J.R. Giddens planted his seeds in the Pit. Now, all those seeds have finally germinated into a Garden - the TD Banknorth Garden, that is.
Giddens, who was selected by the newly christened champion Boston Celtics, was the 30th selection in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.
"Just being in the organization gives you chills," Giddens said. "My journey's just beginning. I'm truly a blessed individual."
After Celtics' center Kevin Garnett captured his first championship last week, all he could say was: "Man, man, man."
Giddens, too, was speechless.
"I'm just ecstatic - ecstatic," he said. "I've been dreaming about this since I was 4-years-old shooting on my Fisher Price basketball goal."
Giddens becomes only the sixth Lobo to be selected in the first round, the most recent being Danny Granger.
Giddens said he will benefit from having an established point guard in Boston.
"Rajon Rondo's a great point guard," he said. "I played against him when he was at the University of Kentucky when I was at Kansas. He's a really athletic guy. He has a great work ethic, and just for me to play with a point guard like that and Garnett, (Paul) Pierce, (Ray) Allen - I just can't even imagine it. It's a dream come true."
In two years at UNM, Giddens was the Lobos' centerpiece, averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. However, Giddens said he's willing to take on any role with the Celtics.
"If I have to get water, clap in street clothes, I'm going to go out there and work my hardest," he said. "Find my niche and contribute to the organization as best as possible. As a ballplayer, now that I'm professional, I have to try to perfect my game and live up to what the Boston Celtics believe what I can do - be a great role model, a man of the community."
Giddens said he's unsure of his flight arrangements, but he'll be heading out to Boston soon. Giddens was in Boston Thursday working out before flying out to Albuquerque to see the draft with his coaches and teammates.
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UNM head coach Steve Alford was just as ecstatic as Giddens. Alford said Giddens is the first player he has coached that was selected in the first round.
"It couldn't have been a better script for J.R.," Alford said. "Not only to have a chance to fulfill his dream and play in the NBA and be a first-round pick, but to be a Boston Celtic...."
Somehow, green with envy just doesn't say it.
