Behind the Scenes: NBA Draft
While you never know what kind of access you'll stumble into, there were some enjoyable moments from this year's draft that didn't make it to the television broadcast. Here are a few that I enjoyed:
-Prior to the tip off of the 2012 NBA Draft Anthony Davis was all sorts of calm and cool. While the other green room invitees were biting nails nervously, chomping gum or fiddling with the basketballs sitting in the middle of the tables where they sat with their loved ones, Davis was already playing the part of NBA star. Posing for photos, shaking hands and…handing out cups of Gatorade.
- Another fun Davis moment: As he walked toward David Stern to shake his hand after being selected first overall, the staggering difference in arm length between the two was a true jaw-dropping moment and it was tangible evidence of why Monty Williams and the Hornets felt they had been hit the jackpot.
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No Photoshop here, Anthony Davis's arms are that long.
- While most of the rookies were not eating in the green room, the ever chill Dion Waiters scarfed down some of the hamburgers at his table while he waited for his family to join him. Bold move when you're wearing a light blue/grey suit and are minutes away from walking across a stage on live television. Nice to see he's cool under pressure.
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Dion Waiters made sure there were no burger stains on his light-colored suit and Syracuse-reppin orange tie.
- When he had finished up on his phone in the minutes after son Austin had been selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the 10th overall selection, Doc Rivers wasn't able to escape to celebrate with his family without first taking photos with some young NBA fans who were especially amped to meet the coach. Rivers was extremely patient and gracious with everyone who came over wanting a photo, a handshake or a chat.
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Doc Rivers played the role of benevolent uncle to all the new draftees including to Thomas Robinson.
- As Rivers was holding court in a back hallway of the Prudential Center, Austin was chugging bottles of Orange Gatorade while waiting to hit the podium for his first press conference as an NBA player.
- When John Henson was shuttled past coach Rivers down a hallway to get on a phone with the Bucks, Rivers pulled him aside to congratulate him and jokingly tells him, ''There's good news and bad news. You know the bad news right? You're in the East, so you're going to have to see us four times.''
- In addition to nice suits and flashy watches, people had paid attention to detail. As guys were at the podium, sitting down, their socks were on display for all to see and everyone had a nice sock game on Draft night. Striped, argyle, accent colors to match the shades in the suits and ties, I saw a lot of pretty pairs of socks that night.
- Spotted in the crowd: TWO Ray Allen Seattle SuperSonics jerseys. Sonics fans really are everywhere.
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Maybe Austin Rivers was updating his Facebook wall right before the Hornets drafted him at No. 10.
- Not sure there was anyone in attendance more excited than the group of guys from Weber State who were there cheering on Damian Lillard. When Lillard went sixth to the Blazers, they were sprang into action, making their way as far down in the arena as security would allow them to get, before unfolding a massive Weber State flag and shaking it while jumping, cheering, yelling and congratulating their boy. It was awesome. It made me want to go back to college if only to have a future NBA player to root for that passionately.
- After Dion Waiters was selected by the Cavaliers with the fourth overall pick, last year's first overall pick, Kyrie Irving, was waiting by the side of the stage to greet his new teammate with a hug. Cleveland got themselves a good one in Irving. Now, to see what Waiters will bring, after not working out for anyone in the predraft process.
- When the Raptors took Terrence Ross with the eighth pick, the enthusiastic crowd turned into a welcoming committee, shouting out lots of Canadianisms, and welcoming him to his new country, complete with the obnoxious ''Eh'' heckle.
- Another cool moment was watching the newly drafted players sign their first official autographs as NBA players. I didn't have the heart to tell them they'd grow to loathe the days when they will leave practice only to have to sign hundreds of basketballs and posters for team events.
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Kyrie Irving made sure to be there in person to welcome his new teammate, Waiters, upon arrival.
- After the new draftees address the media for the first time, we are quickly given transcripts of the press conference via a transcription service called ASAP Sports. While the quotes are greatly appreciated, there was a funny moment when the transcript for Andre Drummond arrived.
Q: Andre, if you can start with some opening comments about being drafted by the piss sons?
Whoops. Like I said, draft night is a little crazy and a lot of rushing.
- As Bradley Beal went through the exhaustive media circuit that all rookies must complete (television, radio, internet chats), his family waited in the hallway and kept us all entertained. Mother, father and two of his brothers all decked out in crisp Wizards hats, his brothers joked and clowned around with a basketball until their mother gave them a look that was the equivalent of an ''indoor voice'' warning. If we're talking about proud parents, Beal's father was sporting a perma-grin and absolutely beaming as he answered questions about his son. It was a pretty sweet moment.
- Another sweet moment in the celebratory area backstage: Baylor alums Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller and Quincy Acy finding each other and coach Scott Drew for hugs, handshakes, smiles and photos. After freefalling to Oklahoma City with the 28th pick, all was good in Jones's world after he had found his Baylor brothers. While none of the three had been invited to the green room (with Miller and Acy being selected back-to-back with the 37th and 38th picks), they each wanted their moment to walk across the stage and chose to sit together in the stands. Also with them was Drew and former Baylor Bear/current Milwaukee Buck, Ekpe Udoh.
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Baylor was represented well at the draft (left to right): Quincy Acy, Perry Jones III, head coach Scott Drew, current Buck Ekpe Udoh and Quincy Miller.
- The rookie who looked like he was waiting to be allowed to skip the boring dinner party his parents had made him attend? Jeremy Lamb. The talented guard was mingling in the back with his family and publicist--who was much taller than her client thanks to her platform heels--and was visibly trying to move the party elsewhere. The problem was that his family kept stopping to talk with people and take photos.
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One of the feel-good moments was United States Air Force member Bernard James getting taken in the second round.
- There are always certain moments, stories and characters that captivate the audience at the draft. This year, the heart pull was Bernard James. James, with an incredible story of humility and perseverance, is a 27 year-old who has served in three tours of the Middle East as a member of the United States Air Force. After he was selected by the Mavericks with the 33rd pick, the arena erupted. What was different was that the crowd did not erupt in chants of his name or school. The crowd erupted into passionate chants of “U.S.A.” It was a moment that was bigger than basketball and served as a reminder that the game we all love is indeed a game, and we are all very lucky to be afforded the right to care about it the way that we do.