Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: Getting there

In the latest entry in his Rookie Diary, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson touches on a number of issues: his relationship with Joe Johnson, all-star and mentor; dealing with his first injury; the value of watching film, his role models and what he sees his role is, long term.

Bottom line: He's getting there in his transition to the NBA.

Of all the aspects of the diary, the one that sticks out is how he sees his future...

"I want to be the facilitator. I’m not the type of guy that’s going to get you 50 or 60, but I think I’m the type of guy that’s going to get you, say, 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, or something like that. I feel like I can get my teammates involved. I have to get better at decision making, but that comes with practice."

Similarly, the role model he most embraces is not LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or even Johnson, but Tony Allen. He talks about who he watches on videotape...

"I watch how Tony Allen plays defense, and how he anticipates very well. I watch fellow left-handers like James Harden, and I’m looking at guys like Kobe [Bryant] and LeBron [James. I don’t look at it and say I’m anything like them, but I look at it to see how they see the floor, certain moves they do that are simple that I can do."

As for Johnson, his relationship is more than just basketball...

"[H]e knows his stuff, and I would say learning from him is one of the biggest benefits for me, as far as me being a rookie and understanding what I need to do and how do I go about things with Coach [Lionel Hollins], with teammates, all those things were similar things he had to go through."

Bottom line, says RHJ, is focus, focus, focus.

• Nets rookie: How I’m adjusting to life as an NBA player - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - New York Post