by John McCauley
-- raptors.com
June 28, 2002

Put yourself in the shoes of Chris Jefferies during his first press conference as a professional basketball player.

You're looking out into a crowd of unfamiliar journalists, who are asking you to predict how you'll fit in with the Toronto Raptors long before you've played a single minute in the NBA. It's tough for even the most imaginative.

Chris Jefferies was acquired on draft day. Credit: hornets.com

Jefferies did his part in style, handling it with humour and maybe a little bit of nervousness on Friday morning at Air Canada Centre when he was introduced as the Raptors newest forward. The 22-year-old was acquired on draft night from the Los Angeles Lakers along with veteran guard Lindsey Hunter for forward Tracy Murray and No. 20 pick Kareem Rush.

Jefferies had no idea that he was going to be involved in a trade until one quick phone call.

"My agent called me about 15 seconds after (he was drafted) and said 'I think there's a trade with Toronto', and then he hung up. I was like 'is that it?'" Jefferies said getting a big laugh.

The Fresno, California native was picked 27th overall in the draft but was touted as lottery pick before a knee injury ended his season prematurely. With that consideration, most teams passed on Jefferies but the Raptors were willing to roll the dice on the talented 6-8 junior out of Fresno State.

Growing up he played all kinds of sports like track, baseball and soccer. Golf is his latest passion if only because it has him perplexed.

"I TRY to golf. Make sure you put "try" in parenthesis and capital letters because that's what I do is TRY. I might hit one good ball in 200, which is very good for me but you just get addicted to it."

As a teenager basketball became his primary goal and it had a lot of it had to with the one of the game's 50 greatest.

"My favourite player growing up was Scottie Pippen," Jefferies said. "He did everything on the floor he was a defensive player, he rebounded. That's who I try to pattern my game after."

The young man may like Pippen but it sounds like his game in Toronto could be more like Mike's.

"I can create off the dribble." Jefferies said. "I didn't see too many guys besides Vince Carter do that and I think I can bring more of an offensive threat that way. By creating my own shot or getting people open shots."

The Raptors had Jefferies workout for them during their draft preparation. It was his last workout of a 14-day tour that scheduled 11 auditions in front of NBA management. Since it was his last Jefferies gave it everything he could and he obviously impressed the right people.

"I got a good feeling from the Raptors during the workouts," Jefferies said. "I was actually really glad about coming here."

Toronto is a foreign land to Jefferies but he has been getting a good feel for the Canadian Health Care system or at least the facilities.

"I've been running around from hospital to hospital getting MRI's done, so I got a good look at downtown."

Even though he won't be participating with some Raptors in summer league play (he'll be rehabbing his knee instead) Jefferies will be in Utah getting to know some of his teammates.

"Hopefully I have a few jokes for them so they don't think I'm a nerd."