Sleeper of the Week

What do you think of when you hear the word “rookie”? You think of the young guns like Kevin Durant and Al Horford right? While rookies tend to be 21 to 22 years old, Luis Scola is not. Scola is no ordinary rookie, he’s the league’s oldest at 28! Yet, after years of playing overseas with the Spanish club Tau Ceramica, he has the experience of a seasoned veteran.

His international accolades include a silver medal in the FIBA America Championships 2007 and tournament MVP. While he is still technically a rookie and has much to learn about the NBA game, his experience has made his time here much smoother. He’s fitting in quite nicely with the Rockets as a smart, hustle player who makes the right plays at the right times.

With the devastating news of Yao Ming out for the rest of the season, Scola, along with the likes of Carl Landry and old man Dikembe Mutombo, will be looked upon to fill Yao’s large shoes. Replacing a player who averages 20 points and 10 rebounds per game is no easy task, but Scola has the talent and basketball IQ to make it happen.

As the Rockets continue to push their win streak (now at 13) by defeating the Wizards tonight, Scola played well notching 14 points on perfect 7 of 7 shooting, 2 rebounds, and an assist in 23 minutes of productive play. If Scola continues to play like he did tonight, the Rockets may miss Yao, but they certainly won’t break without him.

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