“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon E. Curvey

As a person who has grown up playing basketball and following the game of basketball I have never seen a young man treated so unfairly by the media and fans like local University Of Washington freshman Tony Wroten Jr.

The treatment of this 18 year old fella here in this town is terrible. Tony has not asked for none of this. Since the 8th grade the basketball world has known of this young basketball player from up in the Northwest city of Seattle who is very very good.

Tony went on to Garfield High School and became a high school star. If you want to see some of his plays in high school just go to You Tube and you will see. The young guy has untapped talent.

Now he just completed a great freshman year at the UW, And was named “Freshman Of  The Year” in the Pac 12. People are saying he might be one year and then gone to the NBA. Which I think is a big mistake.

The other day, Washington lost to a 9th seeded Oregon State team in the Pac 12 tournament. The game ended with Tony Jr. missing four critical free throws after making 9 out 11 during the game. He scored 29 points in the game.

And now Washington because of the loss to Crieg Robinson’s Beavers, the Huskies most likely will not go to the big dance. Even after winning the Pac 12 sorry to say. Wroten Jr. after the game was a huge target on Twitter with very very negative comments by a bunch of clowns.

Now I will say this, young Tony Jr. in my opinion made a mistake by re-tweeting comments by these clowns who was blasting him on Twitter. Tony should not and cannot do this because he is just making things worse. Just ask LeBron James.

On Friday I turn on local sports radio KJR and 710 ESPN and listen to the hosts and callers talk positive about Wroten Jr.  and negative about him. On the negative side, I heard a host on KJR talk negative about Tony Jr. because he shows emotions after making a tremendous play on offense or defense.

The host said he was wrong for hollering like former Sonic star Shawn Kemp after a great play and “beating his chest” like Kemp. What a STUPID comment!! This is the kind of stuff that Tony Jr. and his family has had to deal with. And this is what might drive him to leave Washington after his freshman year. I know his dad Tony Sr. is tired of all the negativity towards his on. The unfair media and fans in this area need to chill out and support Tony Jr. and not bash him at will.

In my opinion Wroten Jr. needs to stay in school and work on his outside shot and outside jumper from 15 to 20 ft. Maybe enlist Troy Miles to work with him during the off season on his game. Miles can for sure help Tony and other young players with their game. Of course Tony Jr. must want the help.

As a basketball fan I will say this right now. Tony Wroten Jr. IS NOT ready for the NBA. He has to work on his game. Why not stay four years like Brandon Roy did. The money will be there for sure. He can shut up the crazy and stupid fans and sports radio hosts with his play on the court.

Wroten Jr. is a tremendous talent. He cannot let this past season get him down in spirits. He has to realize that he is only 18 years old and a very bright future is in front of him. By the way, if he returns to Washington next year, they will have a VERY good team that could go very far.

Tony Jr. should block out the negativity and think positive. Stay at the UW and practice, practice and practice. Take 1,000 shots a day. Work with Troy Miles at the UW or SU Connelly Center. Do not enter the NBA. He is not ready. Don’t let the so called fans and so called media drive him away. There are people in community who don’t even know Tony Jr. but we still have his back and support him.

Tony’s niece Joyce Walker is my childhood friend who is the best ladies basketball player ever from the state of Washington. A great player at Garfield High School (where Wroten Jr. played) and at LSU and went on to play with the Harlem Globetrotters and his mom Shirley was great in the sport of track also at Garfield. And his Uncle Donnie was a great local player too. I had a lot of battles on the court with Joyce and Donnie growing up.

I hope Tony Sr and Joyce and Shirley and all of us who are following Tony Jr. will stand behind him and “shelter” him from the negativity from the stupid fans on Twitter and the stupid fans and hosts on KJR snd 710 ESPN here in Seattle. STAY UP YOUNG BROTHA!!! WE HAVE YOUR BACK!!!!!!