Enes Kanter impressive in the pre-draft workout with Minnesota Timberwolves – NBA Update
Enes Kanter continued his tour of workouts with NBA teams before the draft, this time turning up at the Minnesota Timberwolves. And it seems the Timberwolves were impressed by what they saw.
Enes Kanter is a Turkish basketball player who made waves in his home country as a teenager. The 6-foot-11 centre moved to the United State last year in order to continue his basketball career. However, he was ruled as ineligible
to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA tournament and has therefore not featured in competitive games for around 9 months.
Kanter is now on a country wide trip, working out with different NBA teams in order to show what he can do before the Draft on June 23. Kanter already worked out with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers
before turning up in Minnesota.
The talented centre impressed the Timberwolves on Thursday. The franchise already knew plenty about him. Assistant Manager Tony Ronzone knows a thing or two about the international basketball scene and he has a particular insight
on Kanter. Ronzone has watched him play since Enes was 16 years old and the Minnesota executive seemed to admire the Turkish centre,
"He's a confident kid," Ronzone said. "In America, the problem is most big guys don't like playing basketball. He actually likes to play basketball. He's addicted to it."
Kanter continued to train during his nine month lay-off with coach John Calipari. He then prepared for the pre draft tour of NBA teams in Chicago with renowned coach Tim Grover.
Kanter played against Keith Benson on Thursday rather than working out on his own, like many draft prospects prefer to do. Ronzone said that attitude made Kanter stand out,
"The beautiful thing about these two guys is they competed (against other players)," Ronzone said. "I thought that was great because in the old days they didn't do that. They're changing the style now. I like the fact that they
competed."
The other guy Ronzone referred to in these quotes was Arizona forward Derrick Williams. Williams also visited the franchise on Thursday to work out and he too impressed the Timberwolves.
"What impressed me today was his handle," Ronzone said about Derrick Williams. "He's got a big-time handle. He shakes guys off of him. He goes left to right real well."
The Minnesota Timberwolves were the odds on favourites to win the NBA Draft lottery after having the worst season in the NBA last year. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers scored an unlikely win in the lottery. Still the Timberwolves
have the second overall pick in the Draft and with Kyrie Irving set to be picked at one by the Cavaliers, Minnesota can decide between Kanter and Williams for the second pick.
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