Simmons, Ball, Tatum, Jackson, Fox among NBA rookies making immediate impact
This season’s NBA rookie class has made
This season’s NBA rookie class has made
N.C. State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. held a Pro Day at his old school on Thursday and six NBA teams attended.
The Knicks attended the workout, as did Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Miami and Minnesota.
From there, Smith Jr. left Friday morning for Boston where he was slated to meet with Celtics GM Danny Ainge, a source told ZAGSBLOG.
Ange attended N.C. State’s walk through for their game at Boston College in January and also attended a game in Raleigh.
The Celtics own the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft and have been heavily linked to Washington guard Markelle Fultz.
Smith Jr. also worked out for the Lakers last week and had dinner with Phil Jackson of the Knicks but did not workout, as FanRagSports.com first reported.
His longtime trainer, Shawn Farmer, said that Smith Jr. would love the chance to play with Carmelo Anthony.
“Oh my God, he would love the chance to play with a guy like a Melo,” Farmer told FanRagSports.com. “Those guys are proven, USA (Basketball), Olympic players, I think he would mesh well. And Junior wants to learn now, too. He doesn’t just want to go in and think he knows everything. He wants to get up under those guys’ wing and learn from those guys.”
The Lakers were "very impressed" with N.C.
N.C. State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is in New York and will work out for the Knicks on Wednesday, a source told ZAGSBLOG.
The Knicks pick at No. 8 in the June 22nd NBA Draft and are in need of a lead guard.
Knicks President Phil Jackson said at the NBA Draft Combine that his team was looking for “guards and wings.”
The Knicks could be in the mix for several guards, including Smith Jr., Kentucky’s Malik Monk or French product Frank Ntilikina, who could be a good fit in the triangle offense.
The Knicks and 76ers are among the teams who’ve reached out to N.C. State point guard Dennis Smith Jr.’s camp to set up workouts ahead of the NBA Draft, a source told ZAGSBLOG.
The Sixers pick at No. 3 and the Knicks at No. 8, per DraftExpress.com. The Kings, who pick at Nos. 5 and 10, and the Wolves (No.7) also reached out.
Knicks President Phil Jackson said last week at the NBA Draft Combine that his team was looking for “guards and wings.”
The Knicks are seemingly in position to draft either Smith Jr. or French product Frank Ntilikina, who could be a good fit in the triangle offense.
NEW YORK — Wearing a gray sweatsuit
North Carolina junior wing Justin Jackson, the best player on the ACC’s best regular-season team, was named the ACC Player of the Year on Sunday.
Jackson, a junior from Tomball, Texas, was the choice of 24 members of the voting panel (15 head coaches, selected media) that cast ballots for this year’s postseason honors. Wake Forest’s John Collins placed second with 15 votes.
“It’s an honor and a blessing by my God,” said Jackson. “My teammates are a huge part of this award and I can’t thank my coaches and them enough.
“Justin has been really good from day one,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “To have the kind of success shooting the ball and making big plays in key situations like he did against Duke is a credit to him and the amount of work he put in to improve his game. We went through a very difficult ACC schedule and Justin gave our players a lot of confidence knowing that he would consistently be putting up 18-20 points, about five rebounds and some key assists each game. He listened to our coaching staff last spring about how to improve as a player and was determined to get better and stronger, which through his hard work and sweat, he is now reaping the benefits.