Emotional Thomas Robinson drafted fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings – NBA Update
Thomas Robinson was selected fifth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. The big man was overcome with emotion after his was called out by NBA Commissioner David Stern, marking the culmination of a very difficult journey.
"I worked hard to get here and to see it all right in front of me, I got emotional,'' he said. "It was everything. everything that I had been holding in came out.''
Robinson was raised by his mother, who passed away in 2011 leaving him and younger sister Jayla behind. As Robinson’s father was never in the picture, the Jayhawks forward and his sister were pretty much on their own.
As a player, Robinson is quite the package. The forward averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in a season with 27 double-doubles, the most in the country. He was actually touted to be a higher pick but was more than happy to go fifth.
The late pick was probably because after Anthony Davis went to New Orleans Hornets with the first pick, teams were not looking for size, until it came Sacramento’s turn.
"It kind of went based on team needs,'' Robinson said. "The teams that skipped me didn't need me at that position. The Kings took a chance on me and took me at five. I'm going to make the best of it.''
Robinson is already looking forward to linking up with the Kings and mentioned centre DeMarcus Cousins and point guard Tyreke Evans as two players he would love to play alongside.
"They're a talented team with Tyreke at the guard spot and DeMarcus down low,'' Robinson said. "I'll try to build them up with rebounding and energy.''
The Kings have a young and talented team which, despite a disappointing showing last season, looks set to take off next year. DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the best young centre in the NBA while Tyreke Evans is a former Rookie of the Year. Add to that hungry
youngsters like Isaiah Thomas and Sacramento have quite the mix.
They will now be hoping that Cousins and Thomas can form a frontcourt partnership that will drag them into the NBA playoffs next season.
Tags: