Jon Brockman Selected In NBA Draft
June 25, 2009
Jon Brockman, the University of Washington's all-time leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, was selected as the eighth pick of the second round (38th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Snohomish, Wash. native was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar and Brockman were available to the media following the draft. Below is a transcript of the press teleconference:
Lorenzo Romar
"We are ecstatic. I am so excited and proud of Jon. He did everything in his power to be a team guy during for four years. He is selfless and he is a servant. And, now, he is rewarded to go out and attack a lifelong dream to play in the NBA. It is a lot of fun that he is going to be able to join Spencer Hawes, as well."
On the reaction at the Brockman house when Jon was drafted: "He had a lot of family and friends over to his house. It was like Selection Sunday, when you realize you got picked for the NCAA Tournament and what seed you are. You couldn't hear a word from the television at that point. Everyone just threw their hands up, stood up and applauded. It was a great scene."
What did Jon do to improve his draft status: "I think he just continued to do what he had done over a four-year period. Over that four-year period he has worked and continued to be Jon Brockman. People recognize that. He averaged almost 18 points per game his junior year, almost 15 his senior year. You ask what did he do to get better and you'd think, statistically, he didn't. That wasn't true. He became a better player. He became more experienced. He became better at leading. He helped lead this team to a Pac-10 championship."
On Brockman's ability to play at the next level and overcome the identity as just a hard worker: "I think the Sacramento Kings drafted him because they knew he can do a little more than that. I think the team that drafted him appreciates what he brings to the table. What he brings to the table is not only his ability to rebound the basketball. It is the other intangibles - the ability to go out and make plays. He can really run the floor. That is another thing that impressed Sacramento. He is strong, aggressive defensively. He gets low to the ground. He is going to get physical with people. There are a number of factors that went into Sacramento drafting him. It wasn't just that he is a hard worker and rebounder."
On the ability for a strong college rebounder to do the same in the NBA: "One NBA guy told me, and I'll never forget it, that if a guy was six-foot-seven and three-quarters and could get a rebound every three minutes - he can play in the NBA. Everyone who has done that has played in the NBA. Jon Brockman is about six-seven and he is close to that. If you rebound, a coach will find a way to put you on the floor. That goes all the way to the highest level."
On the chance for Brockman and Spencer Hawes playing together in the NBA: "I think it is pretty special. As you go through your basketball career, or any career, rarely do you get a chance to be as close and work with someone alongside of you that you have been with for that long. I think it is great. I don't know who is more excited, Jon or Spencer."
What did NBA scouts ask the most about Jon? "With Jon, there came a point where they didn't ask a whole lot. They just said `this is what we see.' The things they don't see every day, they just assumed he did - how hard Jon practices every day regardless and how he is in the locker room. The way Jon has handled himself and the person that he is, I think, everyone just assume that he did those things. There are a lot of opposing coaches who have praised Jon a lot. They call us about opposing players in the league and I think coaches probably gave Jon raving reviews."
Jon Brockman
"It is truly a dream come true. Getting drafted into the NBA. I don't think I could ask for a better situation - playing alongside my AAU teammate, my college teammate and now my NBA teammate. I don't know if that has ever been done before in the NBA. It is a dream come true and I am overwhelmed. I spent the day with family and friends here at the house. It is an amazing process."
On the mystery surrounding Jon's pre-draft status: "It was definitely a test in the relationship between me and my agent. I put it all in their hands. Having success in Portsmouth, playing very well... after that, we decided that it could help me even more if I could just withdraw from everything. I kept working out and stayed in shape. But, I kept is low-key and went into hiding, I guess you could say. It was tough for me. It wasn't easy at all. I'm not the kind of guy who doesn't want to tell people what is going on. I was just following the advice of my agent. We felt really comfortable that taking that route, going that direction, everything would work out. And, it did."
Was there any informal agreements in place with NBA teams before the draft? "There wasn't. It was a big shock, being drafted by Sacramento. I had no idea. Spencer called me about 10 seconds before it came up on the TV. He said `you are my rookie.' I was surprised and said `what are you talking about.' Then it came up on the screen, everyone started screaming and yelling. That's kind of how I found out."
What do you know about the Kings? "I haven't had a lot of time to look at their roster. I was in Sacramento, I spent a week down there about a week before I went to Portsmouth - watching Spencer play against the Suns. I met a couple of the players and hung out with them a little bit. It is a great area. I'm unbelievably pumped-up about living in Sacramento. The fact that I'm still on the West Coast and just a short plane trip away from family and friends - being on the West Coast is huge."
Was there a moment when you thought you were a Blazer and Brandon (Roy's) teammate? "I knew the trade was part of it. We had actually been talking about that as the second round started. We talked about how Sacramento had taken the 38th spot from Portland and kind of highlighted it as a possibility."
Did you think your Portsmouth performance was enough to convince NBA scouts of your ability? "I went from, even after Portsmouth, not even being on any of the draft board radars. Word of mouth, people started talking. The word gets out and it worked in my favor and I started climbing up."
Did you think Sacramento was the most likely team to take you in the draft? "I had about five teams in my mind. I thought Milwaukee was a possibility at the 41 spot. Sacramento at 31 or 38. San Antonio was a possibility. Cleveland was a possibility. And, Portland. I had in my mind that it would be one of those five teams and it was."
Have you talked with anyone with the Sacramento organization? "I have talked with Spencer about five times. He is the only one I've talked to. I know the owners are trying to talk with me. They talk to my agent mostly."
Does Spencer have an open room in his house that he needs to fill with a roommate? "He does, actually. I haven't even thought about working that angle. I'm heading out to Sacramento tomorrow morning, pretty early. I'll start figuring that all out. I'm thinking I will get my own place. We'll see what happens."
Is this a validation that blue-collar work ethic and skills has a place at any level? "Definitely. Hard work can get people a long ways. As you've seen in the playoffs, there are a lot of players who were putting in some big minutes and being very successful. Players who resemble the way I play. I am going to have to do a lot of learning and I have a long ways to go. I have Spencer, who has been in the league for a few years now, who can help me along the way and is more than willing to be that advisor."
Did you ever think about going against the advice of your agent and going to workouts? "Not once. I put all my faith in them and knew they were going to make the right decision. They have been around for a while. They have helped a lot of players get to high places. I knew that if I just listened to them and did what they said, everything was going to work out for the best."
