June 28, 2004

Sebastian Telfair:

How exciting is this experience for you?
Very excited. This is an exciting time in life where you get to live you dream. My dream for my entire life has been be an NBA player for years to come.

What do you think about the Trail Blazers?
They were a great team before I got here. Hopefully we can work hard and hope for the best together.

Kenny Anderson was with you when you were drafted, what did he tell you?
Kenny Anderson is a guy that has been around being from New York City and a guy I looked up to a lot. He told me to work hard and do what I have to do to stay at the top of my game.

Going into Thursday night did you have any idea you were going to be drafted by Portland?
After my workout I had some some kinda idea I was on the board with Portland but I had no guarantee that I would end up there.

Did you have a feeling or suspicion that you would be drafted by the Trail Blazers?
Well uh, Portland was one of my best workouts when I came in and I felt I did pretty well. I thought that there was a good chance that I would be considered and god willing I was chosen. In my heart I hoped I would be a Portland Trail Blazer and I am really happy.

Coming into Portland, what did you know about the Trail Blazers past?
I know that Portland has been a team that has been in the playoffs for a lot of years. And a couple of things in the papers from the past and a lot of media print-ups.

Did you ever check out Maurice Cheeks?
Yes I did. I checked him out and I knew he was really good, a lot better than I knew.

How do you feel about having another point guard in Portland?
That’s why I felt Portland was a great place for me. Playing behind Damon and under Coach Cheeks will help me grow as a player.

What are your expectations at the mid-point and end of your career?
I have no expectations about what I am going to accomplish this year, I am going to go out and play hard and get to point where I am prepared to give my very best. I have to play and compete at the highest level.

Do you ever regret not attending even one year of college?
I don't regret not attending high school. This was the best course of action for me and my family.

Viktor Khryapa:

Do you believe you are ready to play in the NBA? How does Europe compare?
I am 22 now and with all of my experience in Europe I think that I am at a level where I am ready to compete in the NBA. I have accomplished a great deal in Europe but I am now ready to take the next step up and play in the best league in the world, the NBA.

What do you think is the biggest difference in style of play?
Europe plays a slower more tactical game. The NBA is a more physical game with a lot more running. Winning is more dependant upon fast breaks, blocked shots and dunks.

Your team is pretty well structured. Is there more freedom in the NBA?
No. We have rules, a lot of rules. We are not close to the NBA. Sometimes we can play like an NBA team with a lot of fastbreaks, but not always our style, just sometimes.

Do you think your abilities are better suited to the NBA than Europe system you played in previously?
I think of course they are better because I am young. Myself I want more, more, and more and I try to do more on the floor. I try to show all of what I can do on the floor work hard and play. I play 100 percent and more.

When you found out that you were going to Portland, what did you think?
I was here two times, I work out here, I like here because the weather is good, a lot of trees, very green city, and I like it.

What was it like to be with Sergei on draft night, etc. since you played together?
Of course we didn't expect to be together on one team because the draft this year 29 teams and I think everyone expected Sergei to go a little bit early, I am maybe little bit later but nobody think that one team pick both of us. Of course I am happy because he is Russian and we are already close friends and we have a chance to play on one team and a very good team like Portland.

How long have you know each other?
Maybe 6 or 7 years. We have played together in our first team, national team, junior national team, men's national team and our last team CSKA. We have played together all of our professional basketball life.

Sergei Monia:

(Viktor for Sergei)
In regards to your contract situation, do you expect to play in Russia next year and come to the NBA in the following year?
He wants to play so much in the NBA but he can't control the management of CSKA what they decide. He wants to play here 100 percent. What happens though he doesn't know.

John Nash:

How realistic is it that any of the four will come in and make a significant contribution?
To be determined. I don't think on draft night we drafted any of the four for the upcoming year because as I said before we expect the summer to play in free agency and become involved in free agency, however we reserve the right in the event that they come to summer camp and the Rocky Mountain Revue and they impress us to the point that we feel they have go to be on the floor, that's for Maurice to decide.

The Blazers seem to be following a similar path as compared to Sacramento and Dallas in taking European players. Your response to that?
Frankly it is part of what's happening in basketball. You have seen it happen in other professional sports as well, obviously hockey has a lot of foreign players today, baseball, and our sport is just growing by leaps and bounds internationally. It only stands to reason that it is a matter of time before we have players representing the entire world.

Ha Seung Jin:

You cried on draft night, what was that about?
The reason why I cried is because I have been here for 6 months training and I they were tears of joy and relief.

How do you feel having a press conference today?
The overall feeling being here today is great, I am very appreciative that Portland took a chance on me.

What do you feel your strengths are?
He said his strengths right now are rebounding, hook-shots, and his mobility. He also says he has to work on certain aspects of his game but he is confident he will be a contributor later on in the future.

Maurice Cheeks:

When you look at Sebastian Telfair’s game, does it remind you of yourself at all?
No. He is a much, much better passer than I ever was. For a guy to come out of high school with the ability like he has to pass the ball the way he can pass the ball and run a basketball team the way he can run a basketball team that is a unique quality for a guy that come out of high school able to do that.