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Chicago Pre-Draft Camp, Media Day

Chicago Pre-Draft Camp, Media Day
Jun 15, 2005, 02:12 am
Antoine Wright

Jonathan Watters: The Buzz wasn’t good after your 0-16 season, and your shooting fell way off. Then next year you came out and were really improved. What happened that summer?

Antoine Wright: We got a new coach in Billy Gillispie. It was definitely a change in coaching, he was just more intense, just a different kind of guy. He just helped me, and was really focused from the beginning. All he talked about was winning. We got that winning atmosphere back, and got everybody interested in Aggie basketball. It definitely helped my confidence.

Jonathan Watters: So you bought in a little more?

Antoine Wright: Oh yeah, definitely. He’s one of those guys that if you don’t buy in, you aren’t going to be around very long. He just helped me a lot to get better and focus more game-by-game, rather than the entire season.

Jonathan Watters: Did you take a lot of time to work on your shot over the summer?

Antoine Wright: I worked on my game as a whole. Coach made it available for me to be in the gym as much as possible.

Jonathan Watters: What was it like to go from 0-16 to nearly making the NCAA tournament?

Antoine Wright: It was exciting. We had a lot of younger players on the team that hand’t been through the 0-16season, and it was just exciting to be a leader on the team, to be able to come out and lead us on that charge.

Jonathan Watters: If you could compare yourself to an NBA player, who would it be?

Antoine Wright: Maybe a Ray Allen type, or a Paul Pierce.




Gerald Green

Reporter: Do you feel comfortable with all of this (draft hype) yet?

Gerald Green: I’m still getting used to it because 5 months ago, nobody called me to ask me questions, I was never in the newspaper.

Reporter: What position do you think you can excel at more, shooting guard or small forward?

Gerald Green: I don’t really know, because I play both positions. It doesn’t really matter to me, I guess that whatever position they have me playing, that’s what I have to play. Just to be in the NBA, that’s all that matters.

Reporter: I understand you’ve been working really hard on your strength and conditioning...

Gerald Green: Yes I have, I’ve been working really hard on my strength. I’ve been working really hard on my mental toughness. I feel that if I proceed on that, everything else will come with it.

Reporter: Who are you working out with?

Gerald Green: I have a personal trainer, and I workout 3-4 times a day, sometimes 5. I’m working really, really hard.

Reporter: I heard a few months ago you could only bench press 185 pounds twice, and that it’s considerably more now?

Gerald Green: Yeah, it’s considerably more. I don’t really know how much I can bench press yet, but I’ll find out today. My personal trainer is working me out really hard.

Reporter: They say that high schoolers have to be really motivated, because they are a taking a huge leap. Do you feel you have the motivation?

Gerald Green: Yes, I have the motivation. Just looking back at my mom and my dad, and my grandma that’s deceased, that’s part of my main motivation. before she died she always used to say, “I want you to be successful, I want you to fulfill your dreams. If you want to do something, you just put your mind and work hard, God will bless you.”

Reporter: What made you decide to make the leap now?

Gerald Green: What really made me decide was my performance at the McDonald’s game. Me and my parents sat down and we talked about it. We went through kind of a slow process and eventually we just decided it was the best decision.

Reporter: Did you get a lot of good feedback after the game?

Gerald Green: After the game I was just ready to go to college, to go work out and be ready to play in the Big XII. My dad said that he was getting some feedback, and that we needed to sit down and talk about my situation.

Reporter: Do you sort of drive yourself crazy wondering where you could end up (getting picked)?

Gerald Green: Not necessarily because it doesn’t matter where I end up. Just getting into the NBA is a blessing, because there are a lot of guys out there that would kill to be in my position. I don’t care if I get picked at 1 or 29, or in the 2nd round, just to be in the situation would be special.

Jonathan Watters: Would you be satisfied just getting experience and coming along a little more slowly, or do you want playing time?

Gerald Green: If I’m ready to play at that particular time, maybe that team will do so. Whenever the team feels that I’m ready, that’s when I’m ready.

Reporter: What part of your game do you take the most pride in?

Gerald Green: I think I take most pride in my jumping ability, because God has blessed me in that area.

