Weber Ready For New Challenge With Hornets
Briante Weber was probably one of the most sought-after D-League players before he signed back-to-back ten-day contracts with the Warriors. A player known for his toughness, effort and defensive ability, Weber was recently released by the Warriors and picked up by the Charlotte Hornets shortly after.
“What I am hoping to prove is that I belong in this league,” Weber told me. “I know I’m not what everybody wants but I know what I bring to the table. So me being me, I’m going to continue to be persistent in my journey while I hold my head high and give my all for whoever gives me the chance.”
Weber only averaged 6.6 minutes per game on the league’s best team. But his suffocating defense and incredibly upbeat attitude are unique in the day-and-age of shooting and scoring. After being waived last night, Weber was quickly picked up by the Hornets and is looking to make an impact immediately.
“I look forward to bringing maximum energy to this team,” Weber said. “I’m going to do whatever this team needs for us to win. I will bring some grit, toughness and a pitbull mentality to this team.”
Weber overcame a knee injury that cost him any chance of being drafted, yet he stayed incredibly level-headed and has progressed through the NBA’s D-League. After short stints with the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies in 2015-2016, Weber bounced around from the NBA and D-League and came back for the 2016-2017 hungrier than ever. Through the early parts of this season you could tell Weber was going to stand-out and it all truly came together in the first part of 2017. In January, Weber was named the D-League Player of the Month averaging 21.5 points, 8.3 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.6 steals to go along with five double-doubles and two triple-doubles (one of those triple-double was a steal shy of the D-League’s first ever quadruple-double). The incredible month would help him receive interest from many NBA teams but he’d end up signing with the best of the bunch in the Warriors.
“It was actually a tough decision,” Weber told DIME about the interest of other teams. “I had received three calls from teams prior to signing with the Warriors. So I had to discuss the opportunity with my mother and teammates to determine what situation would be best. Once I made the decision to sign with the Warriors, I was extremely happy.”
He’d try and make the most of his opportunity, but being on a team that was pushing for an NBA title and already had a rotation solidified, it would be hard for him to see the floor. Even so, Weber took a lot away from the Warriors.
“This team was already great, the way they responded to things was elite,” Weber said. “The way they interacted with one another is something I will forever remember. I’m going to miss my big brothers. Draymond, K.D., and Steph showed me what the true definition of being a professional is.”
While Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant were three of his big brothers, Curry spent extra time with Weber in the locker room after he was waived.
“After I was waived, Steph said ‘you and I both know you belong in this league,’” Weber said. “He said ‘continue to be yourself and go be great.’ Lastly, he told me to say what’s up to his dad.”
Weber will be headed to Charlotte on his next ten-day contract where he’ll likely say what’s up to Dell Curry, Curry’s father. But he’s also going to a team that could be a permanent destination for the former V.C.U. standout. The Hornets have lost five of their last seven games and are needing a spark wherever they can find one. Weber, may quite possibly be what they’re missing. While only time will tell, Weber surely won’t let the change in scenery affect his game.
