J.R. Means Just Rocky for UCLA’s Henderson

Essential to the cause, but not quite deferential to the boss, J.R. Henderson has NBA talent and a stubborn streak that has gotten him more headlines this season than he could have ever dreamed.

Henderson benched for showing up late to practice. Henderson benched again for being late again. Henderson tossed out of practice for his enthusiasm--or lack of--during a screen drill, then getting benched again for the first five minutes of the crucial USC game last Thursday. Henderson comes off bench to score a season-high 24 points against the Trojans.

Why is the quietest, most dignified Bruin leading the league in penalty minutes?

“I think people are starting to think that of me--that I’m a bad guy, you know, ‘Rebellious J.R.,’ ” Henderson said Tuesday evening, adding his pained shrugs.

“I’m like the low-profile guy. I like to keep cool, keep out of trouble. It seems like this year, I’ve been in and out of it just too many times.”

As interim Coach Steve Lavin has made a point to strictly enforce rules that predecessor Jim Harrick often overlooked, the calm, stubborn Henderson has been the veteran to chafe most.

Henderson said he and Lavin aren’t at odds and never really have been. And he says the controversies will have no effect on his decision whether to leave early for the NBA.

It’s just that, as a junior and one of the team’s best players, the 6-foot-9 Henderson says he shouldn’t be under intense scrutiny by the coaches and shouldn’t be penalized so harshly for infractions he sees as mostly minor.

“Lavin’s been around here for a while, so I don’t think [the problems are about] getting used to him,” Henderson said. “But as far as me being disciplined, I don’t think that’s really necessary. I don’t think I’m the type of person who really needs to be disciplined all the time.”

At least one observer said Henderson’s problems, which Lavin describes as “three isolated incidents,” aren’t surprising.

“I’ve known J.R. since he was 14 years old,” said former UCLA great Marques Johnson, father of Henderson classmate Kris Johnson. “He’s young, but he’s kind of got an old spirit. He’s set in his ways.

“He’s a good kid, but if you tell J.R. to move faster, he’s like, ‘I don’t want to move faster.’ ”

Lavin, who calls Henderson “in some ways . . . our most gifted player,” acknowledged Tuesday that part of his increased attention stems from his desire to push Henderson to higher levels of play.

Henderson, who at times has been accused of being lackadaisical during rough-and-tumble games, and who was missing in action during the last stages of the loss to Princeton in the NCAA tournament last season, is UCLA’s No. 2 scorer, at 14.8 points a game, and No. 2 rebounder, at 6.5.

“Because of his ability, I have told him I do hold him to a higher standard of play,” Lavin said. “Whatever I have to do to hit the right button, to communicate with him--do I have to hug him, kick him in the butt?--whatever it takes to bring out the best in him.

“Then, when he’s 35 years old, he’ll look back and realize I had his best interests in mind.

“As opposed to saying, ‘That’s the way J.R. is: When he plays, he plays; when he doesn’t play, he doesn’t play.’ What I want is a high level of J.R.’s potential every time out. If he doesn’t get that, we’re still better off for asking that, for demanding that.”

Demanding things, perhaps, that weren’t demanded the past two seasons.

“Coach Harrick, in all honestly, probably had a tendency to overlook things a little bit more,” Marques Johnson said. “Not major things, but minor things.”

Said Henderson: “I feel like I’m much more mature now. I feel I should be able to get away with things. . . .

“My teammates, they really don’t like to speak up. If there’s something wrong, they’ll just deal with it, keep it inside.

“I guess I’m bolder with the things I say. I don’t fear any coach. I feel I can approach any coach. Especially when they say they’re doing it to help me. If they’re doing it to help me, they should see where I’m coming from.”

How important is Henderson to UCLA? Last Saturday’s loss at Louisville, in which Henderson scored 13 points, was the first game the Bruins lost this season in which he scored more than 12. UCLA is 10-1 when he scores more than a dozen.

Still, there was Henderson on the bench for the opening minutes of both halves against USC.

“People are asking me, ‘Why are you not starting?’ ” Henderson said. “I don’t even want to tell them, because it’s so stupid. . . .

“I’ve never been a nonstarter, other than the second half of my freshman year. It’s not something I’m going to take lightly.

“I’m not getting into trouble again. I almost got into it again today with an assistant coach because I’m just trying to see what I’m doing wrong. He thinks I’m always arguing about a call, but I just want to know how can I get a call, I don’t understand it.

“I listen to things, and I can see where [Lavin]’s coming from. I trust that he knows what he’s doing. He says he’s doing it for my own good. I’m sure down the line, I’ll see it.”

So, things are smooth with Lavin now?

“Yeah, I’m starting,” Henderson said, wearily. “I’m not in trouble.”