NBA

Diabetes corralled, Morrison tackles self-doubt

Only known NBA player with disease tries to shake off slow start with 'Cats

Elsa / Getty Images file

Adam Morrison of Charlotte shoots over the Celtics' Paul Pierce last week in Boston. When Morrison’s blood sugar is too high or low, he feels sluggish on the court. But he says he’ll adjust to the grind of an 82-game schedule.

Bobcats trainer Joe Sharpe got Morrison’s system down during the preseason and keeps the bench stocked with apple juice and energy bars. There’s also insulin on hand should Morrison’s blood sugar get too high.

“I try to make it as quick as possible,” Sharpe said. “I have his kit ready to go. He sits down, pricks his finger and gets his reading. I then give him what he needs.”

Morrison took great care to make sure he would be ready to play at the pro level and deal with the disease. Earlier this year he met with Dudley, who spent 16 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2003.

“I told him you’re not going to be perfect, but you have to be careful,” Dudley said. “Talking to teams about Adam before the draft, I told them if Adam was the kind of player that you had to worry about being overweight during the summer and all those things, I’d be a lot more worried about him. I’m not worried about that with Adam. He’s the type of guy who knows his body and is going to take care of his body.”

When Dudley first entered the league in 1987, it took 45 seconds to test his blood sugar. The technology has improved. Morrison recently signed an endorsement deal with LifeScan, which makes a device that gives a reading in 5 seconds.

When Morrison’s blood sugar is too high or low, he feels sluggish on the court. But he says he’ll be able to adjust to the grind of an 82-game NBA schedule.

“Obviously, you have to take care of your body,” Morrison said. “It’s definitely different than college.”

After signing a rookie contract that pays more than $3 million a season, Morrison has taken advantage of his new wealth. He’s hired a full-time chef, had meetings with a nutritionist, and his sister and 5-year-old niece moved to Charlotte to help with his off-the-court responsibilities.

That maturity was one of the reasons the Bobcats didn’t shy away from selecting Morrison with the No. 3 pick in the draft. Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff thinks Morrison will shoot his way out of his slump.

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“He’s frustrated because his shot is not going and he takes pride in that,” Bickerstaff said. “We told him to keep letting it fly.”

Dudley, who runs a foundation that helps kids deal with diabetes, believes the high-profile Morrison will raise awareness for the disease.

“We all want a cure and we’re trying to get a cure, but in the meantime these kids have to deal with diabetes and we try to get the message out that they can succeed,” Dudley said.

Morrison also realizes the influence he can have, and spent time this summer on a promotional tour for the company that makes his blood sugar meter. Could the day come when, instead of being asked to autograph a shirt or a ball, a child with diabetes hands Morrison his blood-sugar meter to sign?

“That would be pretty wild, but you know, I think it would be cool if it could happen,” Morrison said. “I’ll try to give back and be a role model to kids and even adults.”

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