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**USSKittyHawk** · 08-17-2007, 10:31 AM

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Last week, several Knicks veterans got together at the Madison Square Garden Training Center for some informal workouts and scrimmages aimed at building team chemistry for the upcoming season.
This group, which included Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Stephon Marbury, David Lee and Nate Robinson, wasn't just there for a mid-summer reunion. They were already looking ahead to next season and welcoming newcomers who will be part of it. One of the players they reached out to was 2007 first-round draft pick Wilson Chandler, a 20-year-old from Benton Harbor, Mich., now just weeks away from his first NBA training camp.
"It was a good run," he said. "We played about seven or eight games and my team won three. It was a great experience getting up there and playing with the guys, especially building team chemistry. We worked out before we went on the court. Did some drills, push-ups and cardio. It was a good experience in gaining that team chemistry we're going to need. … Stephon also talked to me and showed me a few things, so I think it was a good learning experience before having to play in the real games once the season starts."
"In Summer League, I played with Renaldo (Balkman), Nate and Demetris (Nichols), so I got used to playing with all those guys. And David (Lee) practiced with us sometimes in Vegas. … I knew Summer League was going to be hard going into it, because we were playing against good players every night, but I think we did very well. We played a high-tempo game and played defense. We grinded it out when we were down and went 5-0."
"The first time he caught my eye I was actually watching a game against Kansas," recalled Knicks President, Basketball Operations and Head Coach Isiah Thomas after drafting Chandler on June 28. "I turned on the game to watch Brandon Rush and Julian Wright. DePaul upset Kansas, and I noticed this guy Chandler. The more I watched him play, the more I did the background checks and the more I liked what I kept finding out."
When Chandler came out for the 2007 NBA Draft, the Knicks invited him for a workout, and he impressed them enough to become a first-round pick at No. 23 overall.
That vote of confidence from Thomas was significant – since Thomas has an outstanding draft record that has seen him bring players like Tracy McGrady, Damon Stoudamire and last year's pick, Renaldo Balkman, into the NBA.
Being drafted by Thomas was a special thrill for Chandler, who grew up just across Lake Michigan from Thomas' hometown of Chicago and has looked up to Thomas since his days as a star in Detroit.
"I didn't expect to play in the NBA. When I was younger I always wanted to be in the NBA, but I never thought that I would actually play there," he said. "I was just a big fan, but in college I began to think I had the chance."
"Growing up, you always wanted to play in the NBA. It was everybody's dream when you watched your favorite players," said Chandler. "And then you get into college and realize you have a chance to play in the NBA. You look forward to that, and it's a dream come true. And when you make it, you can't stop. You've just got to keep working hard."
Making it to the NBA and establishing oneself as a regular in an NBA lineup are two different steps, and Chandler says that although he is used to being the center of attention, he is prepared to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to make his mark. "I want to win Rookie of the Year, but as long as we get off to a good start and are winning games, I won't be complaining about anything," he said. "Whatever the team needs me to do, I can do."

http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/chand...re_070814.html
I wish he would get ROY but he won't get the minutes to get folks to notice him. Correct me if I'm wrong but our last ROY as a Knick was Mark Jackson. ::shivers::