Derrick Williams - Rubio attention

[shrink]

ESPN 1500 had an interesting question this morning. Since Minnesota has already embraced Ricky Rubio, they asked - who was the last guy that MIN was so enthusiastic about before he'd even played a single game?

Tough question, but it made me notice one thing. If Rubio wasn't here, that person may have been Derrick Williams! Williams is the highest draft pick MIN has had in it's history (2), and many think he's the most likely player to win the Rookie of the Year award this year.

Do you think it's possible Williams is a little miffed that there isn't Derrick-Williams-mania?

[Gunny]

I think the spotlight is on both of them, but we've been waiting two years for Rubio and in that time, the team has faced constant criticism for the pick and loads of pressure from the media. Ricky doing well will silence all of them.

I'd say I was a little more excited to see Ricky since I was a fan of his even before the Wolves drafted him, but that's not to take anything away from Williams. A few years from now, people will be talking about the 2011 Draft as the "Derrick Williams Draft."

[Swish4]

They're both very charismatic kids and should do wonders for marketing this team. All in all I'm glad Ricky is deflecting some of the attention from Derrick and I think Derrick is too. Ricky can handle it, he's used to it as a pro and it allows Derrick a llittle room to breathe and grow.

[C.lupus]

Agree with Gunny. People have just been waiting for Rubio for so long and the kid has been hyped since he was 14. Williams seems to get more media mentions than Kyrie Irving, though, so I think he's fine. We just happen to have the two best rookies this year.

Williams is going to be really really good in a couple years.

[B Calrissian]

I don't think Williams is jealous or anything but I think he will use the Rubio hype and coming off the bench as motivation to get better.

[Fire Mchale]

I would tend to agree that splitting the pressure is a best-case scenario for Rubio and Williams. I personally have been so interested in watching Rubio in an NBA environment that the addition of Williams is just icing on the cake. Add in a little Kevin Love and Michael Beasley contract drama and you have a perfect storm of stories.

[cpfsf]

You'd think Rubio is the teams savior with the amount of attention he receives.

[shrink]

You'd think Rubio is the teams savior with the amount of attention he receives.

Agreed. If Rubio wan't here, a lot of this attention would be on Williams.

You know who else that I think might be affected by all the attention that Rubio is getting? Beasley.

It seemed like whenever I saw a post-game interview with Kevin Love, Beasley was always injecting himself.

Some guys just like the spotlight, and that's one of the things that drives them to become NBA stars. Love doesn't seem like that to me - he has other motivations - but Beasley does.

[Esohny]

Love seems to realize that oftentimes, less is more. Beasley clearly doesn't get that.

[PeeDee]

If anything, Williams is going to use this as another way to get better. He seems to relish being "under the radar".

He was not heavily recruited as a high schooler. He was not very heralded as a college freshman. He was considered the default #2 pick in a draft that was widely considered to be the weakest in ages. And he was picked after a player that was injured almost the entire year.

I think the attention RR is getting is likely going to be even more motivation for DDub to get better and better. Lucky for us

[Klomp]

From JZ chat

Do the players seems accepting of Rubio. Any jealousy issues when he gets all the spotlight?

Jerry Zgoda:
I don't sense any of that. I think Derrick Williams actually likes coming in as the No. 2 pick and nobody's really talking about him. I think these guys know Ricky's going to help them in 2 ways: 1. Win. 2. And make each of them more money if they do. I also think they like Ricky. He seems fairly humble for all the hype...

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/135670278.html

[john2jer]

Rubio and Williams both come across as pretty humble guys. I don't get a sense of ego from Williams.

[Devilzsidewalk]

for the preseason game it sounded like both got equal ovations when they checked in which surprised me

[lobishome]

Absolutely NO

Ricky would be happy if dwill win the ROY. He hasn't this kind of problems. But this isn't the best part, the best part is the Timberwolves can keep these two guys along SIX years, and if those two guys can have a special connections, we are going to enjoy a lot

EDIT. I want to say Ricky is the best supporter for Dwll win the ROY. Trust me.

[koko]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB4qB8mZLQ4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl7jD_LLda4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8pTBjhIr40[/youtube]

[Dual]

thx for sharing koko, there is something special with this team, you can see it, right there

[Peezo]

Thanks for sharing Koko?

I saw Martell was out there, what was he doing? I thought he was down for months?

[Yes We Kahn]

Thanks for sharing Koko?

I saw Martell was out there, what was he doing? I thought he was down for months?

I'm assuming he is just no contact for a while. I've seen him shooting at practice on those vids.

[Saltine]

Webster should be playing in around 4 weeks, same with Miller from what Kahn said yesterday.

[cpfsf]

Webster should be playing in around 4 weeks, same with Miller from what Kahn said yesterday.

That's actually a lot of missed games.