Updated at 8:05 PM
[youtube id=”wJxNYaQZqMA” width=”600″ height=”350″]A few hours after being drafted seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings, Ben McLemore got on the phone with Sacramento media for a brief Q&A. Surprised but excited about the opportunity ahead of him, here’s some of what the 20-year-old guard had to say in the 10 minute call.
On whether he was disappointed to fall to the seventh pick:
I’m not disappointed at all. I’m happy where I’m at and it’s just I’m blessed to have the opportunity to get picked by a team. Like I said, I’m just happy and I’m enjoying this moment.
On what he knows about the Kings:
I’m not really (familiar) with the team… I just know a couple players they have. Last year, they drafted one of my former (teammates) Thomas Robinson and things like that. I know it’s a rebuilding (situation) in the making so I’m really excited to be a part of that.
On what Kings coach Michael Malone said to him after he was drafted:
He’s excited. He says the whole staff was excited when they picked me and I told him I’m excited, I’m ready to join the board and I’m ready to head down there.
On whether there’s any truth to the negative rumors about him that led up to the draft:
Not at all. I feel like I gave it my all in all the workouts. I feel like I was confident that I did great in all my workouts and definitely wasn’t out of shape. You know a lot of guys, reporters were saying I picked up some weight and little things like that. So no, I definitely feel confident that I definitely did well at all my workouts.
On what he needs to improve:
I think I can basically work on touching up my all around game. I just got to come into the NBA with the mindset of (being) the alpha dog every night. Because I know each and every night someone is going to be coming at me each and every night. So I just gotta have the mindset that night. And also, work on my ball-handling a little bit, keeping it tight, keeping it low, and just getting from point A to B.
On what position he can play at the next level:
I definitely think I can play the one through three. Just with my ability and my upside, ready for the NBA. Those type of guys. I definitely think I see myself playing multiple positions.
McLemore is scheduled to arrive in Sacramento from New York on Saturday. His introductory press conference as the newest member of the Kings is tentatively set for Monday.
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