TR
Years ago
Williams / Boguts workout with the Bucks
Here is the link to Bogut's workout with pictures:
http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/Draft_Central_2005_June20Workout.html
Here is this interview:
How did the workout with the Bucks go?
I think it went pretty well. I didn't shoot the ball like I would have liked, but I think all of the facets of my game were fine. I think they saw some things they didn't think I could do, like getting up and down the court and my vertical leap was pretty much on par with Marvin Williams. And people always say he's very athletic, so & I showed them that I could jump and that I could get down the court.
A lot of fans are curious as to what number you would pick if you came to Milwaukee, seeing as how your traditional #4 is a retired number in Milwaukee.
I honestly haven't thought about it one bit. I just heard about it the other day and I'm not going to think about it until I'm drafted. It'd be like saying I need to look for a house in Milwaukee today. I'm not going to do that, certainly. So I want to know where I'm going to be at before I start thinking about that.
Speaking of Milwaukee, have you been here before?
I was here for about four days during the NCAA Tournament. And one of my good friends is from Milwaukee. I like it. I like the smaller cities. I'm not a big fan of going to the bigger cities, but you often have no choice. I haven't really been out yet in the city, but I've been to a few restaurants and have liked what I've seen.
One fan wrote in and wanted to know what parts of your game you're trying to improve. Are there any specific aspects?
Not really. I think all aspects of my game need improvement for me to be a more perfect player. There's not just one thing I'm going to be working on. NBA three-point shooting does come to mind. I know I can shoot it though I didn't shoot it that well today - and I know I want to incorporate it more into my game.
What's it like being a possible #1 pick, with all of the media and fan hype?
That's why basketball is such a great game in the States. It wouldn't be like this in Australia. It's definitely exciting to be a part of it. At times it can be nerve-racking in a way just because there's so much to get through, but that's just part of the job.
Now, you were born in Austraila, but you have Croatian ties?
Yeah. I've never actually lived in Croatia, but my whole family is there. My sister and I are first generation Australians. We've been to Croatian schools and Croatian community clubs. So we're basically half-and-half. I speak the Croatian language a little bit and my mom's cooking is Croatian.
Could you carry on a conversation with Toni Kukoc, a Croatian native?
Probably for a little while. Some of it's hard. There's a lot of slang and other parts that I don't know. And since I haven't actually lived there, they speak too fast for me. But I could definitely carry on a conversation.
We know you've been asked this hundreds of times before, but what kind of edge does having international experience give you?
You're playing against men. Fully-developed men that just want to pound you. That's how you learn. I've played against NBA players, too. I've played against guys that have been all around the world playing in different leagues and trying to survive. It's different than the American game. It's just an experience that's invaluable. You can't get it in college or high school. And when you get to the NBA, you're sort of ready for the banging around and intimidation factor and it doesn't affect you as much. That's why I think a lot of Europeans that come over here aren't affected by the crowds that much.
One fan asked if you like to compare yourself to any particular NBA player. Do you?
I don't really like to compare myself to anybody. But I guess I'd like to be like a Tim Duncan-type player. He's fundamentally sound and very good at what he does.
How much are you looking forward to your rookie NBA season?
I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait for it to start. I haven't played a game since last spring, obviously. Just eager to get started and prove to people that I can play in this league.
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The Williams link:
http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/Draft_Central_2005_June19Workout.html
Interview:
First of all, Happy Birthday. It's your golden birthday, too, as you're turning 19 on the 19th. Did the Bucks help you celebrate at all?
They gave me a real good visit. We went out to eat last night and they had a cake set up and what not. It was a nice little surprise. Then everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to me, so that was pretty cool.
One common question that we got from fans was whether or not you're focusing on improving a certain area of your game. Are you?
I feel that everything needs to get better. I have been working on my perimeter game a little bit more. Obviously, I'm lifting weights and trying to get as strong as I can. But I have been working on my perimeter game a lot.
Fans also want to know ... Do you model your game after any particular NBA player?
Not really. I don't want to be like anybody. My favorite players growing up were Kevin Garnett and Gary Payton. But I don't really try to be like them at all. I just want to be myself. As far as my favorite player, that would have to be my dad ... my favorite player of all time.
What's it like playing for a team with a reputation as large as North Carolina?
It's an experience. Everybody watches North Carolina. So many people love it. Just to be able to be a part of that tradition was a big-time blessing for me. And I feel like everybody that has played there and those that play there now feel the same way.
Did your one year in college help you in more ways than just basketball?
It helped me mature a lot more. I used to love being home when I was young. I never wanted to be away from home. But going across the country and getting away growing up a little bit definitely helped me.
After having gone to college for a year, would you recommend any certain path for young basketball players?
I just recommend that kids do what's best for them. Whether that's going pro out of high school or going to college for one or four years. But college definitely was a great experience for myself.
Another common question from fans ... What do you to relax when you're not playing basketball? And how do you prepare for games?
Nothing. I love to do nothing. Go to movies; watch TV; just chill. Before games I'll just watch TV. We had a nice big-screen in our locker room at North Carolina, so I would just hang out in there before games.
What has this entire experience of being a potential number one pick in the draft been like?
Some people can see it as a lot of pressure, but I definitely see it the opposite way. It's definitely a blessing to be a possible number one pick. There are a lot of great players in this upcoming draft and for someone to say that I could be chosen number one, that's special to me. It's a big-time honor. There's a lot of media surrounding it. I'm just having a good time.
Last question. What do you think of Andrew Bogut's game?
Very good. I think Andrew is very good. I saw him play a couple times for Utah and I think he's very good.