[外電] Okogie comes from unheralded recruit to first-round pick

看板Timberwolves (明尼蘇達灰狼)作者jinshenn (Don't panic)時間7年前 (2018/06/24 00:46)推噓7(7推 0噓 4→)

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https://tinyurl.com/ycadp9lp Asked months ago by Georgia Tech’s in-house media to compare his game to that of an NBA player, Josh Okogie came up with one with which Timberwolves fans are familiar. 幾個月前，當被問到打法和哪一位NBA球員相似，Josh Okogie 給了一個灰狼隊球迷熟悉的答案。 “Somebody like Jimmy Butler,” Okogie said. “Some guys who take pride on both ends of the floor as far as being an offensive threat, but not only just playing offense, but also being able to guard, rebound, push the ball, defend the other team’s best player, so I like to put myself in a guy’s shoes like that.” 「類似於 Jimmy Butler。」Okogie 說道。「有能力在攻守兩端做出貢獻，不僅如此，籃板、帶球推進，和肩負看管對方陣中最佳球員的工作，所以我期望成為這樣的球員。」 While nobody is guaranteeing Okogie will play to the level of Jimmy Butler in the NBA, Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau agreed there are similarities between Minnesota’s first-round draft selection and its All-NBA guard. Okogie 未來能否成長到 Butler 的境界，沒人能保證，不過 Tom Thibodeau 同意這兩位有多個共通點。 “I think the strength … the power and the speed,” Thibodeau said of Okogie, a 6-foot-4 guard who played two seasons at Georgia Tech. “He’s a terrific athlete, and I think that fits us well.” 「打球的能量上...那種力量和速度。」Thibodeau 談到這名6尺4吋後衛說道。「他是名優秀運動員，非常符合我們需求。」 The similarities go beyond measurables. Butler was hardly recruited out of high school and went to junior college before earning a scholarship to Marquette. He was the 30th and final pick of the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. 相似點不僅發生在可量化的數值上。Butler 當年高中畢業後，幾乎沒有得到大學招募。取得馬奎特大學獎學金前，還在專科學校就讀。最終在2011年選秀會的首輪最末位中選，前進NBA。 Okogie, too, was an unheralded prospect out of high school. Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said Okogie didn’t always start on his AAU team, and at three stars he was the lowest-rated recruit entering the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2016. 同樣的，Okogie 高中畢業時也是默默無聞。喬治亞理工總教練 Josh Pastner 回憶道， Okogie 在 AAU 打球並不是固定先發。在2016年進入ACC聯盟時，也是評價最低的招募。 “Two years later, he’s the 20th pick in the draft,” Pastner said. “Who would ’ve thought that? I don’t think anyone saw that coming.” 「但在兩年後，以首輪第20順位進入NBA。」Pastner 說道。「誰能預料到？我想沒人會預期這將發生。」 That’s not to say there weren’t signs. From the moment Okogie stepped onto Georgia Tech’s campus, Pastner said, it was evident he had a chance to be “a halfway decent player.” 但一切有跡可循。從 Okogie 踏進大學那一刻，Pastner 就看出他有機會成為優秀球員。 “I said by the time he was a junior he was going to be an All-ACC guy,” the coach added. 「我曾說過他在大三這年，將入選ACC聯盟年度最佳隊伍。」Pastner補充道。 Okogie earned those honors a year ahead of schedule. In his time at Georgia Tech, his coach said, the guard improved his 3-point shot — to the tune of 38 percent last season — and became a good on-ball defender capable of getting around screens. Okogie 比預期早了一年獲得此殊榮。大學期間，這名後衛不斷精進三分投射，上一季命中率進步到38%，也成為善於繞過對手掩護，針對持球員的良好防守者。 “The guy has a tremendous work ethic. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, he plays with an edge,” Pastner said. “He has zero sense of entitlement, and he’ s just an extremely high-character man. He’s eternally driven.” 「他擁有極佳工作態度，不滿足於現狀。」Pastner 說道。「沒有優越感，保持高度正向態度，且擁有上進心。」 Thibodeau noted that sometimes highly ranked players don’t develop at the rate they’re projected. That’s why he said the Wolves look for characteristics that “allow them to develop.” He listed those characteristics as intelligence and drive. Okogie made the dean’s list at Georgia Tech. Thibodeau 點出有時選秀大物的成長不如預期，因此灰狼隊在尋找擁有某些個人特質的新秀，其中包含智慧和動力，能讓他們持續成長。 In talking to NBA teams after the college season, Pastner said draft projections for Okogie ranged from late first round to undrafted. But the fact the guard shot up draft boards during and after the NBA Combine was no surprise to his college coach. 大學賽季結束後，與NBA各隊對話，Pastner 了解 Okogie 的選秀落點在首輪末段到落選。不過這名後衛身價在選訓營過後水漲船高，此事並不令他的大學教練意外。 “I knew when people … got more up close with him, he was just going to skyrocket,” Pastner said. 「當各隊越了解他，將對他的身價越有利。」Pastner 說道。 Because Okogie is someone Pastner said will be great for a team’s culture. 因為 Okogie 將帶給球隊文化正面影響。 “There’s probably not enough newspaper to give you every example (of that),” Pastner said, “but just a general base, the guy is just a winner and he’s tough and he’s high character.” 「或許是他並不受到足夠外界注目。」Pastner 說道。「大致來說，他是位贏家。」 Here’s good news for Thibodeau: Pastner has first-hand knowledge that Okogie can be coached hard. 另一個對 Thibodeau 的好消息：Okogie 承受得了教練嚴格。 “I coached him hard. I mean, I was hard on him,” Pastner said. “Coach Thibodeau can be hard on Josh. He never has to walk on eggshells with this kid, and I think that’s a real joy as a head coach.” 「我對他很嚴格，甚至有些嚴苛。」Pastner 說道。「Thibodeau 教練對這孩子可以不用太過戰戰兢兢，徹底感受擔任教練的樂趣。」 Pastner noted that, age-wise, the 19-year-old Okogie should only be heading into his sophomore year of college. He said Okogie is an explosive athlete who has youth, arm length, a hard-nosed attitude and a “tremendous motor” working for him. The coach is confident Okogie’s skills will translate well to the pro level. Pastner 也提到已完成大二學業的 Okogie 較同梯年輕。體能、臂展、決心和高度上進心，他的教練有信心 Okogie 的球技將能順利轉換到職業層級。 “He’ll find a way to get it done,” Pastner said, “because he just finds a way to be successful.” 「他將找到方式做到。」Pastner 最後說。「因為他能找到成功之道。」 --- 大學教練強力推薦：小JB/烏骨雞。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 36.229.186.105 ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Timberwolves/M.1529772411.A.CED.html