ken griffey jr.

Jim Eichenhofer

Luke Babbitt is in his first full season with the New Orleans Pelicans, after joining the team midway through the 2013-14 campaign. He had been playing professionally in Russia. The Nevada product is back in the NBA after spending his first three seasons in the league with Portland. The left-handed forward discussed his interests off the court with Pelicans.com:

Best moments as an athlete: “Any time you win a championship is the best feeling you can have. In high school, we won a state championship. You can’t beat that feeling.”

How he chose his current uniform number of 8: “Coming in as a rookie, you have slim pickings sometimes. There are retired numbers, as well as a lot of numbers already taken by a whole roster full of veteran guys. When I was in Portland, I think I picked from only three or four different numbers and chose No. 11. There was no real meaning to it. I switched to 8 when I came here, which I also had at one point in Portland.”

One thing fans might be surprised to know about him: “I’m a good ping pong player.”

Favorite thing about New Orleans: “The weather. Especially during the season, it’s great weather.”

Pregame ritual: “I don’t have anything specific. I don’t want to get into some weird superstition. I just try to stay normal and not do anything crazy. Treat it like any other day.”

First job: “I never had a job besides basketball. All summer I just played basketball.”

Favorite athlete as a kid: “Ken Griffey Jr.”

What he’d be doing if he weren’t an NBA player: “Hopefully playing baseball. I played in high school.”

Closest friends currently playing on other NBA teams: “Armon Johnson – we both went to college at Nevada and got drafted together in Portland. Also Elliot Williams, who I played with in Portland.”

Favorite type of music: “I like country and Christian rock.”

Favorite movies of all time: “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

off-the-court-pelicans-forward-luke-babbitt

Off the Court: Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt

New Orleans Pelicans fans who also follow SEC college basketball and nearby Louisiana State University may already be somewhat familiar with Patric Young, who played four years for the Florida Gators. The rookie big man, who is listed at 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, comes from an excellent academic and athletic background – he was a three-time SEC Academic Player of the Year, and his father, Robert Young, was a tight end in the USFL in the 1980s. Patric sat down with Pelicans.com to discuss his profile and some of his interests away from basketball: Best moment as an athlete: “Committing to the University of Florida, then having over 120 wins as a player there. We went to the Final Four there and were undefeated in the SEC for a season. Now that I’m here in the NBA, hopefully there are more to come.”How he chose his current uniform number of 4: “I didn’t get to choose it; I was given it. I wore it in college and I was going to change numbers, but I got 4.”One thing fans might be surprised to know about him: “I can sing a little bit. I can hit a few notes.” [smiles]Favorite thing about New Orleans: “The food. And the people are very nice.”Pregame ritual: “I’ve got take a nap and a shower. I like to take some time to read something and then get ready to play.”First job: “Being a professional basketball player.”Favorite athletes as a kid: “In baseball, I loved Nomar Garciaparra and Ken Griffey Jr. In basketball, Tim Duncan and David Robinson. In football, (Jacksonville Jaguars running back) Fred Taylor and Emmitt Smith.”What he’d be doing if he weren’t an NBA player: “I probably would’ve kept playing baseball. If that didn’t turn into a career, I would probably still be in school, studying to be either a psychologist or a doctor.”Closest friends currently playing on other NBA teams or in other pro sports: “Trey Burton, who plays tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Ronald Powell, who plays linebacker here for the Saints. I know both of those guys from college at Florida. In basketball, I’m friends with Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, Jared Sullinger, P.J. Hairston and a million other guys I know well.”Favorite type of music: “R&B, country, hip-hop.”Favorite TV show: “Right now I’m watching Walking Dead, season 4.”Favorite movies of all time: “Sandlot, Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, Man on Fire.”Favorite websites: “Bleacher Report, Yahoo!, Pelicans.com.”

off-the-court-pelicans-forward-patric-young

Off the Court: Pelicans forward Patric Young

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