NBA Draft Post-Pick Quotes
Darrell ArthurSome quotes from last night’s NBA Draft press conferences:
Do you expect to come in and contribute right away? Do you expect to be a starter?
Derrick Rose: Yes, yes I do. Being a point guard and coming in and starting, I have to show a little bit of leadership and let everyone know that I really want to be there.
This is the first time freshmen have gone 1-2-3. Did you have any indication during the (high school) summer camps that you guy would have this much of an impact?
Michael Beasley: We all grew up together and we all grew up playing against each other. We all made a pact together that we would be here. Just to see it all fall into place and see it all happen is kind of crazy.
Was it hard to hear the boos when your name was announced in the city you were going to play in?
Danilo Gallinari: It’s a part of the game, all the players have got to hear this. Not every time you can hear good things. So it’s normal … I feel normal and comfortable with that. It’s my work to prove to everybody that I am a good player.
How important is it to be in a big market (L.A.) with the endorsement opportunities that are available to you? Is that on your mind?
Eric Gordon: Not really. I’m just glad to be drafted here today to the L.A. Clippers. Better weather than Indiana, and just overall I thought it would be a great situation.
Is it going to be strange not playing with your brother? When was the last time you guys weren’t on the same team?
Brook Lopez: I don’t know. It will be strange. I don’t know when the last time was. But, you know, you pretty much knew it was going to happen, so I’ve been getting ready for that and here it is. I’ll tell you after a year of playing without him.
What do you think about playing with Shaq every day?
Robin Lopez: That will be a new experience. I know I’ve called myself tough before, so I guess this will really put it to the test. Whatever doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger, as Kanye West says.
Talk about the range of emotions going through your head as you sat there waiting to be selected.
Darrell Arthur: I was just waiting there anxiously and just nervous that I didn’t know who was going to pick me up. Me and my mom, me and my family were just waiting patiently.
How familiar are you with the other players from France that are in the NBA now, like Tony Parker and Boris Diaw?
Nicolas Batum: I don’t know the other players in the NBA.
Talk about getting drafted and describe your style of play.
Alexis Ajinca: Before the draft I talked to my agent and I said, “Well, I want to play for the Bobcats,” and said that’s what I want, so do it.
I can shoot, run, jump; maybe that’s a new generation for big guys. Nobody is big like me, so that’s good.
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June 27th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Tbone says:
“Whatever doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger, as Kanye West says.”
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!
That was sick, sick Kanye reference. You must be so cool Robin. No one has ever said that before Kanye did
June 27th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Tbone says:
How familiar are you with the other players from France that are in the NBA now, like Tony Parker and Boris Diaw?
Nicolas Batum: I don’t know the other players in the NBA.
The question wasn’t if you KNOW them, the question was whether or not YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM
What’s wrong with people these days???
June 27th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
smokadeth says:
I love the Danilo response to the boos. He is a class act. There is this intangible sincerity in that quote, I just feel he means it 100%. It’s great to have a guy with that mind, with that attitude on any team- but more so on the Knicks because we’ve never had a player of this mindset. He truly is a perfect fit, and a perfect start for the new Knick culture. words.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Tbone says:
Smok, I agree. He seems like a good fit for the wrath of NY. He doesn’t seemed to be fazed by much at all. Sounds ready to put in work. I think D’Antoni will be able to use him well.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
hahns says:
tbone. apparently youre one of the ppl youre questioning about.
the kid is french no? im guessing french isnt his first language. moreover, even a guy fluent in english could misinterpret that.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Tbone says:
Hahns, not sure what I said wrong. I actually had a positive response to Danilo.
I just was rubbed the wrong way by the stupid comments made by Lopez and Batum.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Tbone says:
Oh I see what you’re saying. Yeah, english probably isn’t his first language.
I was probably a little harsh
it’s all in good fun
just bored at work on Friday
Hope you didn’t take it too seriously
June 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Tbone says:
But, I’ll add that if someone fluent in english ever misinterpreted that, they had better be pretty high
June 27th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
SayItAintSo says:
Well then, I must be up in smoke because ‘I don’t know them’ seems to be a more than adequate answer to the question of ‘how familiar are you with them’. It’s maybe not the answer you’re looking for but if you don’t know them…well then you’re probably not too familiar with them. Or am I just trippin?
June 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
GEE...ain't the one that'll pay fo ya phone says:
What the Batum kid said alone is reason to not pick him. Can’t say enough I am glad Houston let dude go. If he actually turns out to be the bomb then I will just eat crow. Still he just don’t seem like he gone be worth the 1st round.
To many foreign dudes watering down the L. In some years the L is prolly going to be looking like the college game overseas.
The Lopez mama must have some serious DNA to spit out two 7 footers. But why she give them the girl names. Seriously you got to huge *** boys named Brook and Robin???