Reporter: What do you do to prepare for the draft?

Gerald Green: Im working really hard. My mom keeps me motivated. I have a personal trainer and my AAU coach. They work me out hard.

Reporter: Do you have any workouts scheduled?

Gerald Green: Not yet, I will start next week.

Jonathan Watters: Is there a specific aspect of the game that you feel you need to work on?

Gerald Green: Yes, My mental toughness and physical toughness.

Jonathan Watters: Is there anything on the floor that you are working on?

Gerald Green: I’m adding a little quickness. You know, my dribbling stuff like that. I’m working on some new moves, but just being in the NBA, that will come anyways.




Raymond Felton

Rodger Bohn: If a team asked you, “why should we take you over Chris Paul or Deron Williams?” what would you say?

Raymond Felton:] I’m not going to answer that.

Reporter: Could you just make a case for what you bring to the game?

Raymond Felton: I’m a guy who loves to win, and will do anything do win. Whether that means scoring a lot of points, getting a lot assists, grabbing a lot of rebounds, playing defense on the best scorer on the other team, whatever it takes. I just try to make everybody whenever I’m on the court.

Reporter: Does it help to go through this process this with so many of your teammates and be able to talk about your situations?

Raymond Felton: It’s definitely a lot of fun to talk to those guys. To see what they are going through, what they’ve been up to, and what they are doing to prepare for the draft. It’s always been a dream for us, we’ve been talking about it since high school, so it’s a dream come true. So yes, it’s been fun.

Reporter: Sean May said that he would have stayed if you had stayed and if he felt that you were that important to him. Did you give any thought to staying?

Raymond Felton: After we won the national championship I thought about it, but once I really sat down, I came to the decision that it was best for me to leave.

Jonathan Watters: Do you think that playing in the pressure filled environment of North Carolina is helping you deal with this draft process?

Raymond Felton: Oh definitely. All the publicity, all the attention at North Carolina, we get all that no matter if we were winning or losing.

Jonathan Watters: Was it tough for you to be labeled as the savior of the North Carolina program?

Raymond Felton: When they were saying that, I was trying not to hear it. There isn’t any way that one player can be the savior of anything. It takes a whole team and it took us two years to really get that concept and really bring it together.

Jonathan Watters: What was it that allowed you to bring it together?

Raymond Felton: We really just came together as one and believed in one another. We all believed in Coach Williams and his staff and decided to play as a team.

Reporter: Would Charlotte be any more attractive to you because it’s closer to home?

Raymond Felton: I’m not going to say that it’s relevant but I’m not going to say that it’s not, because I’ll be happy wherever I get drafted. I would be happy to be drafted by Charlotte, because it’s close to home and close to North Carolina, but if I were to get drafted by a west coast team, it would still be a wonderful situation because I’m getting drafted.

Jonathan Watters: What do you think helped you to become a better player over the past year?

Raymond Felton: Just better understanding of the game, just using what I can do to the fullest of my ability, and working on my jumper. That’s about it.

Reporter: Was there anything you learned from the pressure of the tournament that really helped you?

Raymond Felton: No, not really. It whole season was pressure filled. My job is to get guys good shots, and get guys in the right position to get a great shot.

Reporter: Is it tough to have so much talent and still be a point guard?

Raymond Felton: It is. You are trying to keep everybody happy. But we had a team where if guys didn’t shoot that much, they weren’t worried about it. If you were hot, I was going to get you the ball, and get you a touch.

Jonathan Watters: You seem to have that flair for the dramatic, that special vision as a point guard. Is that something you are born with, or did you have to work on that?

Raymond Felton: I guess I was born with it, it’s something natural. You can’t work on your vision. I’m the type of player that can see things happening before they really form. I can see a play happening or a play I should make before anybody can see it.

Jonathan Watters: Do you think you can overcome a lack of size?

Raymond Felton: Oh, definitely. There are a lot of point guards my size in the NBA.

Jonathan Watters: Just how anxious are you getting to get this over with and find out where you are going?

Raymond Felton: I’m definitely anxious. It’s a waiting process, and that’s probably the most difficult thing about the whole process.

Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for?

Raymond Felton: Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Hornets, Raptors.

Jonathan Watters: What have you heard about your possible draft range.

Raymond Felton: Between 5 and 10.

Jonathan Watters: What did you really work on in the offseason? Your shot?

Raymond Felton: I put in a lot of time. I get up in the morning and take some shots, come back at night and take more shots. That’s what I did the whole summer.

Jonathan Watters: What other workouts do you have lined up?

Raymond Felton: I’ve got Orlando, Charlotte, and Utah.




Danny Granger

Rodger Bohn: What’s your daily routine been like in preparation for the draft?

Danny Granger: There is no daily routine. I get a call saying, “go here”, and I’ve got to go, but I work out every day. So I keep in shape and keep my basketball skills sharp.

Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for?

Danny Granger: Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Pacers, Nuggets,

Rodger Bohn: What other teams do you plan on working out for?

Danny Granger: Most of the lottery teams, Toronto, Atlanta, New York, Charlotte.

Jonathan Watters: Do you enjoy the draft, workout process, or do you want to get it over with?

Danny Granger: I do enjoy it. The other day I was working out for the Pacers and I was sitting there talking to Larry Bird. You don’t get too many opportunities like that. I had a workout yesterday against Hakim Warrick and Isaiah Thomas, John Stockton, and Chris Mullin were all in the gym watching. It doesn’t get too much better than that. It’s tiring, but it’s also fun and exciting.

Jonathan Watters: What has the transition been like for you, going from being injured midway through the season to a potential lottery pick?

Danny Granger: I think my road to becoming a lottery pick has been interesting. When I got hurt my team lost 3 games. Before I got hurt, we were 14-2. We had only lost to Wake Forest and Oregon on the road. I think that in itself showed the impact I had on my team. Once I came back we won 12 out of the next 15.

Jonathan Watters: Do you feel you are a combo forward or more of a true wing?

Danny Granger: I think I’m a lot of different positions. I think I have the ability to guard someone bigger than me with my quickness, and I think I have the ability to guard the 2 as well. So I think I can play the 2, 3, and 4.

Rodger Bohn: Talk about your workout with Hakim Warrick. You did really well shooting the ball in the drills, but then you didn’t fare quite so well in the one-on-one. Then you picked it up again in the two-on-two. Why was it that you fared better in the two-on-two?

Danny Granger: I don’t think any real reason. Hakim hit some tough shots against me, with those fallaways. He’s so long and athletic, but I’m long too. That’s more of a credit to him, hitting those shots, and my hat goes off to him. In the two-on-two I got back in a rhythm and hit four or five shots in a row, and just never gave up.

Rodger Bohn: You had a lot of injury problems throughout your career. What are you doing to make sure that doesn’t happen in the NBA?

Danny Granger: I’ve heard I’ve had a lot of injury problems, but in four years I only missed those three games due to injury. I came back from my meniscus injury faster than most people, so injuries have never been a problem for me. I play right through injuries, until I really can’t play.

Reporter: Tell me what you are bringing to the table to a prospective team?

Danny Granger: I’m just an all around player. There’s not just one thing that I’m good at. I’m a good shooter, I block shots, I think I’m a good defender, I get steals. A lot of times you’ll draft somebody just because they’re good at one thing. I think I’m the opposite, in that I’m good at a lot of things.

Jonathan Watters: What do you think separates you from the other wings in this draft?

Danny Granger: My versatility, I think. There were times when I would run the point at New Mexico. There were times when I would guard the 5 man. It wasn’t like I was on a team like North Carolina where a guy could get hurt and they would keeping winning. We didn’t have that luxury. I think that shows the impact I can have on the game.

Jonathan Watters: You played with Andrew Bogut in the Mountain West. Could you describe his game for me?

Danny Granger: He’s a good player, a legit 7 footer. He has good hands and good skills around the goal, kind of a European skillset. He competes, you know? You can have all the skills in the world, but if you don’t have the heart and the will to compete, you aren’t going to be a good player.

Rodger Bohn: There were reports that during your workouts you had a really bad toe injury. Can you go into detail about that?

