NBA Draft 2005 Quotes -- Julius Hodge

Question: How do you feel about playing with Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the Nuggets?

Hodge: "It’s definitely going to be a great opportunity to be able to play with young ‘Melo -- an outstanding young player in the league, Kenyon Martin, Earl Boykins . . . . I really feel blessed right now. I can’t control a lot of things out there, but one thing that I can control is that I’m going to wake up and give 110% both on and off the court."

Nuggets #1 pick, Julius Hodge

Hodge: "As far as my top three teams where that I thought I would finally end up, Denver was one of them. My brother has been saying ‘Denver, Denver’ all week, but I’d say I could be gone before then. Sitting out there for about two-and-a-half hours, it seemed like a decade. But as guys dropped, I thought Denver would be more likely. I think it’s a perfect fit."

Question: Can you put into words what this night means to you?

Hodge: "I’ll try and put it into words right now: the way I’ve been committed, the way my brother stood by me through the whole process, the way from when I was a young pup he groomed me into a young man now, both on and off the court. All the hard work, and defying all my critics, continuing to be emotional and fiery on the court, having a great work ethic . . . . If those words can’t describe my feeling right now, I don’t know which ones can."

Question: What are you going to work on during the offseason to improve your game?

Hodge: "I’m going to continue to work on my strength. I don’t have a huge frame like a Ben Wallace, but I’m strong and I’m wiry, and I’m going to continue to work on that. I plan on continuing to work on my shooting. I’ve been really working hard on my technique. I’m the type of guy who’ll work hard on every facet of my game. I’m intrigued with the game. I study it. I know I’m going to work hard to reach my potential, and surpass it."

Question: Considering where you ended up, how do you feel now about your decision to play all four years (at North Carolina State)?

Hodge: "I feel like it was a great decision, not only on my behalf, but my mom and my older brother's also. They definitely drove that nail into my head that I need to stay all four years, attain my college degree and that it will pay off. And for me to now be in this situation, I know they were right."

Question: The critics say that you struggle with shooting. Is that a fair criticism?

Hodge: "I feel like many people are going to have their opinions, but I'm a guy that's going to go out there on the court and give it all. My game is nowhere near pearfect and I'm not flawless, but when I go out there on the court I give it 110 percent. I've been improving my shooting technique, I go hard every game, I've been working on my athleticism, and I've definitely added strength; so I'm going to continue to do those things that are going to continue to help me become the player I am."