Man, this is what I want our players to say every damn time. <i>Nachbar, Rockets thrilled By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle The Rockets' training facility was buzzing. The Rockets had for weeks targeted Bostjan Nachbar with their second first-round pick. Then Nachbar put on a show that left the Rockets concerned only that he would be gone before they were up with the 15th pick. But as impressive as Nachbar's performance was to the Rockets, he was more sold on the Rockets. He checked flight schedules from Houston to his home in Slovenia. He imagined himself filling a wing with Yao Ming sending an outlet pass and Steve Francis handling the ball on a break. He penned a letter to Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson and coach Rudy Tomjanovich to thank them for considering him, the first letter of its type they had ever received and the only one he sent. Rumors even circulated around the league that Nachbar saved his best for the Rockets' workout, not showing as much in other stops as he put on display Sunday on the Westside Tennis Club court. "After one day in Houston, I fell in love with Houston," Nachbar said in a phone interview from New York, where he attended the draft. "I love the team, the personnel. Everyone was great to me. I had four workouts (in Charlotte, Indiana, Houston and Washington, D.C.). Houston was something special. From the beginning, I knew this is where I wanted to be." As with the start of the draft, by the middle of the first round, the Rockets got what they wanted, choosing Nachbar with the first-round pick they acquired in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Hakeem Olajuwon to the Raptors. The Rockets used their second-round pick, improved from the 52nd player taken to the 37th also as part of the Olajuwon deal to choose Fresno State point guard Tito Maddox. Maddox played one season, averaging 13.5 points and eight assists before sitting out last season. He sat out last season after he was declared ineligible for accepting an airline ticket from an agent. Nachbar, 21, a 6-9 small forward with a deft shooting touch and a flair for completing fast breaks and drives, helped lead Italian power Benetton Treviso to the Euroleague Final Four, averaging 13.7 points on 60.4 percent shooting. "He's the guy we had targeted," Dawson said. "He's an outstanding shooter. He's a tremendous athlete. He probably gets more dunks for an outside player than anybody we saw on film this year. He flies down the floor. He plays up above the rim. He can shoot from 3. "When he worked out here, he was simply very, very impressive. He made 24 of 25 shots from 17 (feet) and on the 3s, he made 23 of 25. That kind of shooting really gets your attention." Nachbar even caught Tomjanovich in Italy when he went on a scouting trip primarily to consider Treviso teammate Nikoloz Tskitishvili when the Rockets held the fifth pick of the draft before the lottery. "This kid is really an exciting player," Tomjanovich said. "The scrimmage I watched over there, he had 10 dunks. We had maybe nine NBA teams over there watching. They were not going through the motions. He can shoot the ball from the outside, put it on the floor. He's a competitor. He's a very good fit for our team. "This young man has played a number of years (five seasons as a professional in Slovenia and Italy.) On a very good team in Italy, he was one of the go-to guys. He's really got a good jump on coming in and playing right away." With Yao's ability to block or change shots and send outlet passes, Nachbar has a chance to more than fit in, but to eventually change the Rockets to a better running team. "I could foresee Yao making longer outlets because he is so big," Tomjanovich said. "Now Nachbar, there's something about him that is sort of a mystery, how he gets in on these breaks. He doesn't look like he's really, really fast. "But he's there all the time. He knows how to get that jump." </i>
This guy came to Houston in the heat of June and fell in love? Rudy must be employing his daughter to recruit for him. Anyway, welcome aboard, love those Georgia Peaches!
Talk about a refreshing attitude....in this 'celebration of ME' world of athletics where enough posturing by players seemingly forces the hand of an organization, its really nice to hear some of these guys genuinely enthused about playing for their new team in their new city. He wrote a letter thanking the Rockets organization? Thats unheard of! I like this guy already.
It seems like everyone who visits us seems to love Houston. I think its the Southern Hospitality. Now if we can only get Duncan to visit us and take the MCE.
