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Giddens Excited at Chance with Champs
WALTHAM - J.R. Giddens wouldn't say he'd been preparing for the NBA Draft this offseason, because it goes back a little further than that.
"I've been preparing my whole life," Giddens said. "I've been working every day to get to this level."
Count being drafted by the World Champion Boston Celtics among the seminal moments in this young man's life. Rather than make the voyage to Manhattan to attend the NBA Draft last week, Giddens stayed with his teammates in New Mexico to watch his future unfold on TV. And he couldn't have been happier about where he landed.
"I got very emotional. It was a special moment for all of us," Giddens said, noting that his coaches and teammates had helped him get to this point and he wanted to share the celebration with them when his name was finally called.
Much has been made of Giddens' past and mistakes he made off the court, but the rookie says he's put them behind him and has learned from his adversity.
"I've been on some loops, some turns and probably lost my cookies a couple of times, but I wiped my mouth, gathered myself and I'm ready to rock," Giddens said. Giddens did admit he'll have to keep himself in check the first time he rubs elbows with his new teammates.
"I can't be star-struck because I'm the biggest fans of those guys," Giddens said of his new All-Star teammates. He said he'd played with them in video games and idolized them growing up, so he's looking forward to measuring his game against them in real life on the court.
"It's gonna be crazy stepping out there with them for the first time, it's gonna be intense but I'm ready to pick up the intensity."
In the meantime, Giddens said he'll be "balling every day" and hitting the weight room hard to be sure he's prepared for training camp in October.
