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The Daily OrangeFlynn selected No. 6 overall by Timberwolves in NBA Draft
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 6/25/09, 10:35 PM EST Section: Sports
Rubio, who starred in the 2008 Olympics for Spain, has been likened to all-time greats like Pete Maravich and was expected to be selected in the top three. Instead, he fell to Minnesota when the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings all passed on the 18-year-old phenom.
The sellout crowd at the Garden seemed surprised by the Timberwolves' pick of Flynn immediately following Rubio. Nevertheless, Flynn sees it as an exciting opportunity.
"You see the NBA going to a format with two point guards," Flynn said. "That's what the game is shifting to. It's good to have two facilitators that could make plays on the court. I think we can boost each other's level of play, and I can't wait go to play with him."
Rubio, however, did not seem as enthusiastic as his counterpart about the prospect of having to compete for playing time next season with another rookie point guard.
"That's a big surprise for me they took another point guard," Rubio said. "But we are going to see what they want. I don't know yet what exactly they want."
Common sense suggested perhaps the Timberwolves were interested in trading one of their first two selections. That notion was made even stronger when they took a third point guard with the No. 18 overall pick, North Carolina's Ty Lawson. They are expected to deal Lawson by the end of the night.
But Minnesota appears content with having both Rubio and Flynn on its roster together. Shortly after taking Flynn, a Wolves spokesman announced the team plans to keep both point guards and use them to build its backcourt of the future.
"I don't think it can be competition," Flynn said of his relationship with Rubio. "We are playing for the same goal, and that's to win an NBA championship. I think we can go in there, and we can compromise, where he may have the ball or where I may have the ball. I think it's going to be fun to have another player who can make plays just like you."
As far as Flynn is concerned, all the talk of Rubio and playing with another point guard should take a back seat, at least for one day. For Flynn, Thursday was about fulfilling his lifelong dream, just like it was for everybody else selected.
Flynn said a number of teams told him that he was high on their draft boards, but he was not entirely uncomfortable until he heard his name called. Only then did he know for sure that he really belonged. That was when his journey was finally complete.
"You've got to take what these teams are saying out one ear and through the other because they could be telling four, five, six different players the same thing," Flynn said. "The one time you can tell if a team is serious is when they pick you, and I guess Minnesota was really high on me."
jediamon@syr.edu
The sellout crowd at the Garden seemed surprised by the Timberwolves' pick of Flynn immediately following Rubio. Nevertheless, Flynn sees it as an exciting opportunity.
"You see the NBA going to a format with two point guards," Flynn said. "That's what the game is shifting to. It's good to have two facilitators that could make plays on the court. I think we can boost each other's level of play, and I can't wait go to play with him."
Rubio, however, did not seem as enthusiastic as his counterpart about the prospect of having to compete for playing time next season with another rookie point guard.
"That's a big surprise for me they took another point guard," Rubio said. "But we are going to see what they want. I don't know yet what exactly they want."
Common sense suggested perhaps the Timberwolves were interested in trading one of their first two selections. That notion was made even stronger when they took a third point guard with the No. 18 overall pick, North Carolina's Ty Lawson. They are expected to deal Lawson by the end of the night.
But Minnesota appears content with having both Rubio and Flynn on its roster together. Shortly after taking Flynn, a Wolves spokesman announced the team plans to keep both point guards and use them to build its backcourt of the future.
"I don't think it can be competition," Flynn said of his relationship with Rubio. "We are playing for the same goal, and that's to win an NBA championship. I think we can go in there, and we can compromise, where he may have the ball or where I may have the ball. I think it's going to be fun to have another player who can make plays just like you."
As far as Flynn is concerned, all the talk of Rubio and playing with another point guard should take a back seat, at least for one day. For Flynn, Thursday was about fulfilling his lifelong dream, just like it was for everybody else selected.
Flynn said a number of teams told him that he was high on their draft boards, but he was not entirely uncomfortable until he heard his name called. Only then did he know for sure that he really belonged. That was when his journey was finally complete.
"You've got to take what these teams are saying out one ear and through the other because they could be telling four, five, six different players the same thing," Flynn said. "The one time you can tell if a team is serious is when they pick you, and I guess Minnesota was really high on me."
jediamon@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Billy D.
posted 6/26/09 @ 2:54 PM EST
I am THRILLED Devendorf and Harris didn't get drafted. They never should have declared. Good luck at Burger King, girls.
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