Monday Workouts: Big Men, Big Dreams

The 6-11 Hardin, an honor-roll academic who just turned 21 last week, owns the maturity and demeanor of a four year NBA veteran -- not to mention the body of a (only slightly) smaller Shaquille O’Neal. Lekic, 6-10 out of Serbia, is “a very strong, physical big guy who prefers to play with his back to the basket in the post,” according to Nets GM Ed Stefanski.

That’s the unusual part, for a European player. The reason? “Even as a little kid I was always the biggest,” smiled Lekic. ”So I played in the post from the beginning.” In addition, “like most of the players from Europe, Lekic is very fundamentally sound, doesn’t rush his moves, and he’s well-schooled with excellent footwork,” said Stefanski.

‘’Hardin is a very athletic guy,” Stefanski added. “The one concern was his foot (he suffered a stress fracture last season and played in only 11 games) and that looked one hundred per cent.”

“He is a player who has an upside to him with definite NBA qualities.”

“I’m going to bring, energy, defense, and constant hustle to a team,” said Hardin. “And a guy who’s willing to improve over the years. So far the feedback from teams has been that I’m extremely athletic though, skill-wise, I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“I agree. That’s not going to be a problem.”

“I’ve got to get better in my post skills, shooting, and basic fundamental footwork. But I will bring great passion to a team. I’ll be a guy who will leave everything on the court playing at a hundred and fifty percent.”

“Though, even right now, I will run the floor and dunk on you. And I WILL block a couple of shots.”

Hardin, who hasn’t signed with an agent, is only a junior and still has a chance to return to school at California should he choose to do so. Not so Lekic, who has pulled out of the Draft the past THREE years. “This time I’m IN,” he smiled.

“Two years ago, I was told I was in the first round,” Lekic, who shot an exceptional 66 per cent from the floor for KK Nis Vojvodina in the Serbian League, said in his broken English. “I went home to improve and develop my game further. But I hope I’m still there.”

“I can shoot the ball real well -- I’ve worked on that a lot -- and I’m extremely physical on the boards. I’m going to bring tough defense in the paint and play strong with my back to the basket.”

“And I would love to live in the big city,” said Lekic. “I was here in New York two years ago and I think I would really enjoy that.”