Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Which rookie is the funniest?
1. Fab Melo, Boston — 22.9 percent
2. Kyle O’Quinn, Orlando — 20.0 percent
3. Will Barton, Portland — 11.4 percent
4. Jared Sullinger, Boston — 8.6 percent
The rookies got together this week to take care of a lot of business… and take a few photos… and part of it all was the rookie survey, in which Fab Melo is considered the funniest of the bunch while Jared Sullinger was voted 4th funniest. I guess that’s a good thing because in this locker room, you’ll need a good sense of humor to keep up with everyone. And I’m sure Fab’s teammates in Maine will enjoy that sense of humor on those long bus rides. Check him out in action.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1jpAqWQmEQ]How very Chevy Chase of him. I just hope he doesn’t get into prop comedy (video via WEEI)
Among the other results:
- Melo was voted 3rd best defender.
- Most of them expect Anthony Davis to be the Rookie of the Year
- Half the guys picked either LeBron or Kobe as their favorite player. Kevin Garnett was tied for 4th with Dirk Nowitzki
If Fab and Sullinger are smart, they’ll tell KG they were the guys that picked him.
These guys weren’t there to just take pictures and answer silly questions, though. This gathering had a purpose.
For the 2012 draft class, the most recent step, which concluded Monday, was four days in an aggressively business casual suburban hotel conference center. It was khakis and league-issued polo shirts all around for the annual pro athlete crash course known as the Rookie Transition Program (RTP).
As designed by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, the program is heavy on avoiding tricks: financial advisors with an eye on raiding the nest egg, gamblers eager to rope players into conspiracies and women scheming to entrap husbands are all on the agenda.
That’s good stuff. This should be a course they have to take every summer, because there are inevitably guys who end up failing this test. Still, I’d love to sit in on one of these sessions to see what level of guidance these guys get.
Let’s not forget… These are all kids. I can’t imagine leaving college my sophomore year to become an NBA player and get millions thrown at me at 19 or 20 years old. That’s overwhelming. I hope these guys are ready for it.
(Hat tip: ESPN Boston: Sullinger, Melo, at rookie program)
The rest of the links:
Crossover Chronicles: Kings looking to relocate to Virginia Beach? | Jason Terry does what every player should do: expect success | ESPN Boston: Austin Rivers: I want to keep working hard
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