Michael Kidd-Gilchrist approached a swarm of reporters with a line from the great philosopher Marshawn Lynch: "I'm just here so I don't get fined."The fifth-yearHornets forward is excited to be back on the Spectrum Center court, but he would prefer to be lining up for the season'sopening tip.After what he went through last year, it's tough to blame A.J. Rose Jr. Jersey him.MORE: Kidd-Gilchristmi sed the first three months of the 2015-16 season after tearing the labrum muscle in his right shoulder a year ago. He returnedahead of schedule in late January, only to be sidelined againby an injury to the same shoulder. Kidd-Gilchristended up loggingonly seven games all season.He's "not talking about the injury," he says. That is fine because he is here to take back his starting small forward spot and properly join a team that surprised many in winning 48 games last season.Kidd-Gilchrist's return is such a game-changer that coach Steve Clifford has referred to him as a "free agent." Even with the return of Nicolas Batumand offseason acquisitions of Roy Hibbertand Marco Belinelli, a resurgentKidd-Gilchrist could be the one to change the complexion of the season."He makes our team different," Clifford said."The numbers prove it. Last year, obviously, we played well without him. The first two years that we were here, literally, when he played, we played well, and when he didn't, we couldn't win. He impacts winning in so many ways."MORE: Clifford isn't wrong.The Hornets went61-53with Kidd-Gilchriston the floorand 15-35 without himover the course of the2013-14 and 2014- Randy Moss Hoodies Sweatshirts 15 seasons. During the 2014-15 season in which Kidd-Gilchrist played 55 games, the Hornets were with Kidd-Gilchrist on the floor vs. off. To put that in perspective, Kidd-Gilchrist's 12.2 number was nearly double that of that same season.Rebounding anda sist percentages increased.Opponents turned the ball over more and shot worse.Charlotte's effective field goal percentage saw a slight increase with Kidd-Gilchristplaying despite his shooting limitations.Maybe that's why his teammates are so happy to see him back."I've been around him all summer, so to see how excited he is to really get back and all the work he's put in to get back, I mean, I'm excited for him," Hornets guard Kemba Walker said."I think everybody should really be should look out, should look out for him. I think he's gonna have a huge year, a great year."MORE: Even with an extremelysmall sample size, Kidd-Gilchrist'simpact was felt in the seven games he played in 2016. The Hornets stood at 22-24when Kidd-Gilchrist returned, good for ninth in the Eastern Conference. Theywent 5-2 during his brief stint back in the starting lineup and finished 48-34 in a four-way tie for the fourth seedin the East."That's not a coincidence," Batum said."When he came back, everything changed. He then went down before the All-Star Game Minnesota Vikings Hoodies Sweatshirts , and after the break, we bring (Courtney Lee) in, we keep rolling, but it starts when MKG came back. If he can play 82 games, we can be in good shape."Marvin Williams, the other starting forward, agrees. "It was strange last year, man, when he was gone and he came back for the week and a half, you almost forgot how good he really was," Hornets forward Marvin Williams said."I remember telling Kemba when we were in the game, I was like, 'Man, I forgot like how good Mike really was.'"He's been working on his game every single day. He's been getting up a ton of shots every single day. He's really ready to have a big year and I think he's going to. Definitely."MORE: That's the scary part. At 23 years old, Kidd-Gilchrist is still refining his game. Along with his trademark defense, he showed a more fluidjumperduring his seven-game return, averaging 12.7 points per game on54.1 percent shooting, Everson Griffen Jersey including3-of-7 from 3-point range. The hitch and hand positioningofKidd-Gilchrist's shot were bad enough that he didn't takea single 3-pointer in 2014-15. To say his shot mechanics lookdifferent would be a ma sive understatement."I think his range shooting will be the different part of it," Clifford said."I think the things he's always been good at defensive rebounding, obviously he guards primary scorers. He makes us a better transition team because he can bust out and lead the break. He's good in the open court. But I think the biggest difference will be his range shooting."Kidd-Gilchrist also looked at the playing styles of two former NBA Finals MVPs this offseason to improve his game. He watched a great deal offilm onAndre Iguodala and Dwyane Wade this summer, learning how to better create off-ball scoring opportunities. We saw flashes of thatcutting ability last season."(I've learned) alot,"Kidd-Gilchristsaid of watching Iguodala and Wade."How they move without the basketball, off ball and off rebounds. Everything I do, they do, and vice versa, so that's what I took from it."The defense and work ethic was never an i sue. The offensive ability continues to grow. This isthe season Kidd-Gilchristputs all of the pieces together if he remains healthy a big if considering he hasn't played more than 62 games in a season since his rookie year. Clifford insists Kidd-Gilchrist'sminutes won't change, nor will his 100percenteffortat all times mentalityafter suffering what Clifford refers to as "bad luck" injuries.SN POSITION RANKINGS: | | | | A full season (or close to it) from "MKG"gives the Hornets theirversatile starting swingmanbackand the flexibility to play switching defensive lineups featuring Kidd-Gilchrist, Batum and Williams without sacrificing much offensively. Another large gap with Kidd-Gilchrist out forces Clifford to get creative once again in order to fight off a growing number of competitive teams in theEastern Conference playoff picture.But Kidd-Gilchrist is ready for the challenge and the expectations. Actually, he doesn't even notice them. He's got one thing on his mind and that's exactly what the Hornets like to hear."I know a lot as a basketball player, and I know how to win basketball games," Kidd-Gilchrist said."And that's the only thing I want to Christian Darrisaw Jersey do."
