Robert Covington ：快艇队前锋谈迷失的赛季 —“我怀着复仇的心态”
https://tinyurl.com/yxvzjmsm (The Athletic)
This time a year ago, LA Clippers power forward Robert Covington was eager to
begin his tenth NBA season out of Tennessee State. The 2018 All-Defensive
First Team selection was traded to the Clippers from the Portland Trail
Blazers a week before the 2022 NBA trade deadline, and LA was Covington’s
fifth city in four seasons. He was already weary of the constant
transactions, but he also fit the Clippers seamlessly for the second half of
the 2021-22 NBA season as a backup big behind starting forwards Nicolas Batum
and Marcus Morris Sr. and next to backup center Isaiah Hartenstein. Covington
anticipated a fun 2022-23 season so much that he didn’t even test free
agency, choosing to sign a two-year extension in May 2022 that lined his deal
up with stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
Except — nothing about the 2022-23 season was fun for Covington.
Someone was always going to be on the short end of the stick with the surplus
of wings that president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had
accumulated. Covington was in head coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation in the first
two weeks of the season, partly due to the absence of a center behind starter
Ivica Zubac in the wake of Hartenstein’s departure to the New York Knicks.
But once Covington left the lineup due to health and safety protocols at the
end of October, he never found a consistent stretch of minutes again.
就在一年前的这个时候，Robert Covington 迫不及待地要开始他第十个赛季。
Covington 在2018年入选了防守第一队，于2022年交易截止日前一周，从拓荒者来到了快
艇。而这也是他在过去四年内第五次转队。他早已厌倦了不断地被交易，但在2021-22 赛
季的下半赛季，作为 Nicolas Batum 和 Marcus Morris，以及小球五号的替补，他完美
地融入了快艇队。Covington 展望着的2022-23赛季，以至于他甚至都没有测试自由球员
市场水温，就于2022年5月与快艇签下了一份为期两年的续约，而Covington 的合约也让
他与球队的核心Paul George 和 Kawhi Leonard 处在同一时间轴上。
然而，2022-23赛季对于Covington 来说，却一点也不有趣。
在快艇总管Lawrence Frank 积累了大量的侧翼球员后，总有人会处于不利的位置。在开
季的前两周，Covington 仍在球队的轮换阵容中，部分原因是由于球队替补中锋 Isaiah
Hartenstein 离开，转队至纽约尼克。但在十月底，Covington 因确诊短暂缺席后，他再
也没有找到持续且稳定的上场时间。
At first, Covington understood the sacrifice he was asked to make. But things
made less sense to him as the season went on. Covington was bracing to be
traded in February, only for him to remain on the roster with Morris starting
and Batum in the second unit. Even when Morris’ struggles persisted into the
spring and George and Leonard would suffer season-ending knee injuries,
Covington’s opportunities to play were sporadic at best. The result: only
three games all season with at least 30 minutes, and only 19 games overall
with at least 20 minutes. It was the fewest minutes per game (16.2) Covington
played in a season since he was an undrafted rookie with the 2013-14 Houston
Rockets.
On this particular August day, Covington played at the invite-only pro pickup
runs at UCLA facilitated by Rico Hines, who is now on Nick Nurse’s coaching
staff with the Philadelphia 76ers. As trade talks come and go, Covington got
to play with younger Clippers teammates such as Terance Mann, KJ Martin,
Bones Hyland, Brandon Boston Jr., and rookie Jordan Miller against the likes
of Toronto Raptors’ (Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, Jalen
McDaniels), Philadelphia 76ers’ (De’Anthony Melton, Paul Reed, Mo Bamba),
and NBA G League Ignite. Also in attendance: Frank and 76ers president of
basketball operations Daryl Morey.
起初，Covington 能理解被要求做出牺牲。但随着赛季的进展，事情对他来说变得越来越
不合理。Covington 曾在二月份做好了被交易的心理准备，但最终他留在了球队中，而
Morris 继续做为先发，Batum 进入替补阵容。即使Morris 挣扎的表现持续到了春天，加
上PG和Kawhi 也因膝伤而赛季报销，Covington也只有零星的上场时间。结果就是：整季
只有三场比赛的上场时间超过30分钟，19场比赛的上场时间超过20分钟。本季场均上场时
间16.2分钟，是他自从新秀赛季后，最少的一季。
在这个月，Covington 受邀参加了由Rico Hines在UCLA举办的比赛。Rico Hines现在是费
城76人队教练团中的一员。在这比赛中，Covington 有机会和年轻的快艇队队友一起参加
比赛，如Terance Mann、KJ Martin、Bones Hyland、Brandon Boston Jr.以及新秀
Jordan Miller，对手包括多伦多暴龙队 Pascal Siakam、Scottie Barnes、Gradey Dick
、Jalen McDaniels、费城76人队 De’Anthony Melton、Paul Reed、Mo Bamba 和G
League Ignite。同样在现场的，还有快艇总管Lawrence Frank和76人总管Daryl Morey。
There was a time when Covington was worried about trade rumors and extra
noise. The Clippers have a roster where the logjam at Covington’s position
still exists, and if anything, it may be even more pronounced after the
additions of Martin and first-round rookie Kobe Brown.