Danny Granger: When I was working out for the Lakers, I think my toe got smashed and my toenail cracked open. It was really bad, really painful, so I cut it off. I got some clippers and I drained it, it was infected. I didn’t tell anybody about it, because I figured it would just heal up. My next workout was the Clippers and I was terrible in that workout. I had no idea it was that bad, and I couldn’t even dunk because my toe was killing me. I still thought it would be better the next day, so I wrapped my foot in ice and took some pain medication. The next day I had a workout for the Warriors and couldn’t move, so I had to shut it down for a week. I went to the hospital and they said it was infected. They gave me some antibiotic shots and it cleared up. It still hurts a little bit but it’s getting a lot better.




Marvin Williams

Jonathan Watters: What is your daily routine like?

Marvin Williams: Every day I get up about 9, eat breakfast, and go to the gym. I work out on the court for about an hour and then go lift weights for about an hour and a half, two hours.

Jonathan Watters : How do you feel like you’ve improved from these workouts?

Marvin Williams: I feel like my perimeter shooting has gotten better. I’ve focused on that a lot.

Jonathan Watters: Have you worked out for any NBA teams yet?

Marvin Williams: Not yet. I’m scheduled the 19th for Milwaukee and the 22nd for Atlanta.

Jonathan Watters: Are those the only teams you’ll be working out with?

Marvin Williams: That’s correct.

Jonathan Watters: You chose to go to school, even though eight players out of your class declared and got picked in the first round, and you could have been in that first round mix. What made you decide to go to school?

Marvin Williams: It’s something I wanted to do. It’s been a dream of mine to play college basketball, definitely at North Carolina. I like Coach Williams and liked playing college basketball.

Jonathan Watters: Do you feel you’ve benefited from your year at Carolina?

Marvin Williams: Yeah, it was good.

Jonathan Watters Could you explain why you were willing to take a bench role at North Carolina, even though you were obviously more talented than that?

Marvin Williams: I wanted to win. That’s all I was about, that’s all Coach Williams was about, that’s all out team was about. Sometimes you have to sacrifice as a team player.

Jonathan Watters What position will you play at the next level, the 3 or the 4?

Marvin Williams: I really don’t know. Maybe the 3, but I don’t know yet.

Jonathan Watters Is there a position you would prefer to play?

Marvin Williams: No, either way I’ll play hard.

Jonathan Watters What have NBA teams told you they like about your game?

Marvin Williams: I guess that I play hard. I can shoot the basketball, I can dribble a little bit.

Jonathan Watters What things have they expressed that you would need to work on?

Marvin Williams: I personally feel like I need to work on everything.

Jonathan Watters Is there one area specific area you need to work on?

Marvin Williams: Just everything.

Jonathan Watters Playing a bit more of a post oriented role than you might play in the NBA, is there anything about your game you feel you didn’t get to show the scouts at North Carolina?

Marvin Williams: Probably just my perimeter game. If I end up playing the three I will play a lot more on the perimeter, so definitely my perimeter game.

Jonathan Watters Is the a specific team you would like to be drafted by?

Marvin Williams: It doesn’t matter.




Channing Frye

Rodger Bohn: What is your daily routine like in preparation for the draft?

Channing Frye: Basically I just wake up, get something to eat, and go work out at Hoops The Gym with Tim Grover. I basically do that, and just become a student of the game and watch a lot of game film. This year, I’m going to watch the NBA finals, its going to be a great series. Other then that, I just relax and take care of my body.

Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for so far?

Channing Frye: I haven’t worked out for anybody right now. I think we’re waiting until after Chicago and then we’ll work out for a select amount of teams. We’ll go over it with my agent after the Chicago camp is over.

Rodger Bohn: Who are those select teams?

Channing Frye: Right now, we don’t know exactly who. I just know its going to be a select few.

Rodger Bohn: How is your game different now then it was in college?

Channing Frye:Well I think coach Olson set people up with their jobs and what they need to do and I think that a lot of people just…they didn’t get to see the full extent of what I have to offer. I think now, with the way I work out every day, we’ve worked on my athleticism, my handles, my jump shot, just my overall game. I think I’ve matured a lot, especially looking back on the season and basically I’ve just gotten better. You can take what you saw during the season and add 100% to that because that’s how much better I think I’ve gotten.

