Zion, prime rookies focus on first dunk, swapping jerseys and Vinsanity

MADISON, New Jersey — Ferguson Recreation Middle is a nondescript brick constructing on the sting of Farleigh Dickinson College’s campus, which is as quiet as one would count on for a Sunday morning in August. A constitution bus sits unoccupied alongside Dreyfuss Highway throughout from the Division III health club, the one clue that one thing is occurring inside.

Then, from the constructing’s rotunda entrance, a completely uniformed Boston Celtic bounds towards the road. He wants one thing from the bus.

It is Carsen Edwards, the No. 33 total decide in June’s draft. He is one in all 41 NBA newbies who’ve come to the Panini NBA Rookie Photograph Shoot to be photographed — by themselves and with their teammates — for buying and selling playing cards and advertising and marketing supplies. Their official NBA photographs will probably be utilized by their groups and the league all through their careers.

However earlier than the regiment begins, there’s time for some enjoyable. Simply stroll previous the room with the ball pit, inside which you may discover a submerged KZ Okpala, the second-round decide who signed with the Warmth. Then, enter the primary health club, the place the rooks will pose in entrance of a word-salad backdrop of fake graffiti and face red-carpet-style questions.

ESPN caught up with a number of of them between poses to debate a wide range of topics:

Zion Williamson’s first dunk was when he was a 14-year-old in ninth grade. It wasn’t something particular, however it was the start of spectacular issues to come back. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

Inform us concerning the first time you dunked.

New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson (No. 1 total choice): “The primary time you dunk is all the time lit! I used to be 14, in ninth grade. I am considering, ‘Man, I simply dunked.’ And despite the fact that I barely obtained it, the very first thing I am considering is, ‘I am about to dunk on folks now.'”

New York Knicks guard-forward RJ Barrett (No. three total decide): “I may by no means dunk. Then, in a sport, after I was 13, I simply obtained a steal — everyone was there, my dad and mom have been within the crowd — and I simply went for it and obtained it. I used to be one of many solely guys who may dunk on the time, so I simply felt nice about myself!”

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (No. 7 total decide): “You need me to let you know every part? Properly, I used to be at Greenfield College, within the health club at my highschool [in Wilson, North Carolina], and we simply obtained executed enjoying pickup. There was no air-con. This was after I was a freshman. I by no means actually tried earlier than. It was a rim-grazer, however it was good for me. It was a tremendous shock as a result of I did not assume I used to be going to do it.”

Denver Nuggets middle Bol Bol (No. 44 total decide by the Miami Warmth, traded to the Nuggets): “I believe I used to be in sixth grade. We have been at an AAU event, and all of the older gamers have been dunking, and I used to be 6-[foot]-Four on the time. I attempted to dunk. It took me 3 times. It was fairly cool as a result of I did not know I may dunk.”

Philadelphia 76ers guard-forward Matisse Thybulle (No. 20 total decide by the Celtics, traded to the Sixers): “Summer season of eighth grade. It was in a park on a kind of chain-link nets. My buddies will let you know that the rim was bent down, however it wasn’t. It was like, ‘Did I actually simply try this?’ I used to be actually attempting to wrap my thoughts round it.”

Knicks ahead Ignas Brazdeikis (No. 47 total decide by the Sacramento Kings, traded to the Knicks): “It was in my driveway. It wasn’t truly 10 ft, however that was the primary time I used to be actually like, ‘Oh, I simply dunked a basketball.’ I believe it was in eighth grade. It was indescribable.”

De’Andre Hunter was 2 years previous when Vince Carter received the 2000 dunk contest. Now they’re teammates, and Hunter is seeking to take in some information from Carter, who’s getting into his file 22nd and last season. AP Photograph/Bob Galbraith, File

Talking of dunks, Vince Carter, as a member of the Raptors, received a legendary dunk contest in February 2000. He is now getting into his NBA-record 22nd season, which he mentioned will probably be his final.

Barrett: “I wasn’t even born but [Barrett was born on June 14, 2000, in Toronto]. That is completely loopy. I’ve had the nice fortune to satisfy him, and he is a terrific man. I am going to take a few of his recommendations on how you can keep within the league for 22 years. He meant quite a bit for the era [of Canadians] above me.”