But Covington and his young teammates played well together, winning five
straight games to end the day at UCLA. Covington mixed in his usual game of
catch-and-shoot 3s on offense and deflections on defense with some aggressive
drives, including a baseline fadeaway that caught Siakam by surprise. It’s
all a part of a summer for Covington that has included playing in the
Nashville Pro-Am, running camps, and staying in top shape for his age 32
summer.
In a one-on-one with The Athletic in LA, Covington spoke about where his
focus is at right now, what he took away from last season, and how he intends
to handle the upcoming season.
曾经有段时间，Covington 对于交易传闻感到担忧。而快艇队的阵容和Covington的定位
仍陷于困局中，如果说有什么改变的话，那可能在KJ Martin 新秀Kobe Brown加入之后会
更加明显。
但Covington 和他的年轻队友在这次比赛中表现得很好，连赢了五场比赛，结束了在UCLA
的一天。Covington 在进攻端展现他的传球和三分球的技能，而在防守端则不断进行干扰
，同时也有一些积极的突破，包括一个在底线的后仰跳投，这让 Pascal Siakam 感到很
意外。对于Covington 来说，这都是夏天的一部分。其中包括参加了 Nashville Pro-Am
联赛和训练营，并且保持着他的最佳状态。
Covington 在洛杉矶接受The Athletic的一对一专访中，谈到了他目前的专注点、从上个
赛季获得了什么，以及他打算如何应对即将到来的赛季。
So you post on your stories a lot. And I’ve seen you working a lot this
summer. I saw the one time you put the numbers up on the scale — like 228 or
something like that. How do you feel physically right now? How do you feel
about your game?
I feel great. People been trying to get me to do a lot, put out a lot. Nah. We
’ll see this season. I got a vendetta. It’s a bigger chip on my shoulder.
Not playing that much last year really put me in a place — all right. I got
to force them. So, come back, do what I got to do. They say this is the
mentality of, you know, come back strong, get better. That way, it won’t be
none of that. Won’t be no issues of, whatever the case. … It’s the way the
year went. It wasn’t how I expected, but I said it’s come back, go to the
drawing board, and get better.
问: 你最近常在IG上发布动态。我看到你这个夏天训练得很勤劳。我记得有一次看到你的
体重——大概是228磅或类似的数字。你现在身体状况如何？你对比赛感觉如何？
Roco: 我感觉很棒。人们试图帮助我，投入很多精神。这赛季等著看，我怀着复仇的心态
，而我肩上的压力更大了。去年没怎么打球真的让我处于一种心态——好吧，我必须强迫
他们让我上场。所以，回到球场上，做我应该做的事情。就是人们所说那种回来地更加强
大，变得更好。这样，就不会有什么问题了。不会有任何问题，无论是什么情况......这
一年的发展不是我所期望的，但我说过，我会回来，重新开始，变得更好。
One of the things you were really open about when you got to the Clips in the
first place was how you kind of got to be prepared for anything in terms of
moves and whatnot. And you signed your extension. You had what your
expectations were with the team before the way the year went. You’re in
another contract year. You’ve been in this place in your career many times
before. How do you feel like it’s different this time compared to all the
previous times?
It ain’t no difference. Only difference is that I didn’t play last year. I
mean, that’s the only difference. I approach every chance, every opportunity
like that —it’s no different. So my mentality don’t shift, I don’t get
discouraged or anything. I got to do what I do. And I do what I do best. So I
’m never going to stray away. Never going to stray away from anything of
that nature. I am going to be who I am, and that’s just what it is.
问: 当初加入快艇队时，你曾经非常坦率地谈到，你需要为可能的转队情况做好准备。接
着你续约了。在赛季的进行之前，你对球队的期望是什么。你现在又进入了合约年，之前
已经经历过多次这种情况。你认为这一次与之前相比有何不同？
Roco: 没有什么不同。唯一的不同之处就是我去年没怎么打到球。我对待每一次机会的态
度都是如此，所以并没有什么不同。我的心态不会改变，我不会感到气馁或其他什么的。
我必须做我应该做的事情、做我最擅长的事情，所以我永远不会偏离自己的本性并忠于自
我，就是这样。
You’ve had a few months away from the end of the season. What do you kind of
take away from last season and what kind of feedback did you get?
I didn’t take nothing from last year. Last year didn’t go how I expected,
so I didn’t take nothing from it. I just wash it away and start over, a new
year. That’s just my mentality of it. … It’s nothing that could be talked
about. I mean, I really haven’t had much feedback besides, you know, what I’
ve been doing now. I haven’t talked about last year. I’ve put that behind
me and focused on right now and moving forward. That’s what it’s all about.
