The next day after NBA draft-2005 the forward of CSKA Yaroslav Korolev (12th nubmer if the first round by Clippers) went to Los Angeles to the special press-conference. The head coach of Clippers Mike Dunleavy told that first time he saw Kkorolev on the Eurioleague tournament in Moscow in last May:
I saw Yaraslov play in junior national tournaments over in Moscow in May. There were two reasons for my trip to Russia: the Senior European Final Four, which has a lot potential NBA players playing over there at that level. Also to see the B league, which is their juniors. It’s probably a better league than our high school players are playing in. They are more talented players. Their junior players are considered our high school or college type players.
He’s a 6’9’’ small forward. He’s got good size and length for his position. He’s very athletic. The thing that he does very well is make plays in the open court. Also, he makes players around him better, and he has a low post game. His offensive skills are very wide and varied. He has a very big upside. The question always when you draft a young player, like Shaun Livingston last year, is physical maturity and the ability to step it up to the next level.
Then Yaroslav Korolev received shirt with 8th number and answered media quaetions:
I am very excited about coming here to Los Angeles. This is my third time here in the United States with my first visit to Texas in 2001 and I really like it here in Los Angeles. I like the weather here in L.A. because it’s always cold in Russia. The people are very friendly because when I got here everybody was telling me congratulations. I thank everybody for the nice welcome, I like that. I hope to have a good relationship with the Clippers and I will try my best.
I will just do my best because I really care about getting better now. The Clippers have said they haven’t made a decision yet so I will just do my best whatever that might be.
The NBA has always been a dream for me and has always been during my 11 years of playing basketball. To come into the NBA draft was not only my decision but the decision of a lot of people like agents, scouts and coaches. Everybody can be here you just have to work hard. If you look at the guys playing in the NBA who are European stars the can come over here into the NBA and be champions like Manu Ginobili. You look at a guy like that and think that you can be like him because he is a European player like you. You have to come over here and make your dream come true.
I can play both the three and the two. I think that first of all my game is unselfish and I like to pass to make other players look good. That is the first thing that coaches look for in young guys when coming to their team. I will do my best for all of my teammates and for myself. Whatever the coach tells me I will do.
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