Rodger Bohn: Since we’re on the topic of your improvement, what things are you able to show NBA teams in workouts now that you weren’t able to show at Arizona?

Channing Frye:I think at Arizona…right now…I think in the Arizona system, Coach O is not a fan of a lot of dribbling or back to the basket type stuff. He’s more of a quick move type person, not to say that there’s anything wrong with that. I think now that we’re in the NBA, you get to take your time, the lane is a lot more spread out, defenses are farther out. Basically I just want to show a little more of the athleticism I have and basically show more of the moves that I have to offer. Basically I just want to go out there and do whatever it takes to win.

Rodger Bohn: I’m taking it that you’ve obviously heard about the report on quite a few internet sites that the Golden State Warriors have promised that they will pick you at number 9. If you haven’t worked out for anyone, how can a team give you a promise without having you work out for them?

Channing Frye:I don’t know. I don’t read any of that stuff really (laughs). I basically just stick in my little apartment and in the gym and I think that’s good. I’m trying to stay humble every day and the situation is kind of a blessing to hear that stuff before I’ve even worked out. Golden State is a great team and I would love going there…basically I would love to go to any team, but you know, Golden State is a very good situation and I played against Mike Montgomery at Stanford.

NY reporter: What do you think about going to New York?

Channing Frye:I think New York is a great situation just like Golden State. I think that they are an up and coming team with a lot of fresh new faces and I wouldn’t mind going there to be honest.

NY reporter: Have you had a chance to talk to Isaiah?

Channing Frye:No, no. I just hear the stories about how he roams around campus and stuff like that, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. I’ve seen him around which is kind of crazy to see all these people like Isaiah Thomas and Kevin McHale. I’ve just seen him around Chicago. To see those types of people like Jerry West…it’s just an honor to try to sit down and talk to those guys.

NY reporter: You said that you were working out for some select teams, would New York be on that list?

Channing Frye:I think so, but I think…to be honest, I’ll probably discuss all of the teams…we have to really kind of break it down after Chicago and break it down as to what teams are going to give us the best opportunities and the best chances.



Antoine Wright

Rodger Bohn: What is your daily routine like in preparation for the draft?

Antoine Wright: Right now, it’s really been kind of hectic. Not being on a set schedule, just traveling from team to team. I’ve really just been flying out to cities and working out for teams.

Rodger Bohn: I was more so referring to your training in preparation for those workouts…

Antoine Wright: Oh, I was training in New York. We trained twice a day. In the mornings, run on the treadmills, then the workouts from 1 to about 3.

Rodger Bohn: Which teams have you worked out for so far?

Antoine Wright: Memphis, Charlotte, Orlando, Boston, and Minnesota.

Rodger Bohn: Throughout those workouts, were there any particular players that you were really impressed with?

Antoine Wright: Jarrett Jack really impressed me. Just because I had seen him play on TV and I hadn’t really been able to see him work out and see everything he can do. He really impressed me.

Rodger Bohn: What are you able to show now in these workouts that you weren’t able to show in college?

Antoine Wright: I’m able to show my ability to create my own shot now. In college, a lot of times plays are set for you and you pretty much have to play in a system where you have to play within that system. I’m just able to show everything I can do and I think it’s definitely helped my stock.

Rodger Bohn: So are there any more things that you weren’t able to show at Texas A&M?

Antoine Wright: I really didn’t handle the ball. We had a point guard…a really good point guard who dominated the ball in our offensive set. I’m able to show that I can handle the ball and create my own shot.

Rodger Bohn: What other workouts do you have scheduled before the draft?

Antoine Wright: I work out for New York, Toronto, the Clippers…I think that’s all I have for right now.

Rodger Bohn: What have teams told you that they really like about your game?

Antoine Wright: I haven’t really gotten into it. Every team has just been impressed…they thought I was just going to be a shooter or this type of player or whatever, but they’ve been really impressed with me.

Rodger Bohn: What thinks have they told you that maybe you need work on so you are able to reach your fullest potential?

