He wants to play in the NBA. He knows that's a big part of his future. In order to do that the rule was specifically made for guys like him, guys who aren't really considered in that realm of a first-round draft pick. Ronnie is going to make sure he doesn't do anything to jeopardize his ability.
Quotes about first-round (16 Quotes)
At one point in time, I thought he'd be a first-round pick. He's not productive enough, he's up and down, he flashes. He's got that huge frame. I put him in the second round to Oakland. Somebody in the second round is rolling the dice. If you ask me where he grades out, he doesn't grade out that high. Because you want that guy inside that makes more plays, makes more of an impact and maximizes that ability on a game-to-game basis. That's not a Gabe Watson. I'd say second round and a roll of the dice pick.
It's a wonderful thing. He rebounds, he runs the floor, he's a terrific guy. He's a first-round pick if he continues to get that killer mentality and feels like every rebound is his. This is a great accomplishment for him. But I know he's not going to get complacent. He's going to continue to get better.
We were able to get a young center that we feel is going to get much better and better, that's shown improvement. He had his best year in Phoenix playing the type of basketball that we play. And then we got a veteran in Aaron Williams. We've still got our first-round picks.
And when that happens, the first thing people tend to do is blame the coach, or blame the people that are picking players. And once you get into a finger-pointing mode of who took that first-round draft pick, or why did you let this player go, it tends to create divisiveness between those three people.
RANGERS Goalie Dan Blackburn, 22, retired, citing permanent nerve damage in his left shoulder from an injury sustained in 2003. New York's first-round pick in the 2001 entry draft, Blackburn hurt his shoulder before the start of camp in 2003 and missed the 2003-04 season. His condition appeared to improve after surgery in March 2004, but never went away. Blackburn had a 20-32-4 record and 3.22 goals-against average in 63 appearances with the Rangers. He had a .894 save percentage. Danny has worked extremely hard over the last two seasons to do everything in his power to get his shoulder to a point where he would be able to play, ... We are all very disappointed for him, knowing the effort he put in and the tremendous future he had.
The main thing is star power, ... If fans recognize a first-round pick, or someone who's done something in the NBA, they'll come out and watch him play (in the D-League). ... It can only help the NBA. It's worked in baseball. Why not basketball.
He came here as a first-round draft choice he was a 2,000-yard rusher in college,
I was a pitcher, shortstop and outfielder, and the Yankees tried to sign me out of high school as a first-round draft pick in 1981. I turned them down to go to college.
Had I been a first-round pick -- which never would have happened -- and they made me play, I wouldn't have done any good. I would have been bad. So I wasn't ready. So it's kind of a blessing in disguise for me.
There's a lot of pressure, especially being a first-round pick. Fans want action, and they want victories, and they want to see the team be successful. When you come in and you're the first-round pick, they expect big things out of you.
The NBA almost forces you to put your name in. But he's going to be very careful and do everything by the book. If he's not a first-round pick, then it's not worth it to go now. He'll get a diploma and that's worth something, too.
He was the top cover corner coming out of high school. He was a certain first-round draft choice as a corner. He probably still will be in a couple of years if he stays at receiver.
The (Justin) Upton kid that they signed, their first-round draft pick last year, he is one of those guys. He can do things that physically we're not used to seeing a lot of baseball players do.
I think all of the first-round games in the ACC tournament are going to be really difficult. Those will be some great games on Thursday. If you're a basketball fan, that may be the best day. Teams are playing for a lot on Thursday.
Richard came in with a lot of notoriety - you had Dee (Brown), Luther (Head) and Deron (Williams) ahead of him. Two of them were first-round (draft) picks and Dee could be, so he did not get a whole bunch of time like he hoped.