Unlikely pro Ivey thrives behind bigger names

By Mark Rosner
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, August 01, 2008

Royal Ivey is not the only man left standing from the second round of the 2004 NBA draft, just one of the few who ever gained traction in the league.

Thirty players were selected during the second round. Four have held NBA jobs every season since that draft: Ivey, Anderson Varejao, Chris Duhon and Trevor Ariza.

Ivey, the former Texas Longhorn selected by Atlanta with the 37th pick, recently signed a two-year contract with the 76ers after spending three years with Atlanta and one with Milwaukee. He served those teams as a backup, and as a part-time starter at shooting guard and point guard.

Ivey, 26, averaged a modest 5.6 points a game last season — a career best for him. He is valued more for other skills. He will be paid $854,957 this season, the league minimum for a fifth-year player.

"We feel that his versatility, ability to handle the point guard duties and defensive strength will bolster our depth and provide us with additional options in our backcourt," 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski said in a prepared statement when Ivey signed.

Given his background, Ivey was an unlikely candidate for an NBA career.

Ron Naclerio, Ivey's coach at Cardozo High in New York, once told the American-Statesman that he contacted 68 colleges on behalf of Ivey. Only St. Francis, Boston University and Rider were interested.

So off he went to Blair Academy in New Jersey for a season of post-high school competition. Texas found him there.

One of the first things Longhorn strength coach Todd Wright noticed when the 6-foot-3-inch Ivey arrived on campus was a tattoo on his right forearm. The message: Take nothing for granted. Be humble.

To Wright, that said everything about Ivey.

"He's lived his life that way," Wright said.

Wright also cites Ivey's length and quickness as factors in his success.

But Ivey's drive to exceed people's lack of expectations is what propelled him to be named to the Big 12 all-defensive team as a junior and senior while steadily improving on offense.

He finished as the school's career leader in games started with 126.

"Toughness and tenacity are talents," Longhorn coach Rick Barnes said. "When I first met his father (Rod), he asked me why I wanted his son. I said, 'To fill out my roster.' He said, 'My son has never been the top guy, but he'll give you everything he's got.' "

Ivey's mother, Jennifer, a recently retired schoolteacher, once told Royal "don't have a chip on your shoulder."

But Ivey said, "I still have one to this day. It's not directed at anyone or any team, but I have something to prove. Not to myself, but to people who overlooked me."

That approach was always evident to Chris Ogden, Ivey's former teammate at Texas who is now an assistant coach with the Longhorns.

"He'll fight you to the end," Ogden said. "He fought every day in practice, every day in individual (drills), every day in the summer."

Late last season that attitude landed Ivey a three-game suspension by the league after he punched Chicago Bulls center Aaron Gray in the groin.

Ivey said Gray had set some physical screens on him during the season, once nearly inducing a concussion. When Gray moved into him one more time ...

"I lost my cool," Ivey said. "I'm high strung. I have to control my temper. When I see him, I'll apologize."

Ivey served one game of the suspension on the final day of the season. The last two games are under appeal by the players association.

Meanwhile, Ivey is excited about joining Philadelphia, which reached the playoffs last season and should improve with the addition of power forward Elton Brand.

Ivey said the Sixers reminded him last season of a college team.

"Everybody is in it to win," Ivey said. "I've been on two teams that were mediocre. I like the makeup of this team. They have individuals who are selfless, not selfish."

Rod Ivey, a graphic artist, said, "Royal is an idealist."

Ivey, who expects to receive his degree in education — with a minor in social work — next summer, hopes to start a charter school when he is finished with basketball.

That does not surprise Wright, who said, "his approach to life was that he was gonna do everything he could do. Every day."

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