Pause.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Micheal says:
You guys are slacking. You don’t post anything all day ‘cept for those 2 early articles about draft analysis. Then you put up these next 2 crappy posts. You didn’t even post all the trades. the fucks wrong with you DIME?
June 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Brown says:
Robin Lopez sounds pretty fluent in english. That Kanye West reference had the same effect on me Tbone. There’s no way he can think Kanye came up with that quote, but then again, maybe he’s never heard anyone say it before.
He’s probably just attributing it to that song people are so sick of. Stronger was annoying after about the third time I heard it.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
jabbahut says:
Go watch one of Nicolas Batum’s interviews on youtube. It’s pretty obvious his English isn’t that great. He thought he was asked if he knew them personally.
About Danilo – a lot of these New York fans don’t seem to understand that he put up good numbers in the Euroleague as a 19 year old, something Darko never did right?
June 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
hahns says:
oops yeah, typo. i meant english probably isnt his first language.
didnt mean to sound like such an ass either. im itching to get outta work today too haha.
and i second michael. on an extra long friday, i was lookin forward to some dime insight on all the trades/picks
June 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
D'Antonio says:
I think Batum will end up starting on a Portland team that will win some chips in a few years.
He won’t be the best player on the team, he probably won’t be an all star, but he’ll play great D, score his share of points and pass the ball to Oden, Bayless and Roy. Every good team needs guys like that to be successful in this league.
And Gee, your comment is borderline xenophobic …
June 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Data says:
When it comes to dwealing with fans and booing and all that stuff Europen players are a lot more accustom to it. Danilo wasn’t phased cause he’s been playing pro in Europe and the fans there are much harsher than anything NY fans or even Philly fans can throw at him. He wasn’t and won’t be phased by that.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Dagomar says:
For those of you who don’t know, those Euro leagues are WAY more competitive/intense than the NCAA. And the fan bases are rabid. Plus the game is growing like crazy over there. A young kid who can lead a team there has a good shot in the NBA.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Truth says:
@Data Yeah I agree with the Gee statement
Wasup wit that Gee?
You don’t like foreign players? Nowitzki, petrovic, okur and all these cats that’s shooting they lights out over here in the U.S. I think they add a different strength to teams. Ain’t too many cats from the U.S. That’s 7’0 and can stroke it. Sh*t D-Howard and Shaq can barely shoot a f*ckin free throw and Ewing and Kareem, chamberlain or none of them cats bet not dare shoot a f*ckin three or they would get shot in the d*mn eye!
June 27th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Truth says:
My bad I was agreeing wit D-Antonion Not Data
June 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
GEE...ain't the one that'll pay fo ya phone says:
D Anthony and Truth
Truth I don’t like any of them cats you named. I will agree they do add different strengths to teams, but still I don’t think it’s so much of a strength that couldn’t be found from a cat in the U.S. aside from 7’0′s from distance. Also for all the outside shooting them cats can do, they get beasted in the paint and not that great at D.
Now as far as me personally I don’t have a problem with foreign cats. My comment was perhaps a bit strong, and sorry if it offended anyone but it’s just more of a preference thing vs. a dislike one. I like some foreign cats and what they bring.
Just preference like enjoying older players as oppose to the babies they let in the L or vice versa. Or if I said they prolly don’t need to go with women refs in the L. Just a preference. You might like foreign cats more than me and have at it if you do. Me I enjoy players I can follow more vs. a foreign cat that I can’t follow their games or have a lot of info on. Again I don’t hate any foreign cats just a preference in the game.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
D'Antonio says:
That sounds good to me. I hate Politically Correct, and shit like that, but reading the comment, I had the feeling you were saying foreigners are softer than Americans. And I say take a look at Garbajosa, Nocioni or Scola if you’re not convinced this is plain wrong…
But if it’s just a matter of preference, that’s OK with me. As for me,I think guys like Divac or Gino make the game so much more interesting with their insane creativity, and I believe you need all these Euro shooters and passers to create driving lanes for the athletes.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Desrat says:
First to say “that which des not kill me only makes me stronger” was Henry David Thoreau in a treatise on self-reliance. He also was the first to say that he “marched to the beat of a different drummer.” at the end of the treatise is an essay called “Civil Disobedience” which inspired first Gondi and then The Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. to confront a criminal act endorsed by governments with shedding any blood. Cool dude, and a cat from Stanford should know that if I do…I dropped out of high school!
June 27th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
omar says:
How familiar are you with the other players from France that are in the NBA now, like Tony Parker and Boris Diaw?
Nicolas Batum: I don’t know the other players in the NBA.
The question wasn’t if you KNOW them, the question was whether or not YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM
What’s wrong with people these days???
cut him some slack he speaks broken english
June 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Meica says:
#1 got it right.