COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Renaldo Balkman's NBA career started in much the same way
as his collegiate career began -- with an all-or-nothing standout performance in
front of the right people in Orlando, Fla.
In summer 2002, Balkman was playing with the Tallahassee Wildcats in the
Amateur Athletic Union national championships. South Carolina coach Dave Odom
watched in the stands.
"I saw this guy out there, and I saw him jump, and I saw him dunk, and I saw
him run, so I punched (assistant coach) Barry (Sanderson) and I said 'Who's
that?"' Odom recalled Wednesday at a joint news conference with Balkman, who was
drafted by the New York Knicks with the 20th pick in June.
"I said 'That's who we need, that guy right there. Find out who he is,"' Odom
recalled.
This spring, Balkman led the Gamecocks to a second-straight NIT championship,
and then did what many thought unimaginable for the streaky, unorthodox forward.
He declared himself eligible for the draft, ended his college career by hiring
an agent, and wound up a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks, a team
the Staten Island, N.Y., native had dreamed of playing for since he was 8.
Much like his performance three years earlier, Balkman had entered this
year's pre-draft camp in Orlando a relatively unknown commodity. But Balkman,
playing in the same arena where Odom noticed him, caught the eye of Knicks coach
Isiah Thomas, who sought out the South Carolina coach for a nearly hour-long
conversation about Balkman.
Odom says he knew then Thomas was serious about drafting Balkman, though he
never imagined the team would use its first draft pick on him.
"In a sense his Carolina career began in that building, when I saw him," Odom
said. "His Carolina career ended in that building, when he played so very well,
in front of the NBA scouts. Had he not played well in that, I'm sure he would
not have been drafted."
After hearing reviews of his performance in Orlando, Balkman fully committed
to his professional dreams by hiring an agent, a move that made him ineligible
to return for his senior season with the Gamecocks.
But Balkman says he didn't know the Knicks were interested in him.
"They didn't show no interest," he said Wednesday. "It was like, all right,
see you later.
"It was shocking when they called my name... When Number 20 came, I was
eating a plate of food, and I dropped it all on the floor."
The Knicks will pay Balkman more than $2 million over two years.
But the 6-8 forward still has plenty to prove to New York fans who booed his
selection during the draft at Madison Square Garden as well as the local media,
who have called Thomas' move "bizarre."
"Yeah, they killed me. I was so tired after I talked to the media in New
York," Balkman said. "It's a lot of doubters up there saying I'm not gonna be
this and I'm not gonna be that, but when I step on the court, they're gonna
second-guess themselves."
Balkman said he has received no assurances from the Knicks about what his
role will be with the team, and Thomas has simply told him to work hard.
Balkman averaged only about 10 points a game in his junior year with South
Carolina, and New York coaches have said he needs to work on his jump shot and
taking shots off the dribble.
But for the time being, Balkman talks as though he is still on a draft-night
high.
"I woke up the next day and I just sat there, and I felt like, man, I just
won the lottery," he reflected. "I got picked in the NBA. Number 20. Wow."
