Emeka Okafor: “I am liking my new home and my new teammates”
February 10, 2010 – 6:20 am by Zach Krantz
When looking back at the 2004 NBA Draft and the top two picks there is a glaring difference in the impact the two players have made. The Orlando Magic had the first pick and had to choose between High Schooler Dwight Howard with plenty of potential or UConn center Emeka Okafor who had just led his team to a national championship. Not an easy choice, nor one that you thought by now would be that much different in terms of leading your franchise. Howard has led the Magic to the playoffs three consecutive years, including a trip to the finals, has made four All-Star teams, won a Defensive Player of the Year Award, and is considered the best center in the NBA. Okafor hasn’t done bad, nor should be considered a bust pick. He has career averages of nearly 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game. The big difference is how far the teams have gone into the playoffs. Okafor isn’t even a member of that Bobcats team that drafted him anymore; he is a New Orleans Hornet.
He will be compared to Howard for the rest of his career unfortunately, but that happens with guys near the top of any draft (ask Ryan Leaf). The only way to break out of the comparison is to help or lead your team into the playoffs and make a name for yourself. No one will remember where you got drafted at that point, but just remember what you did to help or hurt your team in the playoffs. Okafor is on a Hornets team led by Chris Paul, who is hurt presently but the Hornets are in the mix in the West.
Emeka Okafor joined Hardcore Sports Radio and talked about his being traded to the Hornets, how the team is in the West, and what the city of New Orleans is like.
Asked about being traded to the Hornets:
“It’s a very awkward thing. You don’t always know that it’s coming…which was my case. I had absolutely no idea. I was coming out of a workout and my agent texted me and said hey I think you have been traded, call me. So I called him and he said, “Yep you have been traded.” It was a bit of a shock, you know I was there for five years in one spot and at the snap of a finger you are uprooting to a new location. It’s cool , I am liking my new home and my new teammates. The situation is nice but it kind of comes as a shock.”
Asked to talk about how other guys need to step up with Chris Paul out of the lineup:
“One guy falls down and the rest take his spot and help him out. You know CP is a very important part of our team and he is going to be one tough spot to fill but we all are going to do our best to chip in and do what we can do.”
Asked how a lot of guys in professional sports don’t want to be role models and he is a great example of one:
“I just try and do the right thing. I am very fortunate to do what I do and I am in a blessed situation. I am doing what I love for a living and I have had a lot of people helping me out along the way. I just have to make sure I don’t take things for granted and try to pay it forward.”
Listen to Emeka Okafor on Hardcore Sports Radio
Tags: Charlotte Bobcats, Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor, NBA, NBA Western Conference, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic
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