Last Man Standing:
Most NBA fans haven’t heard of Andre Owens. They don’t know that he likes to ride horses and play video games. People don’t know that he claims to be the best Madden and NBA Live player or that he’s really competitive, but they will.
Andre, the 6’4 combo guard from Indianapolis, took a different route to the NBA than most players. Andre led the University of Houston Cougars in scoring his senior year. His outstanding play at Houston matched with his pre-draft workouts led Owens into believing he would be drafted.
“I worked out for about five or six NBA teams. I trained really hard and worked out with NBA guys in NBA systems,” he said. “I ran two miles a day, shot over 1,000 shots a day and ran drills with cones.”
Playing in the Portsmouth Invitational before the draft, Andre walked away being a member of the All-Tournament Team.
All he was trying to do was improve his standing before the draft. “John Lucas told me that I have a lot of energy and I need to channel it. It’s when to use it and not use it. I learned how to use my energy to help my team win,” he said.
Despite being a member of the Portsmouth Invitational All-Tournament team, Owens was not drafted by an NBA team.
Now that Owens is on the Jazz, he hasn’t stopped trying to improve his game. “I’m an energy guy,” he states. “I’m going to use my minutes to the max. I try to bring energy and life to the team. I try to be like Bobby Jackson. A guy that brings defense, gets the team going and makes plays.”
Owens overcame obstacles in his way and now is trying to show others in the local community that they can do the same. “I tell people to never give up, never give up your dream, hard work exceeds that dream,” Owens said. “Always believe in yourself and keep positive people around you. Use what you have.”
“I’m trying to get to the high schools and junior highs and tell them that no matter what happens that they should work hard until they fulfill their dreams.” Owens is living his, playing for the Utah Jazz, living life in the NBA.
- Scott Church
In addition to his on the court talents, Owens claims to be an incredible Madden Football and NBA Live video game player.
The draft gods didn’t look down on Andre and he was left without a contract or a team to play for. “I was devastated; I didn’t know what to do. I told myself that it isn’t over. I had to get in there and outwork people and that’s what I try to do.”
Andre found himself talking with the Jazz. He was invited to play with the Jazz’ summer league Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue team in Salt Lake City where he was the fifth highest scorer on the squad and was arguably the best player without a contract.
The Jazz were so impressed that they invited Owens to training camp. “I was in excellent shape and they were impressed. I was running every day and shooting over 1,000 shots.”
Training camp was a surprise not only for Jazz management but also for fans. In six pre-season games, Owens averaged 8.5 points in a reserve role. He impressed the coaches and management so much that a contract was offered.
“I came in to work out and they came in and told me ‘Congratulations, you’ve made the team.’ I was the 15th man on the team,” he said. “I was just relieved, I was so happy.”
Owens wasted no time before he got on the phone. “I called my mom, brothers, college and high school coaches. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I’m standing now. I wanted to tell them thanks for everything they did for me.”
