Kori Ellis
06-18-2005, 04:48 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/320149p-273744c.html
Knick pick may point to younger Parker
BY CHRISTIAN RED
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
A French point guard named Parker running the Knicks' fast break?
It could become a reality - that is, if Isiah Thomas liked what he saw yesterday when several prospects completed a predraft workout at the team's Greenburgh facility.
Tony Parker, San Antonio's dynamic point guard, isn't defecting from the Spurs, but the Knicks could get his 21-year-old brother, T.J., who is foregoing his final year at Northwestern and entering the NBA draft.
"I'm kind of like my brother, I like to push the ball. I've got a lot of speed," the 6-2 Parker said. "It's the NBA, the best basketball in the world. That's what I want to do."
Of course, Thomas already acquired his dream point guard in January 2004 in Stephon Marbury, but there were rumblings at the end of the season that Marbury could switch to shooting guard. With two first-round picks and a second-round choice, the Knicks might opt for Parker. He averaged 9.7 points for the Wildcats in his junior year.
"Show them you can play. My brother, that's what he did," Parker said, adding that he would play in Europe if not selected in the June28 draft.
His brother was selected late in the first round (28th pick) of the '01 draft by San Antonio and quickly blossomed.
T.J. Parker is hoping to follow the same track, maybe even the celebrity girlfriend angle.
"When I was at the free throw line (last season), everybody started yelling 'E-va, E-va,'" Parker said, referring to his brother's actress girlfriend, Eva Longoria. "It's fun, though. I met her. She's a great person. Everybody asks me, 'Do you have her number?'"
Parker didn't have a monopoly on Thomas' attention yesterday, though. Bronx product Carl Krauser - who attended Stevenson High and starred at Pittsburgh - got to work out in front of one of his childhood idols.
"He actually rolled the ball to me. That's big," the 6-2 Krauser said of Thomas. "I named the middle name of my son after him. Being here at home, getting an NBA workout, it's a dream come true."
Krauser likened his style to that of All-Star Baron Davis and said "playmaking" and "being the aggressor on defense" are strengths he would bring to any team.
Twenty years after selecting Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown, the Knicks could opt for center Deng Gai. The 6-9, 250-pound forward from Fairfield University, who was born in Sudan, has at least one thing in common with former NBA center and countryman Manute Bol - a huge wingspan.
"Blocking shots, rebounding, my jumping ability - I think that could really help the team," Gai said.
Knick pick may point to younger Parker
BY CHRISTIAN RED
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
A French point guard named Parker running the Knicks' fast break?
It could become a reality - that is, if Isiah Thomas liked what he saw yesterday when several prospects completed a predraft workout at the team's Greenburgh facility.
Tony Parker, San Antonio's dynamic point guard, isn't defecting from the Spurs, but the Knicks could get his 21-year-old brother, T.J., who is foregoing his final year at Northwestern and entering the NBA draft.
"I'm kind of like my brother, I like to push the ball. I've got a lot of speed," the 6-2 Parker said. "It's the NBA, the best basketball in the world. That's what I want to do."
Of course, Thomas already acquired his dream point guard in January 2004 in Stephon Marbury, but there were rumblings at the end of the season that Marbury could switch to shooting guard. With two first-round picks and a second-round choice, the Knicks might opt for Parker. He averaged 9.7 points for the Wildcats in his junior year.
"Show them you can play. My brother, that's what he did," Parker said, adding that he would play in Europe if not selected in the June28 draft.
His brother was selected late in the first round (28th pick) of the '01 draft by San Antonio and quickly blossomed.
T.J. Parker is hoping to follow the same track, maybe even the celebrity girlfriend angle.
"When I was at the free throw line (last season), everybody started yelling 'E-va, E-va,'" Parker said, referring to his brother's actress girlfriend, Eva Longoria. "It's fun, though. I met her. She's a great person. Everybody asks me, 'Do you have her number?'"
Parker didn't have a monopoly on Thomas' attention yesterday, though. Bronx product Carl Krauser - who attended Stevenson High and starred at Pittsburgh - got to work out in front of one of his childhood idols.
"He actually rolled the ball to me. That's big," the 6-2 Krauser said of Thomas. "I named the middle name of my son after him. Being here at home, getting an NBA workout, it's a dream come true."
Krauser likened his style to that of All-Star Baron Davis and said "playmaking" and "being the aggressor on defense" are strengths he would bring to any team.
Twenty years after selecting Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown, the Knicks could opt for center Deng Gai. The 6-9, 250-pound forward from Fairfield University, who was born in Sudan, has at least one thing in common with former NBA center and countryman Manute Bol - a huge wingspan.
"Blocking shots, rebounding, my jumping ability - I think that could really help the team," Gai said.