2009 NBA Draft Combine Review
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
When the NBA Draft Combine comes to Chicago, the Second City resembles Beverly Hills for a couple days. Strolling through the Westin Hotel on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, where the Draft Combine's media activities are held, I encountered basketball's heaviest hitters. The entire Chicago Bulls front office, Pistons GM Joe Dumars, NBA coaches Mike D'Antoni, Mike Dunleavy, legendary talk show host Larry King (twice) and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda; and that was just the first hour.
During the actual interview sessions, a draft combine reporter gets up close and personal with every former college basketball star soon to be drafted in a couple weeks. Each player gets his own table in the conference room and journalists rotate like speed-daters to obtain quality face time with everyone. Conversation is much more in-depth than post-game press conferences. It's about the big picture here- no time to waste on the boringly banal queries from newspaper beat writers.
On top of the media grilling, NBA prospects face tougher inquisitions from the teams themselves. Arizona's Chase Budinger, projected 23rd in our 2009 NBA Mock Draft said he faced a psychological aptitude type test from the Bulls. He had to arrange blocks to match a picture they presented. NBA teams want to know if players are single, married, have kids. Multiple players had to reveal if they had a "friend with benefits." It's like Torquemada and your Prom date's father rolled into one.
The NBA amalgamates feedback from the league's scouts and personnel, deciding which 50-60 prospects are gauging the most interest. The most elite prospects are then invited to run drills, 3 man weaves and workout (this part is closed to the media). They also take more measurements than a Playboy playmate; each player's wingspan, vertical reach, height and weight (with and without shoes) become public knowledge. This male version of a beauty pageant can be stressful, but also fun.
Former Marquette guard Jerel McNeal projected 42nd overall in our 2009 NBA Mock Draft, "It's been real intense, it's been like a circus since I got down here, but it's also been real fun so far. To be around such a great group of players and unbelievable talent, to be fortunate enough to be in this situation, you can't help but feel excited and glad about what's coming in the future," said McNeal.
Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, projected 10th in this year's 2009 NBA Mock Draft spoke about how the combine brings together former AAU, McDonald's All-American and Summer league teammates. "It's cool, it's like a big family reunion everybody reminiscing on the stories we had from summer camps, at the USA team and things like that. We're all in competition on the court, but off the court it's a family feeling, we just kick back, chill and talk about the good old days," Flynn said.
There's only one thing certain about this draft: Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is going to the L.A. Clippers at No. 1. The brightest lights and greatest amount of cameras were naturally on him. And the future franchise player seems ready to become the next media darling. "I don't mind the media... I hope I'm ready for it. I think I'm ready for it" Griffin said before answering a question about how he'll soon see his personal privacy disappear.
"You just got to know that people are watching you and you got to be a positive role model and not put yourself in bad situations," Griffin stated.
I asked Griffin what his favorite aspect of this process has been so far. "Some of the restaurants have been pretty good. That's a big part of my life. But getting to meet people, different players and taking perspective and getting advice from them has been great," he responded.
The Second City is famous for its food. The next day I saw him in the restaurant downstairs and asked him about his overall favorite restaurant here. He said he's a big fan of Ditka's, prompting another reporter nearby to endorse the joint's steaks. Griffin then said he's not eating much red meat right now, so I mentioned their Salmon and Tuna steaks. The future Clipper approved Ditka's seafood. So this is life in transition to the next level, where everything's meatier and portions of everything are much bigger. So is the number of people watching you.
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2013 NBA Mock Draft - June 12
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 20
2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
When the NBA Draft Combine comes to Chicago, the Second City resembles Beverly Hills for a couple days. Strolling through the Westin Hotel on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, where the Draft Combine's media activities are held, I encountered basketball's heaviest hitters. The entire Chicago Bulls front office, Pistons GM Joe Dumars, NBA coaches Mike D'Antoni, Mike Dunleavy, legendary talk show host Larry King (twice) and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda; and that was just the first hour.
During the actual interview sessions, a draft combine reporter gets up close and personal with every former college basketball star soon to be drafted in a couple weeks. Each player gets his own table in the conference room and journalists rotate like speed-daters to obtain quality face time with everyone. Conversation is much more in-depth than post-game press conferences. It's about the big picture here- no time to waste on the boringly banal queries from newspaper beat writers.
On top of the media grilling, NBA prospects face tougher inquisitions from the teams themselves. Arizona's Chase Budinger, projected 23rd in our 2009 NBA Mock Draft said he faced a psychological aptitude type test from the Bulls. He had to arrange blocks to match a picture they presented. NBA teams want to know if players are single, married, have kids. Multiple players had to reveal if they had a "friend with benefits." It's like Torquemada and your Prom date's father rolled into one.
The NBA amalgamates feedback from the league's scouts and personnel, deciding which 50-60 prospects are gauging the most interest. The most elite prospects are then invited to run drills, 3 man weaves and workout (this part is closed to the media). They also take more measurements than a Playboy playmate; each player's wingspan, vertical reach, height and weight (with and without shoes) become public knowledge. This male version of a beauty pageant can be stressful, but also fun.
Former Marquette guard Jerel McNeal projected 42nd overall in our 2009 NBA Mock Draft, "It's been real intense, it's been like a circus since I got down here, but it's also been real fun so far. To be around such a great group of players and unbelievable talent, to be fortunate enough to be in this situation, you can't help but feel excited and glad about what's coming in the future," said McNeal.
Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, projected 10th in this year's 2009 NBA Mock Draft spoke about how the combine brings together former AAU, McDonald's All-American and Summer league teammates. "It's cool, it's like a big family reunion everybody reminiscing on the stories we had from summer camps, at the USA team and things like that. We're all in competition on the court, but off the court it's a family feeling, we just kick back, chill and talk about the good old days," Flynn said.
There's only one thing certain about this draft: Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is going to the L.A. Clippers at No. 1. The brightest lights and greatest amount of cameras were naturally on him. And the future franchise player seems ready to become the next media darling. "I don't mind the media... I hope I'm ready for it. I think I'm ready for it" Griffin said before answering a question about how he'll soon see his personal privacy disappear.
"You just got to know that people are watching you and you got to be a positive role model and not put yourself in bad situations," Griffin stated.
I asked Griffin what his favorite aspect of this process has been so far. "Some of the restaurants have been pretty good. That's a big part of my life. But getting to meet people, different players and taking perspective and getting advice from them has been great," he responded.
The Second City is famous for its food. The next day I saw him in the restaurant downstairs and asked him about his overall favorite restaurant here. He said he's a big fan of Ditka's, prompting another reporter nearby to endorse the joint's steaks. Griffin then said he's not eating much red meat right now, so I mentioned their Salmon and Tuna steaks. The future Clipper approved Ditka's seafood. So this is life in transition to the next level, where everything's meatier and portions of everything are much bigger. So is the number of people watching you.
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2013 NBA Mock Draft - June 12
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 20
2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
2 5 9