If you were looking for Rodney Stuckey's coming out party, you're too late. Stuckey spent the weekend collecting accolades from the blogosphere's heavy-hitters (see: Tom Ziller, Bethlehem Shoals) and relative unknowns (no offense, NBA Mate, you're on my radar now), and today he was named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week:
Stuckey guided the Pistons to a 4-0 week, leading the team in scoring in three of their four games. The second-year guard posted averages of 23.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds, while helping the Pistons to a season-high seven game win streak. On Jan. 2 against Sacramento, Stuckey tied his career high in field goals made (15); he played a career-high 43 minutes in each of his last two games. The Pistons are 13-3 with Stuckey as a starter.
It can't get better than this, right? Actually, it can: thanks to Detroit's road trip out west, he'll have a chance to stop by his alma mater, where he'll watch his jersey be raised to the rafters. From Eastern Washington's official website:
Consider it the Senior Day he was never able to receive.
Former Eastern Washington University men’s basketball All-American and current Detroit Piston Rodney Stuckey will have his EWU jersey retired in ceremonies that will take place on Sunday, Jan. 11 at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash.
The event takes place in conjunction with Eastern’s Big Sky Conference game against Weber State that starts at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time and will be televised live regionally on Altitude Sports and Entertainment. The Pistons play at Utah the night before, and don’t play again until Charlotte visits Detroit on Jan. 13.
"I am very honored and humbled to have my EWU jersey retired," said Stuckey on Tuesday (Dec. 30). "I have so many wonderful memories from my college days and I’m thankful to the University, the fans, my coaches and my teammates."
(Thanks to Mike Payne for finding the video)