23 out of 25 from long range??? Holy Benetton Treviso, Batman! I'm a little surprised the Rockets have never gotten a thank-you letter like that. The norms for draftees are different from the job-hunting world I'm more familiar with, I guess. Such letters may not be a given, but they're certainly not uncommon in the business world. I see Nachbar coming off the bench if Rice is really all that and a tin of biscuits this year, but that would be something if he could beat him a hot Rice out of his starting job.
I’m sure he loves Houston. I also suspect he sees the potential for him to be the starting 3 on a team with a serious shot at the championship in 2 or 3 of years.
Hopefully these guys will be totally accepted and we won't read about locker room stories where the current Rockets treat the new guys like dorks. Speaking of which, how will Ming react to the usual rookie hazing. The first time Francis makes him carry his bags, somebody is gonna make a big deal out of it in here.
If Francis is still full of attitude about Yao then I think that is something that has to be watched. I think the addition of Nachbar adds some more diversity, so it won’t be just Yao who is the cultural outsider. Maybe the Rockets should sign Oakly and give him some specific instructions about not letting things get out of hand. ;-) Seriously though, I think it’s time to give Francis another chance to decide to be a team player. One way or another he is a significant asset, so we need to deal with him carefully. Give him a clean slate, but if it’s not working out then look into trading him to a situation that fits him better, and get something of nearly equal value that is a better fit for us.
I think Yao's coming with the mindset that he needs to prove himself and earn his teammates' respect. This to me is supported by his preparedness to sit on the bench for a couple years. Part of that's probably pessimism about adjusting to the NBA game. Part of that also, I argue, is a mindset that he has to earn his place. Given that type of attitude, I think he'd deal with carrying bags, particularly since he'll be more of an outsider than previous draftees, coming from another country.
Bostjan Nachbar : Height: 207cm / 6'10'' Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward Born: 1980 Team: Treviso, ITA (2000-02) Nationality: SLO Agent: Raskovic Alexander (SFX Basketball Group) Previous teams: Lasko (SLO) Maribor (SLO) Current Stats Bostjan Nachbar (Photo: BasketNews) Send comments / corrections Career / Comments: Born: July 3, 1980 220lbs / 100kg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outlook: A good rebounder with a soft touch. Quick. Active on defense. Can penetrate to the hoop on offense. Has become more physical and stronger. Can play both 3 and 4, and sometimes even 5. Has all of the skills a wing from Europe can bring. Can shoot, pass, and make plays. Can create his own shot and make plays for others. Not a great defender, but learning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.eurobasket.com/ITAplayer.asp?PlayerID=4312
Thank you Jeff! I felt compelled to point this out based solely on the interview tonight before I even read this article. Players often give the ol' "glad to be here" recitation to be polite, but he was going out of his way to drive home the point tonight with comments like he was secretly hoping to go to Houston. How can you not get excited as a fan for a guy like that? Jeff, was I sleepwalking this morning or didn't you say Nachbar is an inch or more taller than his listed height (i.e. what Chronicle/NBA.com uses), in which case even better news for us? So redao's post more closely corresponds to reality then?
man this is great. its always good to get a player who really loves the mangement, team, and city. i think snackbar will be a perfect fit for the rockets. man it looks like we're puttin togther a really good young team here. i cant wait to see what we can do next year and maybe contenders in the next couple seasons.
It makes me feel good to read that Nachbar actively wants to be on this team, especially given the circumstances leading to the Rockets getting this pick. I am still a bit stung by Olajuwon's departure, but this pick may salve s few wounds in that department.
Anyone thinks Ming was coached to mention Steve in his live interview? Remember they didn't mention Steve in reports when Rudy was in BJ. If so, pops to Rocket management.
Yeah I heard there is not enough meat on Cats... But the dogs are common along with snake and scorpion and pigeon and Monkey brain... I had everything but the brain and dog...
