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Andrew Nicholson’s magical draft moment
Those who had labelled Andrew Nicholson as awkward or unenthusiastic after interviews at the NBA Draft combine just a few weeks ago, couldn't deny the 22-year-olds authentic passion Thursday night.
He wasn't live at the draft like some of the other top-eligible draftees, but he and his family had a private room at Toronto's downtown Real Sports Bar where they took in all the action on a television screen.
And perhaps it worked out better that way. With the 19th pick in the draft the Orlando Magic selected the 6-foot-9 power forward out of St. Bonaventure and rather than simply standing up out of his seat, throwing on the Magic hat and exchanging a few hugs with family members — what seems to be the customary routine — upon hearing his name called Nicholson threw himself out of his seat, tilted his head towards the ceiling and let out a scream of excitement that resembled something out of Kevin Garnett's play book minus the "anything is possible!"
Nicholson, of Mississauga, averaged 18.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with the Bonnies last season, was the top Canadian prospect heading into the 2012 Draft and one of just three players born outside the United States drafted in the first round.
He told the National Post shortly after being selected by the Magic:
"It's very exciting. It's something that I have worked hard for, for so long … I thought that I was going to Orlando," he said. "I had a good workout [with the Magic] … they showed a lot of interest in me."
While he was the top Canadian selected Thursday, Nicholson wasn't the only player born north of the border. Montreal-native Kris Joseph, a 6-foot-7 small forward out of Syracuse was taken 51st overall and Vancouver-born Robert Sacre, a seven-foot centre out of Gonzaga was drafted 60th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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In many ways it was Nicholson's play on the court that led St. Bonaventure— the team with the smallest budget in the Atlantic 10 conference — to the well-documented NCAA Tournament in March for the first time in more than a decade. Though St. Bonaventure, a No. 14 seed, didn't pull off one the many upsets of the 2012 tournament — they fell in the first round to the Florida Seminoles, a No.3 seed — they came awfully close, leading for much of the game and losing by just three, 66-63. Nicholson scored 20 points and showcased himself on the biggest stage.
But the past is the past and for Nicholson, Thursday was about looking ahead to the future and a career in the NBA.
"The journey is just beginning," he told reporters yesterday after being selected. "The Magic is a good team. I feel great."
