by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
Junior guard J.R. Giddens' No. 15 is becoming a popular jersey among Lobo fans, although it was not his favorite as a child.
"My number was originally No. 32, and I hit seventh grade basketball, and I asked for it, but the coach said no and threw me No. 15," he said. "I'll admit, I'm kind of a baby, so I went home and complained to my dad. He said, 'Son, it's not the number that makes the player, it's the player that makes the number.'"
The Kansas transfer is the only McDonald's High School All-American to play for UNM. As a freshman for the Jayhawks, he was named All-Big 12 honorable mention and was on the Big-12 All-Freshman Team.
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He transferred to UNM in 2005 and sat out a year as a redshirt because of NCAA transfer rules.
Giddens said he came to UNM because of the chemistry he felt with the staff and team.
"I chose UNM because they have a great coaching staff here," he said. "Coach McKay is great, and he's done wonders for me on and off the court. It's a real family atmosphere here, and I don't think too many teams in the country are as close as we are."
Giddens grew up in Oklahoma City, where he lived and breathed basketball, he said.
"I was always in the front yard playing basketball with my father and mother," he said. "I wasn't a kid that went a lot of places, so I would just walk around the block and play whoever at any given time, on any court."
Giddens is leading the Lobos in scoring this year with an average of 20.8 points per game. He is second in rebounding with an average of 9.3.
One reason for Giddens' early success is the communication between teammates on the floor, he said. Giddens and forward Aaron Johnson are never at a loss of words during the games.
"Me and Aaron are always talking to each other so we can keep the team chemistry going good and be on the same page at all times," he said. "Sometimes we talk a little smack to get each other pumped up or communicate on what we need to do."
Thanks in large part to No. 15, the Lobos are off to a 4-0 start and have disposed of two teams from Giddens' former conference.
Giddens said he is focused on only one thing - winning.
"My main goal is to help us win," he said. "Anything I can do to help my team win - that's what I'm going to do, because that's what I'm here for."
