Courtney Fells: A Basketball Journey Around The World
Westchester Knicks guard Courtney Fells has traveled the long road to his current status as an NBA D-League player. He’s not done working his way up.
The life of a basketball player is a journey in itself. For many, the game of basketball can bring an athlete around the world to different countries and continents.
For Courtney Fells, he’s a well-traveled veteran. After his four-year collegiate career at North Carolina State came to an end, he went undrafted in 2009. He’s played in eight different countries (Cyprus, Israel, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Venezuela, Turkey, Argentina and Italy) and three NBA D-League teams (Austin Spurs, Texas Legends and Westchester Knicks).
Even with being a well-traveled veteran, Fells maintains a mentality of staying consistent with his craft.
“Just being consistent no matter where you are. Be who you are. Don’t try to get outside of yourself and do anything,” Courtney Fells said. “Of course, you’re going to work on things and get better, but during the game isn’t the time to try to show those things at all times. I just try to let the game come to me and I just play off the game. Maybe a floater. It may be a jump shot. It may be diving on that loose ball. Whatever the case may be. I want to do it for the team to show that I want to win, so that’s all that I try to focus on.”
Fells started out the season with the Texas Legends after making the team via a team tryout. While he received an opportunity with Texas, the Legends had depth on their team, which limited him building a rhythm and consistency.
Despite it being tough, the North Carolina State product just tried to let the game come to him.
“It was a little tough with all those guys are good players,” Fells said. “I’m not the guy to force things. I don’t play outside of my character, so I just try to let the game come to me. But being on a team like that, you got to be aggressive at all times and that’s what I needed to focus on more.”
After one month in Frisco, Texas, Fells was traded to the Westchester Knicks in a three-team deal. By going to Westchester, Fells was reunited with head coach Mike Miller in Westchester. Miller was an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs in Fells’ lone season with the Spurs.
Once the eight-year veteran joined the Knicks, he felt comfortable with the system due to his familiarity with Westchester’s head coach.
“I was familiar with [coach] Mike [Miller] and he was familiar with my game and he felt this system was a little better for me,” Fells said. “In Dallas, it was more of a one-on-one type game system, but here is more of the triangle, so you have to play as a team. It fits me a little better cause I can come off and shoot or I can make plays with my game, so I think it’s just a better situation for me.”
“He just tried to make it more comfortable for me,” Fells continued. “I just came in and wanted to do anything I can to help the team win, so that’s my main focus and that’s what I always focus on. Whatever happens after that, leave it in God’s hands.”
Upon arriving in Westchester, Courtney Fells struggled on the offensive end. As he got more acclimated to the team, his numbers began to rise at the perfect time. Fells had a stretch of seven games during which he scored in double-figures and displayed his efficient 3-point shooting.
The North Carolina State product carried his efficiency into Canada during the NBA D-League Showcase. At the event, Fells averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game on 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.
While Courtney has displayed his offensive ability throughout the season, he takes more pride in his play on the defensive end.
“That’s where it starts. Defense gets me going,” Fells said. “I’ve been a defensive guy ever since college. I had to guard the best guard every night out for four years and it just carried over and that’s what I try to focus on the most and it gets me going on offense as well.
Must Read: Could The Westchester Knicks Be Seeing Some Familiar Faces?
With the Knicks sitting at 15-21 and only 14 games remaining in the season, Fells has a few things he’s looking to improve on in the final stretch of the season.
“Just show that I can compete on both ends of the floor, particularly on the defensive end,” Fells said. “Everybody needs a guy that plays defense. And my I.Q. for the game, offensive and defensive, will just show. My main thing is to compete, try to rebound, run the floor and make open shots when I can so I can be a stretch guard and hopefully somebody will need me.”