Kentucky star shares spotlight with Canada
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s life is about to change. The Hamilton, Ont., native is expected to become the latest Canadian basketball player selected early in the first round of the NBA draft when he hears his name called Thursday in Brooklyn, N.Y.
If the big moment was weighing on Gilgeous-Alexander, the poised 19-year-old didn’t let it show.
Clearly the media training he received during his excellent year with the powerhouse program at University of Kentucky has been completely absorbed. During his 30-minute media session at a Manhattan hotel, Gilgeous Alexander deftly swatted away queries about which teams he worked out for.
Gilgeous-Alexander has seen his stock soar after a spectacular finish to his lone NCAA campaign. He’s gone from a projected late first-rounder to a mid-lottery prospect to potentially the first guard taken off the board.
“I think I showed what I can do on the court, that’s why I’m projected as high as I am. I want to try to turn myself into an elite player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
After playing a couple of years of high school hoops in Hamilton, he went to Chattanooga, Tenn., and then on to Kentucky. All the while, he was confident this day would come.
“I never really doubted this moment. My whole life I always believed in myself and my abilities, in how hard I worked,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“(I) got a lot better and then went to Kentucky for college and just always worked throughout my career and that’s why I’m here today.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and it’s a dream come true for a lot of guys and a lot of people in the world don’t get to experience it. I’m just trying to soak it all up and be appreciative.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has been connected to Orlando (sixth pick), Cleveland (eighth), Philadelphia, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers (10-13 with L.A. having the 12th and 13th selections).
“Wherever I go, I’ll be happy. Playing in the NBA is a dream come true. It’s crazy that the draft is finally here,” he said.
Rumours come one after the other around draft time and 90 per cent of them have no substance, but one connected Gilgeous-Alexander to the Raptors, the team he grew up cheering for, particularly during the Vince Carter battles against his favourite player Allen Iverson.
“I heard. A couple of guys mentioned it to me. That would be cool, playing in Toronto would be fun. It’s (close to home), but it doesn’t matter which team I go to,” he said.
Seven Canadians have been lottery picks since 2010 and Gilgeous-Alexander, who spent some time with the senior men’s national team despite being one of the youngest players on hand and gets advice from time to time from Steve Nash, is eager to become a role model.
“Being from Canada and having a lot of kids looking up to you because it doesn’t happen as often as it does for American kids, I just want to be the best example for those kids on and off the court,” he said.
“I guess seeing fellow Canadians getting drafted (was inspirational to him) and that really sparked the kids back home and giving them hope. And to think that I’ll have the opportunity to do the same thing and put a little belief in kids that this thing is actually possible coming where we come from, it will be fun,” he said.
Gilgeous-Alexander says family and friends tell him that process has already started.
“They’re seeing the change in the kids and their belief and the effect that I have on them and the waves that are shaking back home and it’s cool (to hear),” he said.
RAPS MAY BE QUIET
On the eve of his first NBA draft as Toronto Raptors GM, Bobby Webster is alert to every possibility, but without a draft pick he will have some time on his hands.
Webster and the Raptors front office have their eye on a number of players in this year’s draft, but with a cupboard already stocked full of young, talented players, chances of a big move are limited.
The Raptors gave up their first-round pick to Brooklyn in the DeMarre Carroll deal last year and the second pick to Phoenix when they acquired PJ Tucker a little over 18 months ago in what turned out to be a rental.
Already in the fold and with three years or less of experience are OG Anunoby, Delon Wright, Norm Powell, Jakob Poeltl, Pascal Siakam and, should they manage to hold on to him in free agency, Fred VanVleet.
There is an option for the Raptors to buy a secondround pick if they so choose.
According to Webster, the league has increased the amount you can use to purchase a pick to US$5.1 million. Webster would not say how interested the Raptors are in purchasing a pick.