NBA
NBA Daily: Quarterman Banking On Hard Work Paying Off
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Heading into his third season as a professional, Tim Quarterman has been around the block, to say the least.
Between the NBA Summer League, preseason and the actual NBA season, the former LSU standout has played for four different organizations after going undrafted in 2016. In addition, Quarterman has had stints with a trio of G-League affiliates and, though he didn’t play a single game, even a quick trip to China under his belt.
His latest move—albeit a short-lived one—was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas as part of their July squad. This latest experience was Quarterman’s third straight summer league with his third team, so it’s easy to see why he was able to settle in so nicely.
“Very comfortable,” Quarterman told Basketball Insiders. “Just going out there, trying to make plays and show what I can do at both ends of the floor. I think I’m a big defender and stuff like that on the defensive side. On the offensive side, just trying to take care of the ball and make plays for my teammates.
The numbers don’t pop out, but just watching how Quarterman operated in year three, it’s plainly obvious that he was playing with a calmer and more collected demeanor. Instead of forcing the issue, he was letting the game come to him.
“It’s not my first time around, so just not going out there and jacking up shots or anything like that,” Quarterman told Basketball Insiders. “Just know you’ve got to play the right way.”
As far as Quarterman’s game goes, he’s a combo guard with plenty of length who likes to facilitate and get others involved—and he’s got the size to be as versatile as any player at his position at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds.
But he isn’t one to break things down and get into X’s and O’s. Instead, Quarterman is a guy who keeps it simple and believes that putting in time and effort will get you to where you want to go.
“Never get too high, never get too low,” Quarterman told Basketball Insiders. “Just go out there and play the game that you’ve been playing your whole life. Just go out there and play hard and leave the rest to itself.”
It’s been difficult for him to find a permanent home (Quarterman is currently a free agent), but coming back to Sin City and having the chance to showcase his skills in front of NBA executives, players and other prominent figures was all he asked for.
Bouncing around has taken its toll on Quarterman over his career to this point, but his mind is certainly maturing as he moves forward in his journey.
And while the destination may not be clear at this time, he is confident that his trials and tribulations are going to pay off soon.
“It just makes the story even better later on down the road,” Quarterman told Basketball Insiders. “I’ve been through a lot in these couple years. Never just get too down on yourself. Just keep working hard and when the next opportunity presents itself, just go at it.”
