The Phoenix Suns' two first-round picks in the NBA draft spoke a bit of English and promised to learn more as they were introduced at a news conference.
Serbian forward Zarko Cabarkapa and Brazilian point guard Leandrhino Barbosa also promised Friday to prove they belong in the NBA.
"For about two years I was getting ready for this moment," Cabarkapa said through an interpreter. "I played against many NBA players, and I know I belong in this league. I'm very confident I'm going to help this team and they are going to help me."
Cabarkapa, who stands a shade under 2.1m, was chosen with the Suns' No. 17 pick overall. Phoenix obtained Barbosa, the No. 28 pick, in a trade with San Antonio, sending the Spurs a conditional future first-round selection.
"This has been a dream of mine," Barbosa said through an interpreter. "Yesterday was the most worried day of my life, waiting and waiting and waiting and hoping to be drafted."
At the urging of Suns' president Bryan Colangelo, both offered a few words in English.
"I'm very happy to be here," Cabarkapa said. "I know I must first learn English. I must speak better."
Barbosa echoed those sentiments.
"I too am very happy," he said. "I like the Phoenix Suns and will go to work very strong, very hard."
Cabarkapa, 22, loves to run the floor and is a good 3-point shooter.
"I like to play outside," he said. "I run the floor very well. I'm very good in transition, and it's unusual for a European man to dunk like me."
He wants to model his game after that of Dallas' Dirk Nowitski.
"I believe I can develop that kind of game," Cabarkapa said. "I have to put on, I don't know, 10 or 15 pounds of muscle on my body and I can be there."
Barbosa, 20, said he wouldn't feel comfortable comparing his game to any NBA players.
"I can work very hard and I hope to enter the realm of those stars, to get to that level, but it's too hard for me to make that kind of comparison," Barbosa said.
RSS