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**cpawfan** · 04-17-2007, 09:30 AM

Arron Afflalo is a 6 foot 5 inch, 215 pound wing player. He just completed his Junior season at UCLA where he averaged 16.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 1.9 APG. He shot 46.1% from the field and 37.5% from 3. His TS was 59% and his eFG was 56%.

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He is often compared to Raja Bell as he is a good defender and an above average jump shooter. His first step won't get him by many defenders in the NBA and his ball handling needs to improve to play major minutes at the 2.

**cpawfan** · 04-17-2007, 09:37 AM

DE conducted an interview with Arron. Remember, he put his name in the draft last year, so by putting his name in this year, he can't go back to school. Here are some highlights.

http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2001

Quote:

Jonathan Givony: Are you still in school? What’s the situation there?

Arron Afflalo: No. I had to withdraw from school. I’m about nine or ten classes away from graduation. So I will be completing that over the next year.

Jonathan Givony: How difficult of a decision was it for you to put your name in the draft again, and leave UCLA?

Arron Afflalo: It was a tough decision in itself because of my loyalty to the school and some different things, and it always is when you leave school early. It was for my personal growth, my personal happiness, and where I think I should be developing as a basketball player.

Jonathan Givony: I don’t think anyone can question your decision this year, but what I’m curious about is what was the deciding factor in declaring for the draft last year?

Arron Afflalo: Competitive spirit. I knew there were some different things that I was capable of. You don’t always get to show what’s in your school, and what you did in the context of your team, because you play for different things. You play to win and that’s what is most important. Sometimes the individual game gets sacrificed a little bit, and it was just strictly competitive for me. But at my school I knew where I needed to be. I needed to be in school and develop, and it’s different this year.

Jonathan Givony: Considering that you don’t have a chance to test the waters, that you’re in for good, do you think to yourself that maybe you shouldn’t have entered the draft last year, that maybe it was a mistake?

Arron Afflalo: No, not at all. It was a process I’m glad I went through, I needed to go through, and this is where I need to be at this time right now.

Jonathan Givony: What did entering the draft last year entail? What kind of stuff did you get to experience while doing that?

Arron Afflalo: I just got a first hand look at the process and I got some honest feedback from those that make the decisions. I got to compete against guys I thought that I could compete against. You know, a lot of first round guys and some others. I did okay. It was a good process for me to go through. I got to meet some different people and got some different exposure.

Quote:

Jonathan Givony: Give me a little self-evaluation for a scouting service. I always like to ask the players what is your own scouting report on yourself? Tell me what you think your strengths and your weaknesses are right now.

Arron Afflalo: Obviously I have a lot to work on. I know myself better than anyone else and I know what I’m capable of. I truly believe that my creative ability is not a weakness of mine.

Jonathan Givony: If I’m a GM what’s the main reason why I should draft you? What can you do for my team? Talk about your strengths.

Arron Afflalo: Obviously shooting the ball, shooting when I’m comfortable. I’m a consistent shooter, not too streaky. I can defend. I think my biggest strength is my mental game. I really see the game different. I approach the game a different way. I understand how to be a leader, how to affect the game even before it takes place. I think that’s rare. It’s how I’m able to lead my team to victories because I’m able to do some different things, mentally, the way I see the game and play the game.

Jonathan Givony: What do you think playing in two consecutive final fours, and being on a top 5 team in the country two years in a row, what does that experience, what does that tell an NBA person about you, considering you were the best player on that team. What does that help you bring to the table, as far as the NBA is concerned?

Arron Afflalo: The winning mentality and the willingness to play with other players. Being a leader and understanding the importance of that as opposed to my individuality. It’s tough sometimes with that type of pressure when you’re on top, especially coming off of last year’s run. We had a small bulls-eye on our chest, somewhat like Florida did. You have to go out and compete every night and it has to do with your work ethic and how you get along with your teammates.

Jonathan Givony: Three years from now, what kind of role do you envision yourself playing in the NBA? What kind of player are you going to be?

Arron Afflalo: I’m trying to be as modest as possible. I work very hard. I hate to say where I’ll be without ever accomplishing it beforehand. I’m going to make moves and I’m going to move up the ladder and it’s going to come strictly through work ethic and the way I play my game. I don’t want to say I’ll be a starter or an all star or whatever it may be. That’s what I expect of myself.

Quote:

Jonathan Givony: Just an honest take on my side, I think when people talk about upside, the first thing they think about is freakish athleticism. They say, how polished is this kid’s skills and how much room does he have left to continue to improve? What have you not been able to show that we haven’t seen in that regard?

Arron Afflalo: My creative ability to get my own shot and take over a game, regardless of vertical leap. Again, as I was trying to explain, a lot of that is habit. I’m not as un-athletic as people may think, and that’s part of the way I play the game. I can run, I can jump, I can do some different things. It’s not permitted in the sense of how we were playing as a team. That’s not the position I was put in to be that type of player. That doesn’t mean I don’t have those qualities and I think they’ll see that soon.

**RebelSun** · 04-17-2007, 02:28 PM

I would've liked to have seen him come back with that loaded Bruins roster and have a great chance at winning the championship, but I can understand him going. I could see Detroit or Utah (seems like a Sloan type of SG) taking him at the end of the 1st.

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