The first round draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers has much to prove in his first season as he looks to form a formidable backcourt partnership with Kyrie Irving....
Dion Waiters was one of the prospects who had entered into the 2012 NBA Draft. Although he was expected to be picked up somewhere in the middle of the first round, Waiters eventually was drafted up by the Cleveland Cavaliers with
their 4th overall pick.
Yes, he did actually climb that high in the days leading up to the draft. Waiters made the trip to the pre-draft combine in Chicago along with all the other prospects. However, after securing a promise from the Phoenix Suns, Waiters
left after the first day and cancelled all his workouts and practices with all the other teams. While the other prospects travelled the country working out for prospective teams, Waiters was at home.
His sudden departure from the market left coaches, scouts and executives in confusion and forced them to revisit his game films and carefully evaluate and analyse his game one more time. This time around, most of the scouts came
out with the opinion that Waiters game was more suited to the NBA than college, leading to him rising the ranks in the draft ladder.
However, nobody imagined the 6 foot 4 inch shooting guard to be picked number 4, not even himself.
“I can’t say that I saw it coming. I can’t even tell you how everything went down. I thought it’s a great fit and a great opportunity. I was excited to go top five. The draft process was cool. I think I was only in Chicago for
about five or six hours, but I enjoyed it a lot,” Waiters told Hoopsworld.
Waiters is glad that he has joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, and says that there could not be a better place for him to start his career.
Another advantage of joining the Cavs is that Waiters already has a good relationship with the Cavs star point guard and best player on the roster, Kyrie Irving. Waiters and Irving grew up close to each other and developed a close
friendship after bumping into each other on many basketball camps and tournaments.
Waiters is excited about joining him in the back court next season and believes that they can make a great combination.
“Potential wise, the sky is the limit for us. We’re still young and we’re still getting better every day. When we get on the court, it’s all about how we can make each other better. We’re going to push each other,” said Waiters
about Irving.
The Cavaliers have not made a trip to the NBA playoffs since LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat in 2010. Waiters says that his goal for next season is to help the Cavaliers qualify for the playoffs and usher in a new era in
for the franchise.
Apart from that, Waiters knows that the pressure will be on him to prove himself, with many saying that he was not good enough to be picked in the top 5.
Waiters says that winning the Rookie of the Year award is his personal aim for his upcoming season, but realizes that he will have to work hard to be able to do that.
“I try not to talk about my personal goals, but that’s definitely one of mine,” Waiters said of winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. “Making the playoffs is the biggest thing, but I’m definitely thinking about [winning Rookie
of the Year]. I have to put the work in and earn it though. It’s not just going to be given to me. I have to earn it and that’s something that I’m going to try to do, game in and game out.”
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