Heat's Wayne Ellington facing the mental challenge of DNP-CD

MILWAUKEE — It was the culmination of nearly a month of frustration for Heat guard Wayne Ellington.

When Ellington was inserted late in the Heat’s 124-86 loss Tuesday to the Milwaukee Bucks, he immediately launched a 3-pointer that missed badly. The attempt was his way of trying to regain control — and some comfort — after being out of the rotation for so long.

“The first shot was one of those just F-it shots and just let it go,” Ellington said. “I was open, so I wanted to shoot it.”

Such is the life of someone who has been banished to the realm of DNP-CD, one of the most difficult experiences for an NBA player. The acronym stands for Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision. Ellington logged eight minutes in the Heat’s most lopsided loss of the season, ending a string of nine straight games in which he did not play. He last played Dec. 23 against Orlando.

It was the easily the longest inactive stretch of his nine-year career.

“It’s been really hard,” said Ellington, who finished with nine points Tuesday. “I’ve felt all different types of emotions: hurt, anger, all the way down the line. Upset. All that kind of stuff. I’m a warrior, though. I’m going to keep on fighting, keep battling. That’s what I do.”

The DNP-CD is the ultimate test of character for professionals who have often been stars throughout their careers. All it takes is one for even a player as mild-mannered as Ellington to express frustration. The hope is Tuesday was more than just “garbage minutes” and that it leads to an eventual return to the lineup.

Patience, though, is scarce at this point in the season.

“You can keep on saying (it’s a long season), but, shit, we’re halfway through,” Ellington said. “The season is halfway done. I don’t look at it like that. It’s a long season, but I live in the moment.”

Ellington is hardly the first — or last — player to struggle with DNP-CD. For most, it is their first humbling experience in the league. It took Heat guard Justise Winslow all of five seconds to recall the only time he logged zero minutes as an NBA player.

It occurred his rookie season against the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Winslow sat the entire game for the first time in his playing career.

“It came at a weird time for me because I had been playing every game,” Winslow said. “It’s just a reminder to stay with it, stay positive and keep with the process. That not an easy thing.”

The experience was so memorable Winslow pointed it out to coach Erik Spoelstra as he made his way off the court following Tuesday morning’s shootaround. It did not matter that Spoelstra started Winslow at center the following game.

The DNP-CD is always remembered.

“It’s been really hard,” said Ellington (second right) of not getting off the bench. “I’ve felt all different types of emotions: hurt, anger, all the way down the line.” (Steve Mitchell / USA Today)

“It’s tough when you’re not playing because the coach believes that somebody else is flat-out better than you,” Winslow said. “It sucks, but it’s also motivating. It inspires you to get in the gym a lot more. The emotional aspect of it is the hardest part. It’s easy to continue to work. The hardest part is the mental part, just believing in yourself and knowing that you belong in the league even when you’re not playing.”

Spoelstra has routinely apologized publicly when players fall victim to the numbers game. Earlier this month, he said he was “sick to his stomach” when he was unable to find minutes for Ellington. He also was disappointed recently after cutting Kelly Olynyk’s playing time last week against the Boston Celtics.

“I talk to the guys (after),” Spoelstra said. “I have great empathy for the guys who are not playing the minutes that they would like or deserve in many cases. I have great empathy for Wayne. I don’t have a great answer for it, other than we’ve found some things that have been good. It’s not an indictment on anybody. I can’t play everybody.”

Heat guard Derrick Jones Jr. had just completed one of his best stretches of the season when he joined the DNP-CD club. He had scored double-figures in three of four games, continuing his rise from G League project to everyday contributor.

Then he got stuck on the bench against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 8.

The situation was easier for Jones to endure because of his path. Unlike Ellington, he is neither a former lottery pick nor an established veteran. Jones went undrafted out of UNLV and grew accustomed to the bench his first season with the Phoenix Suns.

“It’s nothing that I can’t handle,” Jones said. “I’ve learned to be a young, mature man. If I have a problem, I can go talk to my coach about it. I don’t have any problems with anything. I’m satisfied. I’m happy with what’s going on with the team. As a competitor, everybody wants to be on the floor. It’s kind of frustrating, but you’re going to have to go through it. Life is full of ups and downs. You just have to go through things like that. It’s not the end of the world.”

Some players handle the mental challenge of the DNP-CD better than others because of mindset and circumstances. Josh Richardson had several similar experiences his rookie season. A second-round pick, the Heat viewed him as a developmental player. Still, he grew frustrated enough to ask the coaching staff to send him to the G League.

The lack of playing time had become too much. There were only so many times he could sit and watch Winslow, who was drafted in the same year, gain on-court experience.

“We’re professional so we have to go about it the right way,” Richardson said. “It’s very mental because you’re like, ‘Man, I’m not playing. Did I do something wrong? Am I ever going to get to play?’ You’ve just got to stick with it. This game will really bring you to your knees. Some things happen that you never thought would happen to you. When you’re not getting those minutes you want, it’s hard. You just have to stay positive.”

This season, Ellington has dealt with each DNP-CD differently. Sometimes, he goes home to decompress. Other days, he heads straight to the gym.

His emotions have yet to lead him to complain.

“There’s times to do that, but you never want to be that guy who is running into the coach’s office when things aren’t going right,” Ellington said. “That’s not my mindset. My mindset is just continue to work, continue to grind and get better and do whatever is necessary.”

(Top photo: Steve Mitchell / USA Today)

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