Can’t dwell on what happened last year, whatever the case may be. It
happened. So I’m just gonna wash, move forward.
问: 赛季结束几个月了。你从上个赛季中有何收获，你得到了什么样的反馈？
Roco: 我没有得到什么。去年的情况不如我所预期，所以我从中没有得到什么。我只是将
它遗忘，重新开始，进入新的一年。这就是我的心态……没有什么值得讨论的。除了我现
在所做的事情之外，我真的没有得到太多反馈。我没有谈论过去的事情。我已经把那段时
间抛至身后了，专注于当下和未来，就是这样。不能一直固守着去年发生的事情，不管情
况如何。它已经发生了。所以我会将此忘掉，继续前进。
How do you get ready for next year outside of the work that you’re putting
in? I see you today, when you’re not in LA and everything. How do you kind
of say, “I’m going to go in the camp with with the best foot forward?”
I do it every year. I approach every summer. I approach every summer the same
way. You know, my work ethic doesn’t change. I don’t go into no situation
thinking like, “Oh, I’m going to do something differently.” Like, no. What
I do in the season is what I primarily focus on. I do some more ballhandling
and stuff like that in the summertime, playing off the ball, playing more
pick and rolls on ball, doing a lot of different things. But that’s just
pushing myself to a different area, a different limit. So just pushing myself.
问: 除了你正在投入的训练外，你如何为明年做准备？ 当你不在洛杉矶，你又是怎么想
的，仍会说“我要以最好的状态进入训练营”吗？
我每年都这么做。我对待每个夏天的方式都是一样的。你知道，我的工作态度不会改变。
我不会想着“喔，我这次要做些不同的事情。”我在赛季中做的事情，就是我主要关注的
事。夏天我会多做一些控球和其他一些方面的事情，比如说无球、挡拆，做很多不同的训
练。但这只是将自己推向一个不同的领域、极限。只是在不断地提升自己。
Have you gotten a chance to talk to T. Lue?
No.
问: 你有机会和 Tyronn Lue谈过吗？
Roco: 没有。
Do you think that conversation will happen at some point?
If it do, it do. If it don’t, I won’t dwell on it. I focus on control, what
I control, and I go out and do my job. Whatever happens, happens. I haven’t
talked to T (Lue) since the season ended.
问: 你觉得你和Lue的对话会在某个时刻发生吗？
Roco: 如果会，就会。如果不会，我不会过多思考。我专注于控制我所能控制的，然后去
做我的工作。该发生的事就会发生。赛季结束后我还没有和Lue 谈过话。
You’ve gotten to play with these young guys. KJ is here now. Jordan Miller,
Kobe Brown. Like you got to play with them quite a bit today. What’s your
takeaways from the new young guys?
Man. Those guys are going to be special. I like Jordan’s tenacity, his
pressure on defense, I like his cutting off ball. I like the plays and reads
he made. The other guys came up here and played really well. You know, BB is
starting to get better. Bones is getting better. KJ is athletic as hell. He’
s gotten so much better. It is great to sit up here and see them dudes sit up
here and prosper.
问: 你和这些年轻人一起打过球了。KJ现在也在这里。Jordan Miller、Kobe Brown。你
对这些新人有什么看法？
Roco: 天哪。这些人会很特别。我喜欢Jordan的韧性和他在防守端给的压力，我喜欢他的
无球移动。我喜欢他所做的战术和判断。其他的人在这里表现得也非常出色。Brandon
Boston Jr. 正在变得越来越好。Bones Hyland 也在进步。KJ的运动能力太惊人了。他进
步了很多。很高兴能在这里看着他们成长茁壮。
We’re not in camp until Oct. 2. What do you want to do between now and then
in terms of enjoying your time in addition to getting ready for the season?
Personally and professionally?
I do my work, I go home, be a dad. You know, there’s some things that have
been finally put in place with no interruption. You know, I just enjoy
spending time with my little girl. And it’s all I focus on. Whenever I have
her, that’s what it’s all about. I’m a father first, family man. My
daughter is my world. So when basketball is out, once I’m done within those
four lines. Basketball is off my mind. I go home and be a dad. When I have my
daughter that’s my focus. I go home and be a dad? There’s nothing else.
问: 快艇要等到10月2日才会开始训练营。在那之前，你在享受时光的同时，还要为新赛
季做些什么准备？无论是在个人还是篮球方面？
Roco: 我会训练，然后回家做一个爸爸。有些事，现在终于不会受干扰去做了。我喜欢和
我的小女儿共度时光，和她在一起，就是我所关注的事情。我是一个父亲，顾家庭的人。
我的女儿就是我的全世界。所以当篮球结束，在我离开球场之后，篮球就不再在我脑海中
。当我和我的女儿在一起时，我的焦点就在那里。回家，当个好爸爸，没有其他事情了。