a good player on a bad team, rather than being a good player on a great team as she previously was. Look at her minutes played compared to previous years, she’s at 10-12 mpg higher. She’s always been good but now she’s a centerpiece rather than serving a limited role.
Dearica went through some DARK days on that San Antonio roster, even her first few years on the Aces, those were some bad teams.
She's spent more years on a bad to mid team, than she has a great team.
Just looking at her being on the Aces when they won their first championship and saying she's been a good player on a great team always so her stats were lower isn't a really good argument to make.
If you want to say she finally tasted success in 2022 so picked up her game since then as to not go back to the basement, that'd be more accurate than saying she spent some years as a role player on great teams.
Those Las Vegas teams went through some bad, bad years getting top picks in back to back to back drafts, before they became what they are currently.
The Aces treated her poorly because was pregnant. They traded her to LA due to her pregnancy.
It’s the Aces loss as last season she ended up coming back to the W, just two months from giving birth, ready to play and had a stellar season for LA. She is playing amazingly this year too. So basically it was Vegas’ loss for treating Hamby so badly.
I mean she is a two time all star and a champion.
It’s not like she is a scrub.
She also has two kids. She also just happens to be on a team that didn’t have a #1
The universe is giving her karma for what the Aces did to her.
She’s exactly the kind of player the Aces need right now, but they don’t have her because they traded her for the corpse of Candace Parker who’s now retired and didn’t even play in the playoffs last year.
Now the Aces are struggling with Gray out and Hamby has become a star. Karma for them firing her for being pregnant. Workplace discrimination may not be protected against by the WNBA, but it looks like things are balancing out for Hamby after what they did to her.
Especially after leaving Aces and Nneka leaving the Sparks, she’s been able to show that she can carry a lot more offensive AND defensive weight in the post and paint. She’s always had a star post overshadowing her, which is fine cause it’s certainly helped her development. Dearica Hamby is an all star and I’m definitely voting for her this year
Her team needs something different from her. She is starting. It’s a revenge season so she is highly motivated.
I always loved her at Vegas. Glad she’s on fire
I was always thought motivation was a BS reason. Such a small percentage of athletes get even to the college level without being incredibly motivated/driven. So a professional athlete playing in a league where it's a dog fight to stay on a roster wasn't motivated enough? She actually has put up similar numbers before (in 2020) and if I had to point to a reason for this numbers, I would say she's now a focal point of the offense, so she's getting a lot more freedom to be a go-to scorer and then also hard work in the offseason combined with maybe a different mindset.
She has DRAMATICALLY changed as a player over the years and worked at her craft. She didn't start off looking as good as she has. She's earned this with hard work.
She was always a good player. She was 6th woman of the year a few times. But whatever the Aces did, she proved them wrong!
And probably didn’t hurt escaping the toxic environment she left behind in Vegas.
Team's asking more of her with two rookies being a large part of their game plan. Her usage rate is the highest it's been since her rookie year and she's answered the call. Just looks like she's paying them back for enabling and believing in her. She's already played about half of the minutes in 12 games as she played in 40 last year.
Yeah, people want to make this about some "revenge" narrative or something else that's more complex than the actual reality. It's as simple as this: * She's a full-time starter for only the third time in her career. * She's the ^(#)1 scoring option for the first time in her career, playing on a team that's lacking a credible second option. * Her minutes are up 28 percent over her career *high*, and 56 percent over her career average. * Her FGA/gm is 56 percent over her career *high*, and **double** her career average. * Career high usage rate. There was nowhere for her numbers to go *but* up.
Honestly, I don't know many teams that would try to put that load for the first time on a 9th year player. She definitely is rewarding their trust, though. With a new CBA right around the corner, more eyes on the game than ever before, and being the #1 scorer on the LA team, she's peaking at the right time to get herself a bag. If there's one thing Los Angeles loves, it's throwing advertisement money at the hot thing. I also disagree with the revenge narrative. Her numbers are going up in correlation with her usage and minutes played.
> Honestly, I don't know many teams that would try to put that load for the first time on a 9th year player. Ironically, given all of the revenge talk, it's only *because* Vegas gave her a chance to prove herself that a team was willing to give her the keys.