Antoine Wright: They just tell me to continue to get better every day. That’s the best advice that you can give anyone in this draft because its so wide open…just to continue and workout every day.

Rodger Bohn: You had an amazing freshman year, you were Big 12 freshman of the year, then kind of dropped off again this year, then really stepped it up again this year. Whose to say that you aren’t going to drop off again next year?

Antoine Wright: Like I said, I’m just going to continue to get better and learn from my experiences. I think that my sophomore year was a great learning experience for me. I learned all types of things that I needed to be aware of on the court and I just really matured as a player over my sophomore year and I wouldn’t take it back for anything. As this year showed, it showed that I have learned a lot from that year and just become a much more mature person.

Rodger Bohn: I have heard that you’ve had some really good workouts…if I’m an NBA GM, tell me why you’re the top shooting guard in the draft?

Antoine Wright: Like I said, I feel that I’m very experienced and I feel that I can pretty much do anything. I can guard the ball very well, I can guard multiple positions. I’m a scorer as well as a…I’m not just a one dimensional player. I can do a lot of things and I feel like teams are looking for guys who can come in right away and play and I feel that I’m mature enough to be able to do that.




Hakim Warrick

Rodger Bohn: What has your daily routine like been here in Chicago training with Tim Grover?

Hakim Warrick: Work out about 10 on the court. 10-1 on the court and lifting weights. After that, we’ll either come back around 2 or just have the rest of the day off.

Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for so far?

Hakim Warrick: New York, New Orleans, Portland, Golden State, both of the L.A. teams, Toronto, and Orlando.

Rodger Bohn: In those workouts, were there any players that you were particularly impressed with?

Hakim Warrick: Yeah, I worked out with Joey Graham a couple of times. I knew he was pretty good because I played against him in college. He shot the ball better then I thought he was able to.

Rodger Bohn: What do you think an accurate range is of where you’ll be picked?

Hakim Warrick: Mid to late lottery. I’m just trying to work hard and hopefully move it up higher.

Rodger Bohn: So since you feel that you’re going to get picked in the mid to late lottery, you must really feel that teams like you. What things about your game have teams told you that they really like?

Hakim Warrick: They like my athleticism, my length. They said that my shot…my perimeter game has really improved. I just need to keep working and keep improving. Just continue to keep doing the things that I’m doing.

Rodger Bohn: What specific things have teams told you that they’d like to see you improve upon?

Hakim Warrick: Just my outside shot more. More consistently get arc on my outside shot.

Rodger Bohn: What other teams do you plan on working out for?

Hakim Warrick: I’m not sure.

Rodger Bohn: So you don’t have any other ones lined up right now?

Hakim Warrick: I think I have a couple. Minnesota and Utah, but its not…I don’t know when or if I’m still going to do those.

Rodger Bohn: How do you think the transition from power forward to small forward is going to be like for you?

Hakim Warrick: I think the transition to the NBA is going to be tough. I played small forward. Before I came to college, I played a lot of small forward, so the best thing I can do…it’s going to be a tough transition playing against guys who are just as quick as me. I just need to continue to stay low and just handle the ball and go out there and shoot the outside shot more consistent.

Rodger Bohn: If you had a choice of playing small forward or power forward, which would you play?

Hakim Warrick: Small forward.

Rodger Bohn: What player do you think your game compares to? Any player you’ve patterned your game after?

Hakim Warrick: I don’t really try to compare. I try to go out there and become my own player and I really don’t like to compare myself to other players.

Rodger Bohn: How do you think you fared in your workout yesterday against Danny Granger?

Hakim Warrick: I think I did pretty good. I think I went out there and just competed. It was just two really good players out there…just … we brought the best out of each other. It was real competitive out there.

Rodger Bohn: What are some things that you weren’t able to show in that workout that you weren’t able to show?

Hakim Warrick: Uhh…I think I did a good job of showing them I could handle the ball, shoot the ball as well. I could have probably have shown them that I can shoot the ball with more consistently. I think that other then that, they did a good job of letting us go down and show our athleticism…things like that.

Rodger Bohn: You did extremely well in the one on one drills when you were running from beyond half court and going at Danny, but you didn’t do quite as well in the two on two games in a half court setting. Why do you think that is?

