Name Calling: Travis Diener
Travis Diener has been called a lot of things in his life. There are the endless comparisons to smaller, gritty NBA point guards of the past, like John Stockton and Scott Skiles. Then there are those like Orlando Magic Assistant General Manager Dave Twardzik, who described Travis as ‘a coach’s dream,’ or even Dick Vitale, who dubbed the recent Marquette graduate as ‘the ideal teammate.’
But there is one thing that Diener has never been called - until now, that is.
An NBA point guard.
Now, Diener is fast on his way to making that dream come true, and it all begins this week when the Orlando Magic travel to Las Vegas for five games in the Reebok Vegas Summer League July 7-13.
“Obviously this is a dream come true for me – this is what you work your whole life for,” Diener said at the Orlando Magic practice facility Tuesday. “You are going against guys who dominated at the college level, and I think it puts me at an advantage getting to play against Jameer Nelson every day. I am learning a lot from him, and not many people can say that they are working with a NBA starting point guard in the summer league. The start of the summer league for me is the start of my NBA career.”
But with the start of Diener’s career also begins the speculation of whether or not his size will become a factor in NBA competition - at 6’0” tall, Diener gives up several inches to the typical NBA point guard. However, those close to him know that he makes up for those inches in other areas of his game.
“Predictably, NBA scouts have mixed feelings about Diener,” John Feinstein of the Washington Post wrote. “What they see is a skinny kid, whose body may have trouble taking the pounding of the pro game. What they don't see is a gym rat with a heart that has carried him to a level of stardom well beyond where his physical gifts alone would get him.”
Former Marquette teammate and current NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade agrees with Feinstein, as he saw first-hand the toughness and leadership skills that Diener brought to a Golden Eagles squad that made the Final Four back in 2003 behind the duo.
“I think (his leadership) is going to be the main thing that is going to sell him,” Wade said. “You see the leadership that he brings, especially as a young guy, and you also see his toughness. There is always a need in the NBA, or in any game, there is always a need (for that), so not only are they going to see his ability to play the game, but they’re going to see his leadership.”
Orlando fans can also look forward to seeing a work ethic that is rare to find at the professional level. When Diener broke two fingers on his hand this February, ending his senior season a month short and MU’s dreams of an NCAA bid, ESPN college basketball analyst Vitale was one of the first people to voice his respect for Diener and all the hard work he put in at Marquette.
“(Travis) represents everything that is good about the college game,” Vitale said. “He is a genuine student athlete who is respected for his work ethic. He receives nothing but praise anywhere he goes because of the effort he gives. You know you will always get 110 percent when Diener is on the floor. He is a kid with a terrific heart. Players dream of playing with a guy like him.”
His Orlando Magic teammates will get a chance to do just that this season, but Diener knows that all the compliments in the world won’t make him a better basketball player on the court.
“All of those comments are nice, but what is going to help me out as an NBA point guard is hard work,” Diener said. “I am going to work to be that ideal teammate by distributing the ball and getting it to who is hot. I want to be the player that guys on our team want to play with.”
But there is one thing that Diener has never been called - until now, that is.
An NBA point guard.
Now, Diener is fast on his way to making that dream come true, and it all begins this week when the Orlando Magic travel to Las Vegas for five games in the Reebok Vegas Summer League July 7-13.
“Obviously this is a dream come true for me – this is what you work your whole life for,” Diener said at the Orlando Magic practice facility Tuesday. “You are going against guys who dominated at the college level, and I think it puts me at an advantage getting to play against Jameer Nelson every day. I am learning a lot from him, and not many people can say that they are working with a NBA starting point guard in the summer league. The start of the summer league for me is the start of my NBA career.”
But with the start of Diener’s career also begins the speculation of whether or not his size will become a factor in NBA competition - at 6’0” tall, Diener gives up several inches to the typical NBA point guard. However, those close to him know that he makes up for those inches in other areas of his game.
“Predictably, NBA scouts have mixed feelings about Diener,” John Feinstein of the Washington Post wrote. “What they see is a skinny kid, whose body may have trouble taking the pounding of the pro game. What they don't see is a gym rat with a heart that has carried him to a level of stardom well beyond where his physical gifts alone would get him.”
Former Marquette teammate and current NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade agrees with Feinstein, as he saw first-hand the toughness and leadership skills that Diener brought to a Golden Eagles squad that made the Final Four back in 2003 behind the duo.
“I think (his leadership) is going to be the main thing that is going to sell him,” Wade said. “You see the leadership that he brings, especially as a young guy, and you also see his toughness. There is always a need in the NBA, or in any game, there is always a need (for that), so not only are they going to see his ability to play the game, but they’re going to see his leadership.”
Orlando fans can also look forward to seeing a work ethic that is rare to find at the professional level. When Diener broke two fingers on his hand this February, ending his senior season a month short and MU’s dreams of an NCAA bid, ESPN college basketball analyst Vitale was one of the first people to voice his respect for Diener and all the hard work he put in at Marquette.
“(Travis) represents everything that is good about the college game,” Vitale said. “He is a genuine student athlete who is respected for his work ethic. He receives nothing but praise anywhere he goes because of the effort he gives. You know you will always get 110 percent when Diener is on the floor. He is a kid with a terrific heart. Players dream of playing with a guy like him.”
His Orlando Magic teammates will get a chance to do just that this season, but Diener knows that all the compliments in the world won’t make him a better basketball player on the court.
“All of those comments are nice, but what is going to help me out as an NBA point guard is hard work,” Diener said. “I am going to work to be that ideal teammate by distributing the ball and getting it to who is hot. I want to be the player that guys on our team want to play with.”