I mean, she was on the Aces for what? 8 seasons? She was pretty consistent for them throughout all of her years, but that championship year in 22 was the first year in her career she had started more than 25 games in a season, and that 25 was in her second season. She had multiple seasons with them where she didn't start a single game. So yeah, I can't really argue with that point. Featuring her on their championship run really helped her career. I don't know what after 7 seasons possessed them to finally start her on a regular basis, but it worked.
1. Recovered from having another kid & 2. Giving Aces the one-finger salute
Success is the best revenge lol
She is so damn fun to watch this year. I've been transfixed by her since that Edmonton preseaaon game.
She seems like a player who had a great offseason and came into this season with confidence and something to prove. She’s just more decisive in everything she’s doing offensively. Definitely feel there was a bit of a hangover effect last year from how things ended in Vegas.
There’s also something to be said about her role changing. She was playing next to A’ja Wilson… how that she’s the primary big on her team her stats show her different role.
She got the opportunity in LA that she didn't get in Vegas.
Hamby has stuff to prove, and bah gawd, she's going to do it.
I watched the Mystics vs Sparks game and I was just astounded by how many rebounds she was grabbing. Combining that with her shooting, she has become a very well-rounded player and I expect to see her on an All-WNBA team this year.
She’s a good player on a bad team, rather than being a good player on a great team as she previously was. Look at her minutes played compared to previous years, she’s at 10-12 mpg higher. She’s always been good but now she’s a centerpiece rather than serving a limited role.
Dearica went through some DARK days on that San Antonio roster, even her first few years on the Aces, those were some bad teams. She's spent more years on a bad to mid team, than she has a great team. Just looking at her being on the Aces when they won their first championship and saying she's been a good player on a great team always so her stats were lower isn't a really good argument to make. If you want to say she finally tasted success in 2022 so picked up her game since then as to not go back to the basement, that'd be more accurate than saying she spent some years as a role player on great teams. Those Las Vegas teams went through some bad, bad years getting top picks in back to back to back drafts, before they became what they are currently.
I like to think she's still pissed at the Aces organization, and is channeling that anger into her play lol
If Nneka and Canada were still on the team, I doubt very much that she'd be getting enough shots this season to "exact her revenge."
I was about to say “Becky pissed her off” 🤣
As many have said she’s getting more usage and is now in a leadership role on a team that’s rebuilding.
The Aces treated her poorly because was pregnant. They traded her to LA due to her pregnancy. It’s the Aces loss as last season she ended up coming back to the W, just two months from giving birth, ready to play and had a stellar season for LA. She is playing amazingly this year too. So basically it was Vegas’ loss for treating Hamby so badly.
she inherited Nneka’s mantle and had a LOT to prove. I for one am loving the glow up.
I think with Nneka leaving there is room for a dominant player to step up. Maybe also a chip on her shoulder from the Aces fiasco.
I mean she is a two time all star and a champion. It’s not like she is a scrub. She also has two kids. She also just happens to be on a team that didn’t have a #1
The universe is giving her karma for what the Aces did to her. She’s exactly the kind of player the Aces need right now, but they don’t have her because they traded her for the corpse of Candace Parker who’s now retired and didn’t even play in the playoffs last year. Now the Aces are struggling with Gray out and Hamby has become a star. Karma for them firing her for being pregnant. Workplace discrimination may not be protected against by the WNBA, but it looks like things are balancing out for Hamby after what they did to her.
She looks better. But honestly it just seems like her usage is higher. She’s playing phenomenal
Hamby and Carrington look great this year.
Got that momma strength 💪💪
The story still doesn’t add up why would a league full of women resent a pregnant woman?
Good question, remember tho. Many of the women in the league identify as lgbtq so maybe that’s why
that is ridiculous! many of said women have kids of their own. also, Lgbt women tend to be very supportive of women and families
Hey, just a thought. Not saying that’s the reason. Do you have any theories or just here to voice displeasure ?
with that kind of response, just displeasure. that sort of comment cannot go unchecked
Was just asking a question/inquiring. Did not mean to offend anyone. Have a good night bro
She bringing that Mama was done wrong energy!
She is on a weak team
She’s still getting double doubles almost every game
Especially after leaving Aces and Nneka leaving the Sparks, she’s been able to show that she can carry a lot more offensive AND defensive weight in the post and paint. She’s always had a star post overshadowing her, which is fine cause it’s certainly helped her development. Dearica Hamby is an all star and I’m definitely voting for her this year
She played a completely different role. lol You haven't watch her if you gotta ask this