The Harris File
- Won the NBA Three-Point Contest, 2019
- One First-team All-ACC selection, 2013
- One Second-team All-ACC selection, 2014 (Coaches)
- One Third-team All-ACC selection, 2014 (Media)
- Won the ACC tournament MVP, 2014
- Nicknamed "Joey Buckets"
Joe Harris Learned His Lesson
With only 15 players to a roster, NBA locker rooms can grow small, fast. If a clique forms or two stars are butting heads, it's a matter of mere moments before everybody knows what's going on. It's also a sacred place, where skills are cultivated and veterans show rookies the ropes to best prepare them for their NBA career.
Sometimes, that means learning lessons you might not have anticipated.
Joe Harris, once a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers, got a taste of that in his inaugural campaign.
When asked what lessons he learned from his elderly counterparts in the locker room, other than the typical "work hard, your opportunity will come" cliches, Harris had a funny answer.
"It's better to keep your mouth shut than get your [butt] whupped."
Harris said he's learned to lean away from his natural inclination to crack jokes and wise guy remarks, especially in the presence of such respected veteran leaders. His "don't speak unless spoken to" approach kept him low profile and let his play do the talking. It eventually would run its mouth once he got his first real opportunity in Brooklyn.
Now a respected Nets veteran in his own right, Harris is free to joke at whomever's expense. I wonder what he's passing on to the rookies.