Cavalier Wiggins is eager to become NBA superstar

Jim Slater 05:25 28/06/2014
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  • Flower power: Wiggins with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

    Andrew Wiggins doesn’t want to wait to become an superstar in the NBA, he plans to make a mark in his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    The Cavs dipped into the Cana­dian talent pool for the second-straight year by making shooting guard Wiggins the top pick in the draft on Thursday night.

    Wiggins’ selection comes one year after the Cavaliers took his Canadian compatriot Anthony Bennett with the first pick.

    In one of the deepest and most-hyped drafts for years, the Cavs are understood to have been drawn to Wiggins by his defensive ability.

     “A thousand thoughts are going through my head right now. It’s a dream come true,” said Wiggins. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a little kid. It doesn’t even feel real right now.

    “I’m hoping to come in and make an impact off the bat.”

    The entry draft, held at the Bar­clays Center arena which is the home of the Brooklyn Nets, is the annual selection of college players that helps NBA teams replenish their rosters.

    The Cavaliers picked number one again after winning last month’s draft lottery as a long shot.

    Wiggins, of Toronto, is the son  of ex-NBA player Mitchell Wig­gins and former Canadian Olympic sprinter Marita Payne.

    He added: “I always wanted to be the number one pick, but I knew come draft night you never know what to expect.

    “It is a great thing for Canada. Now we have two back-to-back. It opens so many doors for all kids in Canada.”

    American forward Jabari Parker went to the Milwaukee Bucks with the number two pick, while the Philadelphia 76ers took Cameroon centre Joel Embiid third overall.

    Orlando took power forward Aaron Gordon at number four and Utah selected Australian shooting guard Dante Exum fifth.

    The Sacramento Kings also took Canadian guard Nik Staus­kas eighth overall, with four of the top eight picks being international players. Phoenix selected guard Tyler Ennis, of Toronto, with the 18th overall pick.

    Exum, who will turn 19 next month, is not as well known as some of the other prospects because he decided to skip going to a US college and enter the draft.

    “I am just a kid from Melbourne,” said Exum, who had the Australian flag sewn into the lining of his suit. “I just got drafted, so I guess I am not a mystery any more.”

    Parker, 19, scored 19.1 points and grabbed 8.7 rebounds per game for Duke University and said he thinks he can contribute right away for a young Bucks team. “I feel like I’m going to be able to grow with that organisation and I’m trying to be a throwback player, only stick with one team,” said Parker.

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