Hakim Warrick: It’s just the way game goes sometimes. It’s an up and down game. They did a good job. He’s a great player and he did a good job. They scored a couple of baskets when I wasn’t really able to get out there and alter them. I think they beat us 3-1 like two times. Other then that I think…just try to stay out there stay aggressive and attack as much as I could.

Rodger Bohn: So would you prefer to play for a team who has more of a up and down offense?

Hakim Warrick: Yeah, definitely. I think that an up and court offense really fits my style of play. I think I can play in a half court offense as well.

Rodger Bohn: Do you know what you measured out at in terms of your height and wingspan for teams?

Hakim Warrick: My height was 6’8 and my wingspan was 7’1, 7’1 ½.




Chris Paul

Reporter: What in your game do you want to work on before making this jump to the next level?

Chris Paul: Just being a lot more precise with different moves. I think that’s one of the things that I’ve been working on the most in that in college, you may have taken 6 dribbles to get to the lane where in the NBA you may only get 3, maybe 2. Just trying to be a lot more precise with different moves.

Reporter: Is this a dream come true for you?

Chris Paul: Definitely, by far. The biggest thing is for my family. You know, like I said a lot of times people say that they leave for the money, but it was never like that in my situation. It’s a dream come true. Just to have the ability to play basketball and be able to support my family just to play basketball! It’s something I’ve done ever since I was growing up, so its pretty exciting.

Reporter: Can you talk about Milwaukee at all? Have they asked you to work out for them?

Chris Paul: Yes, I’ve worked out for them already.

Reporter: What was that like? What did you hear from them?

Chris Paul: They came to DC where I was training and they watched me work out. It went pretty well, but we’ll have to just see what happens.

Reporter: What would that mean if they picked you first?

Chris Paul: (laughs) It would mean a lot. I’d be the first pick in the draft. I would go crazy and my family would go crazy. It’s pretty hard to tell right now, so its pretty much all up in the air.

Reporter: What do you know about the Milwaukee organization with the current crop of players they have with Michael Redd and Desmond Mason?

Chris Paul: A lot of guys. Another guy they have is T.J. Ford. His back is injured right now, but from what I hear, his progress is coming along pretty quickly. If they draft me, I’ll be excited but its hard to tell right now.

Reporter: Is there any competition between you and Deron to be the first point guard taken?

Chris Paul: We’re pretty good friends, but there’s always that competition in that you want to go as high as you possibly can but at the same time you want to go to a team that is a perfect fit for you. I think that a lot of times it’s about what team fits you best rather then what order you go in.

Reporter: Does he talk to you about that Wake Forest game in Champagne at all?

Chris Paul: Nah, nah. We don’t talk about that. We talked about it all summer leading up to it, but they got the best of us.

Reporter: Have you been in the same workout as Deron any times?

Chris Paul: No.

Reporter: How many times have you went up against him aside from that game?

Chris Paul: Pretty much all summer last summer. Just playing at Nike Camp and at Michael Jordan’s camp in Santa Barbara.

Reporter: What would you say is something that distinguishes the two of you?

Chris Paul: We play a little bit different. I pretty much run it the entire game and he does a little bit of both. He has what he does and I have what I do.

Reporter: I have talked to a couple of scouts here and they say that they think this is a really strong group of point guards. Have you noticed that this year in the workouts?

Chris Paul: Definitely. You’ve got just about all of the guys out of the ACC and that’s a tough league. John Gilchrist, Jarrett Jack, Raymond, Daniel Ewing, different guys like that. Then you’ve got Deron and Dee, unfortunately Dee got hurt. John Lucas…there’s a lot of point guards in this year’s draft.

Rodger Bohn: What do you think sets you apart from Deron Williams and Raymond Felton as the top point guard in this year’s draft?

Chris Paul: I think that I control the game. I think that’s what I do best. I feel that at whatever tempo I want the game to go, that’s what I can do.

Rodger Bohn: What other workouts do you have planned?

Chris Paul: I’m going to work out for Charlotte, Atlanta, and maybe New Orleans.

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