Williamson: “I wasn’t even a thought [his birthday was July 5, 2000]. I obtained plenty of respect for him. I am going to most likely attempt to get some recommendation out of him if he desires to present it to me. However yeah, it’ll be loopy. All people is aware of about that 2000 dunk contest and what he has executed for the sport. So it’s going to be like, ‘Wow, I wasn’t even born but.'”

Atlanta Hawks ahead De’Andre Hunter (No. Four total decide by the Lakers, traded to the Hawks): “I used to be 2 years previous. It will be loopy. I will be on his group. He has been enjoying basketball for my entire life [the day after Hunter was born, Carter scored 11 points in North Carolina’s win over Louisville], which is wild. He undoubtedly has plenty of information and is aware of the sport. Simply being with a vet like that, you’ll be able to’t ask for something higher than that.”

Boston Celtics ahead Grant Williams (No. 22 total decide): “In 2000, I turned 2 years previous [on Nov. 30]. Hopefully, I get to satisfy him and have a dialog. I’ve heard he is a tremendous man. Simply to select his mind about how he stayed within the league so lengthy — that is one thing that I need to have the ability to do.”

Coby White, who took his flip within the ball pit on the photograph shoot, mentioned one in all his considerations as he enters the NBA is just not having a schedule like he did in school. He mentioned he would possibly fill his free time by studying to play the piano. Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE through Getty Photos

With whom would you most wish to swap jerseys?

New Orleans Pelicans ahead Jaxson Hayes (No. eight total decide by the Hawks, traded to the Pelicans): “It’d undoubtedly be LeBron. I am a child from Ohio. He is my all-time favourite.”

Bol Bol: “Kevin Durant. He is my favourite participant proper now. I simply love how he modified the sport. He is a 7-footer, and he is in a position to play like a guard.”

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jarrett Culver (No. 6 total decide by the Phoenix Suns, traded to Timberwolves): “My former teammate Zhaire Smith [of the 76ers]. Simply coming from Texas Tech, each attending to the league. He is one in all my greatest buddies. Having that dream come true for us. It might be an honor simply to swap jerseys.”

Williams: “Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Inexperienced. My favourite participant rising up was Kawhi. He isn’t going to be a favourite once we play him, however I’d recognize swapping jerseys with him. However he is additionally the kind of man who labored his method up. He wasn’t the perfect participant when he first obtained into the league, however he grinded and put the time in to change into the participant that he’s at the moment.”

Which participant are you wanting ahead to dealing with?

White: “In all probability Damian Lillard. He is my favourite participant. He has labored for every part he has had. He has earned every part, and he is such a bucket. He performs the point-guard place effectively and is without doubt one of the greatest level guards within the league. Undoubtedly wanting ahead to taking over that problem.”

Hunter: “I am wanting ahead to enjoying towards KD. He was one in all my favourite gamers rising up. I like him as a participant. Hopefully, at some point, I will be at his stage. I simply actually respect his sport and actually admire what he does.”

Culver: “Jamal Crawford [who is currently unsigned]. I simply respect him quite a bit. That is one in all my favourite gamers. So it might be big for me.”

Reddish: “Rising up, I used to be an enormous Kevin Durant fan, so I look ahead to that matchup. He is simply robust. He is obtained peak and to do what he does …”

What’s your largest worry or concern getting into this new chapter of your life?

White: “My free time. You will have a lot downtime. You are all the time on a schedule in school. You all the time have folks telling you the place to go and the place to be. So I believe I will study piano or one thing like that.”

Hunter: “I do not actually have a worry. Clearly, the schedule is quite a bit completely different. That is the one factor. Simply taking good care of my physique and with the ability to play night time in and night time out.”

Thybulle: “You do not get to be a standard individual anymore. You do not get to casually go to the grocery retailer and go unnoticed wherever.”

Williamson: “My worst worry is — and I do know it is not going to occur — you hear about folks dropping their love for the sport. I hope that by no means occurs to me as a result of I really like the sport a lot. If that occurs to me, I might be so harm.”