A New York vacation turns into a dream NBA coverage (Part I)

Talk about a dream assignment.

Before I left for New York some days ago, I sent emails to the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, inquiring whether they were holding any events while I was there. Impressively, both teams replied through PR representatives. The Knicks informed me that the team had no planned events. The Nets, however, through their PR Manager, Calder Hynes, informed me that the team had some draft workouts on its schedule. Moreover, Calder reminded me that the NBA Draft 2013 was scheduled on 27 June 2013 at the Nets’ home court, the Barclays Center and gave me a link where I could inquire about tickets for that event.

Seizing the opportunity, I inquired with some officials from NBA Asia whom I had met during the Eric Spoelstra visit to Manila in 2012 and the Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues visit earlier this year, about possibly getting permission to attend the NBA Draft as a representative of Yahoo! Sports Philippines. With low expectations, I was ecstatic when I received an email informing me that, despite the period for media accreditation having already lapsed, I had been referred to the NBA Office in New York as a possible late addition to the hundreds of media representatives who would be given credentials to be present at and cover the Draft.

During a four-hour stopover in Taiwan, I received the email from the NBA informing me that my Draft credential request had been approved, and explaining to me how I should get my accreditation. Wow…I was going to attend the NBA Draft, LIVE!

When I arrived in the US, I informed Calder that the NBA had allowed me to attend the Draft, and that I was very much interested in observing the draft workouts for some prospective draftees of the Nets. He invited me to what he said would be the final workout prior to the draft, scheduled on June 24 at the PNY Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the practice facility of the Brooklyn Nets.

The facility was set up while the team was still located in New Jersey. Calder told me to be there at about 11:30 a.m., “just to be sure”, and said that Nets General Manager Billy King would make himself available to the media at about noon. Scheduled to work out for the Nets were guards Erick Green of Virginia Tech, Timothy Hardaway, Jr of Michigan, and Dwayne Davis of Southern Mississippi, and forwards Dennis Tinon of Marshall, Demetrius Conger of St Bonaventure, and Giovan Oniangue from Paris.

Since PNY Center was not accessible by bus or train, I took a cab going there, courtesy of a kababayan, Dennis Polintan, who runs a private taxi business from Rockland, NY, and drives the cab himself. A basketball aficionado himself, Dennis, who stands about 6’3, was more than willing to bring me to the workout and I promised him I would try to get him in with me.

We arrived at the venue earlier than expected, and Calder was standing outside with some other Nets team officials. He welcomed me and Dennis in and escorted us to the media room, where some other local reporters were already waiting. Calder explained that we would not be permitted to watch the actual workouts, which were supervised by new Nets coach, future Hall of Famer, Jason Kidd, his assistants, and GM King, but that we would be allowed in for some interviews afterwards. I had wanted to see the actual workouts, which, as I read from the Nets’ website, consisted of certain skill drills and some three-on-three. Too bad I would not be able to see the potential draftees in action, but I was of course still glad to be there.

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We were informed that the French potential draftee, Oniangue, was not present at the workout, but that a Brazilian player, Alexandre Paranhos, had taken his place. Just before noon, we, including Dennis, were allowed to enter the court. The potential draftees were still taking shots and receiving instructions from the coaches. All media men were positioned at courtside. Immediately, I saw Nets star guard Deron Williams talking with some team personnel. Coach Kidd was across the court, talking with some people as well, and Assistant Coach and former NBA player Popeye Jones was also standing nearby. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to approach them (Aaaargh!!). Being the only “outsider”, since the other media people were obviously very familiar with the team and its personnel, I think I was the only one who actually wanted to meet all the personalities.

Finally, Billy King, former Duke Blue Devil, made his way to us. Immediately, the other reporters started shooting questions. Topics ranged from the injury of Nets center Brook Lopez, to how he thought Coach Kidd would run the team. He felt that the knowledge and intelligence of Kidd reminded him of Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown, with whom he worked at Philadelphia (King was the former GM of the Sixers). King talked about the Draft and what type of player he thought the team needed, and how even if this particular Draft was being called “weak”, there would surely be some outstanding talent coming into the league. He said the team was excited to be having the Draft in the Nets’ home court in Brooklyn and that his intention was to find the best talent available at the twenty-second pick, which was the Nets’ draft position.

As the rapidity of questions from the others waned, I threw in a question for King. I asked him if Deron Williams and the other current Nets players would be part of the selection process for the Draft, considering that they had been present at all or some of the workouts. He replied that most current players on contract were at the facility to work out themselves and, as a consequence, they would be able to observe the potential draftees, but that the players would not give any opinions as to whom they would like to play with from among the fellows working out.

After the session with King ended, I asked to have a photo taken with him, considering I had come all the way from the Philippines. With a scowl on his face, he said at first that he would not allow either an interview or a picture with anyone from Yahoo! Sports Philippines, but quickly smiled and agreed for a quick snapshot. After King, we were given the opportunity to meet a couple of the potential draftees, namely, Green and Hardaway. Both were very confident young men, answering questions straight to the point, sharing their experiences throughout the Draft process so far, including the workouts for several teams and the excitement of being so close to fulfilling their dreams of being in the NBA.

Green said he expected to be picked early in the second round, and that he can provide scoring (he led the NCAA Division I in scoring with 25 ppg last season) and defense. Hardaway was obviously asked about how his father, a former NBA star with the same name, told him to prepare for the Draft process. He expressed confidence that he would be a first-round pick, and said he could help any team with his outside shooting and his passing ability, which he claimed was not fully shown during his college career. He also said that he could do the “UTEP Two-step” (crossover) that his dad was famous for during his heyday.

Calder informed us that only those two players were available for questions that day and that the session was over. I thanked him very much for his accommodation and hospitality, and he said to me, “See you at the Draft!”

“Of course!” I replied. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

(To be continued)

You can follow Charlie on Twitter, @CharlieC.

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.