Each basket Vin Baker makes, each point he scores and each drive he takes, is a win for resilience. And sobriety. A recovering alcoholic who bottomed out last winter, he’s been one of the NBA’s most efficient scorers, and one of its most stirring comeback stories.
The Boston forward came into last night’s game at the Garden as the Celtics’ second-leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points and 7.2 rebounds. He’d shot 55.7 percent from the floor, fifth-best in the league – a league he nearly drank himself out of last season.
“He’s a recovering alcoholic, and I don’t think there’s anything bigger than being a recovering alcoholic versus being somebody that has a problem,” Celtic coach Jim O’Brien said.
“He’s been great. The only thing holding Vin back is we haven’t found out how to utilize him best. But the longer guys play with the player Vin is right now, the more they understand how to utilize him.”
The player Vin is right now is the operative phrase.
Baker made his emotional admission before training camp started, acknowledging that he used to binge in hotel rooms and at home after he’d played poorly. He said O’Brien had smelled alcohol on his breath during practice and confronted him in December and January.
Baker, who averaged just 5.2 points and 3.8 boards last season, was suspended Feb. 27 and didn’t play again the rest of the campaign. The club ordered him to seek treatment at a program, and he has.
“I feel like I have a new lease on life, and getting a second chance at my career,” Baker said at Boston’s media day. “This organization has been wonderful. I’m getting a second chance, and I’m looking forward to it.”
He hasn’t had a drink in eight months. And in addition to an aftercare program facilitated and monitored by the league, he worked five hours a day in Miami to get in the best shape of his life.
“I worked every day, five hours of conditioning, lifting, playing. I started in early June and kept going until the preseason started. I’m in the best shape of my life,” Baker said.
Baker, who turns 32 this month, has shed 16 pounds to get back to his rookie weight of 241. His body fat is down from 15 percent to seven. And he’s set up a support network in every NBA city, will attend AA meetings and undergo testing all season.
“He’s a totally different player,” said Dikembe Mutombo. “He’s playing like the all-star that he once was.”