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This story has been updated: Friday, June 27, 2008 at 3:21 p.m.
Giddens: From Lobo Red to Celtic Green
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Giddens Hopes To Embark on a New Life in the NBA
By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
This evening, his life may change in a matter of seconds.
For J.R. Giddens, however, that life already changed dramatically during the past year.
And because of that, he has the proper perspective about tonight's NBA Draft.
“It's funny how things change,” Giddens told the Journal late Tuesday night. “The past year has been a big year for me. I was able to find myself as a player and a person. I've been preparing myself for his ever since I was a kid. The momentum has been building, and now it's finally here.”
It actually was supposed to be here in 2007. But a topsy-turvy junior season sent his status from “lottery pick” — according to former University of New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay — to undraftable.
After McKay was fired and Steve Alford hired, Giddens knew his pro career was, at best, up in the air.
Alford made life tough on Giddens, many observers — including Giddens — feeling the new coach was trying to run the 6-foot-5 guard out of the program.
But Giddens didn't bolt. He spent the summer working on his studies as well as his gifted body, then led the Lobos to a 24-9 record and into the National Invitation Tournament.
Giddens averaged 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game last season.
He still had to shake his “problem child label,” but has apparently done that.
“He's conducted himself real well in interviews,” the general manger of a Western Conference team told the Journal. “He's one of the most athletic players in the draft and has a chance at late first round.”
A scout for an Eastern Conference team said they pick too high to consider Giddens, but someone could really get a steal by taking him in the second round.
“He'll be terrific in an up-and-down system,” says the scout, who saw Giddens play in the NIT. “He elevates so high on his shot, and does a lot of things NBA teams look for.
“One thing that surprised me was that he's very unselfish. You look at his numbers, and you think, 'Well sure, because he takes a lot of shots.' But he doesn't. He really moves the ball and makes all the right plays just about all the time. He's as unselfish a player as I saw all season.”
One scout told the Journal that Giddens didn't fare too well at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, Fla., but that he did at a 24-player workout in Oakland, Calif.
“He was one of the most athletic players in Oakland,” the scout said.
Meanwhile, Geoff Petrie, president of basketball operations for Sacramento, said he was impressed with Giddens at the Orlando and Oakland events.
“Giddens had a good camp in Orlando , and his workouts have gone well,” Petrie said. “He's physically ready to play in the NBA. He shoots the 3 well and has gotten better taking the ball to the basket.”
Most scouts said team media policies prevented them from being identified.
Giddens' agent, Aaron Mintz, said the draft is as deep as it's been in quite some time, and there are “about 25 players battling for 10 spots from the 15th to 25th picks.”
Mintz said Giddens is in that 25-player mix.
The teams that have shown the most interest in Giddens are Memphis, Detroit and Boston. He worked out with the Celtics on Wednesday before flying to Albuquerque. He says he will watch the draft with his former Lobo teammates and friends tonight.
Those picked in the first round receive a guaranteed three-year contract by NBA rules. If he's picked in the second round or goes undrafted, he will have to make a team to get a contract.
“I've done all I can, I've done the best I could at workouts,” Giddens says. “Going in the first round would be great. If not, I just want to get drafted.
“But I'll remember anyone who passes on me and will use that as extra motivation. Whoever doesn't draft me, I'll catch them later.”