Quote:
Jonathan Givony: Hey Josh, how are you? Where are you at right now?
Josh Smith: Good. I’m in Houston.
Givony: So you graduated from high school on Saturday, right? What are your plans for the next month?
Josh Smith: Yeah, on Saturday. I’m going to workout hard and then whoever wants me to come in and workout, I’ll meet them and that’s what I’ll do.
Givony: So you guys are probably going to wait until tonight (lottery night) to figure whom to work out for, but are you going to work out for teams that aren’t in the lottery also?
Smith: We haven’t decided yet.
Givony: I know a lot of players that have been working out in private gyms and with individual coaches for the past two months getting ready. Do you feel like you are a little bit behind in the way you’ve prepared yourself for the draft so far?
Smith: No, I don’t because at school (Oak Hill) I was probably working as hard as those other guys were. I had a basic idea of what an NBA workout is like, and I did that at school with one of my coaches there. Now I’m up here in Houston working out so I really think that I’m at the same place that they are.
Givony: To many basketball fans that aren’t draft fanatics, you are kind of an unknown, why should they hope that their teams draft you next month?
Smith: Well, I bring leadership to the table and a positive attitude about things. Most people don’t have the same heart that I do. I love the game of basketball and I just play hard, and I really don’t worry about what other people say about me.
Givony: Josh, going from high school straight to the pros man, you are going to be playing against grown men, some of whom may have it out for you a little at first until you gain their respect. Do you see this as possibly being a humbling experience?
Smith: Yes, I believe it will be humbling, but I’m not going to back down from anybody. I’m trying to make a name for myself.
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It's a pretty nice read, sounds like Josh Smith is a very confident person who has a solid head on his shoulders and wants to prove that he's a quality player, and is willing to work on becoming a better player.
A thing that wasn't mentioned in the interview, that I think is the biggest factor is that he's been working out with John Lucas in Houston recently. I read an article that stated he was working on his perimeter game with Damon Stoudamire and Cuttino Mobley in the Lucas practices. I have to say, with a kid like this, I don't know if there's anyone better to work him out then Lucas.
Going off on a tangent, I love how Lucas is actually working for the betterment of the game by working with younger players, not just for the draft, but some prior to them going into college as well. It's simply amazing.
Josh Smith - Draftcity interview..
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