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cavalier profile Mike Scott Alum • Basketball In 2012, Mike Scott learned that spending part of the season in the NBA Development League is often part of being a rookie in the National Basketball Association. A second-round pick of Atlanta in 2012, the former Virginia forward had two stints with the Bakersfield Jam last season, and he averaged 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in seven games. But instead of viewing his trips to the D-League as demotions, he saw them differently. "I don't care what anyone says. If you get drafted, you don't want to go to the D-League, but most of the time that's what happens," Scott said. "You just have to take it as a learning experience, be professional and just play hard." Scott did, however, play in 40 games for the Hawks as a rookie, averaging 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game. "It was a learning experience," he said of last season. "I learned a lot from the veterans. Now I'm just trying to learn from these vets and these coaches." One thing he did learn from his rookie campaign is that he needed to slim down to be able to help his team through playing hard, defending, rebounding and bringing energy off the bench. So, by eating more whole foods this offseason, he dropped 15 pounds and couldn't be happier. "This offseason, I worked on being quicker, on my outside jump shot, my three-point shot," he said. "That's about it. Still on it the new diet, and it's working. Nothing too crazy like tofu, just good food." But that's not the only change for this UVa product. Atlanta now has a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, a longtime assistant to San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, who has won four NBA titles with the Spurs. Scott is also one of just six Hawks remaining from last season. "Yeah, different players, different coaching staff, new system," he said. "I think everyone's bought into the system of playing together, being unselfish, trying to be an unselfish defensive team and offensive team. So, definitely a new vibe, it's like a college vibe." — Steve Hunt ◆ Photo courtesy Atlanta Hawks i29.CP-Mike Scott.indd 53 11/5/13 1:41 PM