From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz: Fesenko beginning to perform
One nipped at the corner, but the first few — generally speaking, and understandably so — were relative softballs.
Fesenko, after all, hadn't just held his own against an All-Star five inches and who-knows-how-many-muscle-pounds larger.
Rather, he clearly had frustrated Yao Ming, helping limit the Rockets center to 9-for-23 field shooting in a double-overtime Houston win. And he did so while enjoying a career night himself, with three blocks and a personal-high 12 points and personal-best 11 rebounds for his first NBA double-double.
That 34-minute effort came one evening after Fesenko — playing rare and extended time only because Jazz big men Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap and Jarron Collins were injured — tallied eight points, four boards and three blocks over 16 minutes in a home win against Dallas.
Then, finally, came the delivery he seemed to be awaiting: Can he, Fesenko was asked, do on a consistent basis what he did over the weekend — and, if so, why hasn't he shown any signs of it so far?
"That's an interesting question," the just-turned-22 Ukrainian said. "I don't know. (Saturday) I just feel the game. (Friday and Saturday), I wasn't worried at all. I wasn't nervous at all.
"I think that helps me a lot, because I was pretty confident with my game. ... I was sure everything was going to be all right, and it gives me second breath."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan took a deep breath before Saturday's game when essentially asked just what's been holding back Fesenko, a second-year pro who was acquired in a prearranged 2007 draft-night swap of second-round picks with Utah's opponent tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers.
His response seemed to reflect questioning of not only Fesenko's physical conditioning but also commitment to, and appreciation for, his chosen profession.
"Some guys don't like to play, some guys do," he said. "Some treat it like a job. You've got to wonder how many guys play basketball because they're tall.
"He's got some talent," Sloan added. "There's never been any question about his talent. It's just his focus and dedication to the game of basketball."
Yet the Jazz still have stuck with Fesenko, who spent most of last season with their NBA Development League-affiliate Utah Flash and who has appeared in just 18 NBA games since being drafted.
"There are so few big guys," Sloan said. "You have a tendency to try to wait them out and see if they're gonna come around. A lot of guys come around later on. And he's still young."
Still maturing and still learning to play, too.
