Korver and Green - First Impressions

For Willie Green and Kyle Korver, getting drafted was just the first hurdle in their paths to the NBA. There are no guarantees for the second rounders who are fighting for a roster spot along with a number of other rookies and free agents in the 76ers summer workouts.

They seem to be making a good first impression.

“I am really happy with our two draftees,” Head Coach Randy Ayers said at the end of the week. “I thought Willie Green could easily have been a late first round pick. And he is everything I thought he would be. He works hard. He stays after and works on his game. For Korver, it is just a matter of getting his timing (in the offense down) being a shooter.”

Green and Korver have been working out since Monday, July 7, two days before camp officially opened. They can use all the time they can as they make the adjustment from the college ranks to the pro level.

“It’s kind of crazy right now,” Korver said on Thursday as he faced the Philadelphia media for the first time. “I mean, this right here, I’ve never had so many microphones in my face. It’s going alright.”

Green, who was the 41st overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by Seattle, did not even get a chance to think about the weather in the Pacific Northwest. His rights were sent to Philadelphia for Paccelis Morlende, the 50th overall selection, and an undisclosed amount of cash that night.

A 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard, Green averaged a career-best 22.6 points per game during his senior season, a mark that ranked 11th nationally. He hopes to showcase his scoring ability for the Sixers.

“I definitely feel this is a good fit,” Green said of landing with the Sixers from Detroit Mercy. “I know guys like Eric Snow, who I’ve been playing with since high school. I think it’s a great bunch of guys here.”

Korver came to the Sixers in a similar fashion to Green. After being drafted 51st overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, the Creighton product was sent to Philadelphia for an undisclosed amount of cash.

A 6-foot-7 forward known for his long-range shooting ability, Korver came into camp needing to work on his defense and quickness. Still, that is not the hardest part of the workouts.

“The hardest thing is the stretching. I’m not very flexible,” Korver said. “I have to stretch for about twenty-minutes before I can even let these guys touch me. Otherwise, they’d be tearing me in half. For me, that’s the hardest part of the day.”

While Monty Williams, Todd MacCulloch and Tyrone Hill have been through the practice facility during workouts, Green’s friends have already asked if he has met Allen Iverson.

“I haven’t met (Allen Iverson) yet,” Green has told his friends. “I’m pretty sure he’s a cool guy. Right now I’m just coming in, trying to work hard, and trying to keep getting better. (When I do meet him) at first I’ll be in awe. Then, he’ll just be another one of my teammates and a guy that I’ll be trying to play along with.”

The rookies will get a chance to shine in the next two weeks at Boston and Utah and hopefully get the chance to play with Iverson and the rest of the Sixers come October.