Former UNLV star Nesby's long, strange trip to the NBA's Clippers reads like a Hollywood film script

Right now, he doesn't have time to think about it. There are still eight games to play.

But come early next month when he can get a free minute to relax, Tyrone Nesby is going to look back on these last few months. And he'll probably be amazed.

The former UNLV star managed to come from basketball oblivion to start in the NBA. Granted, it is for one of the league's worst teams, the Los Angeles Clippers, but it's still the world's best basketball and the 6-foot-6 Nesby is part of it.

"I'll probably say, 'That's cool,' " Nesby said. "Right now, I'm not even thinking about that. I'm just trying to help us win some games."

Nesby's story is pure Hollywood. After impressing several teams in the pre-draft camps, he went undrafted last June, having aligned himself with rapper Master P's management group, No Limit Sports.

A free agent, he hooked on in the CBA, playing in Sioux Falls, S.D., which is basketball's answer to Siberia. But he excelled in the CBA and when the NBA's lockout finally ended in late January, Nesby was asked to attend the Clippers' training camp.

He showed a great work ethic and the fact he already was in game shape from playing in the CBA gave him a leg up on the competition. He impressed coach Chris Ford and he made the team.

In early March, he replaced Lamond Murray, one of the Clippers' few bonafide stars, in the starting lineup. And he's playing regular minutes, so the starting role is not mere window dressing.

"I play hard every night and I think they like that," Nesby said. "I kinda got played in the draft but I was ready. It gave me a lot of motivation."

His agent, George Bass, said it's a great tale.

"He's the classic underdog story," said Bass, who also represents another former Rebel star, Larry Johnson. "He was overlooked. All the so-called experts passed on him.

"But it comes down to 'Are you in the right place at the right time?' Not being drafted may have been the best thing that ever happened to Tyrone. He got a chance to choose what was best for him and he obviously made the right choice."

Nesby has enjoyed just about everything about the Clippers, except for the losing. That the Clippers are a woeful 7-35 isn't Nesby's fault. If anything, he prevented a bad situation from getting worse. He's the team's third-leading scorer, averaging just under 10 points. He leads the team with 57 steals, is second in assists with 55, is shooting 45 percent from the floor (37 percent from 3-point land) and has hit 80 percent of his free throws.

It's no wonder the Clippers would like to see Nesby in one of their uniforms when they move to the spanking new Staples Center in downtown L.A. this fall.

"These people have been good to me," Nesby said. "They gave me a chance. So I feel some loyalty to the Clippers.

"But the losing is hard, man. It's real hard. You try not to show it. But sometimes, you can't control it. All you can do is go out and treat every night as a new challenge."

But while the losing leaves a bittersweet taste in Nesby's mouth, there's a lot of things about the NBA that are real sweet.

He is making the minimum salary -- $287,000 -- but that's good money for Nesby. He never sees the inside of an airport terminal anymore as he and his teammates jet around the NBA on a private chartered plane. The hotels are all first-class. He's not left wanting for anything.

"I like the plane," he said. "The plane is real nice. That's one of the best things."

Basically, he's not asked to do a whole lot other than play ball and be responsible. That's something he can handle.

"All they ask is be professional and do your best," he said.

But while millions of kids fantasize about playing in places like Madison Square Garden or the United Center, Nesby said it wasn't until he got to UNLV that the dream of playing in the NBA even crossed his mind.

"I never had dreams of the NBA in high school," he said. "I was more into baseball. I didn't start loving the game until I came to UNLV."

But now that he's in the NBA, Nesby doesn't want to leave. And while he shares the goal of every player in the league -- winning a championship ring -- Nesby has a different, personal objective in mind.

"I'd like to be able to play for 10 years," he said. "Then take it from there."

Bass doesn't think that'll be a problem.

"He's going to play in this league for 10 years," Bass said. "You can print that."

The Clippers hope those 10 years will be with them.

"He's been a lot of fun," Ford said of coaching Nesby. "He makes me lose some of my hair but he also makes me laugh. I've enjoyed coaching him.

"He's done a very good job for us. He continues to get better. He's finding different ways to score and his defense has improved greatly."

Nesby has enjoyed the experience as well.

"I love playing for Coach Ford," he said. "I thank him for having the confidence in me. I mean, I'm starting and they're running plays for me now and that's pretty cool."

UNLV coach Bill Bayno said it's great to see what his former star has done.

"The thing I'm most proud of Tyrone is his body," Bayno said. "I harped on him all the time and we checked his body fat all the time. He's in the best shape I've ever seen him and that's helped his overall game.

"The fact he wasn't drafted and made an NBA team is obviously something I'm proud of. I think our relationship has grown and it's the best it has ever been."

Nesby no longer makes those late-night runs to KFC and Taco Bell. He eats smart and takes care of his body. He can't risk losing to a three-piece extra crispy meal.

"There's a lot of older guys in this league," he said. "I've got young legs so I need to use that to my advantage. I made sure I was in great shape over the summer and playing in the CBA helped keep me in game shape."

As for his relationship with Bayno, which wasn't always the best when he played at UNLV, Nesby said things are a lot better.

"He doesn't yell at me anymore," he said. "Now, Coach Ford's a screamer, but at least he (Bayno) prepared me for that.

"No, we get along good. When we talk now, we talk about stuff that isn't all basketball and it's good. I talk to Cyp (associate head coach Glynn Cyprien) a lot too. Me and Cyp have always been tight, so I keep in touch with what's going on in Vegas."

Nesby said he plans to follow through on building a home here regardless of where his NBA career is headed. He said as soon as the season ends May 5, he'll be in Las Vegas so he can catch his breath and reflect on what an amazing story this was.

"I'll remember the dunks," he said. "To be dunking in the NBA is real cool.

"The best one? We're playing Sacramento at our place last month and I got the ball at midcourt, came down the middle, put the ball between my legs and dunked it.

"I'll also remember the steals. I love that part of the game."

And while Nesby reminisces, he'll wait for July when the real negotiating will begin.

"The kid's got the skills, no doubt about it," Bass said. "The Los Angeles Clippers will not be the only team interested in Tyrone Nesby. They're moving to the Staples Center and they need to get competitive. Tyrone can be a big part of their future.

"Things work out for a reason and it's going to work out just fine for him."

Just the way a Hollywood script is supposed to read.

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