Postby Greenhead22 » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:36 pm
McDonald's Post-Game Interviews
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March 31, 2005
Monta Ellis
DraftCity: What are your thoughts on the possible 20 year old age requirement the NBA is considering imposing?
Monta: I don’t too much think about it because if I do decide to come out it won’t effect me anyway. And if I don’t, you know I can still go to college for one year and still come out. For the other guys who wanna come out….the NBA is not like the NFL. If you come out of high school in the NBA, you can adapt quicker to the play of the basketball game more then you can on the football field. They can’t base it on because the NFL is doing this then the NBA is trying to do it. It’s two different sports. Football is contact. Basketball is contact, but its not more contact then football. I’m not worried about it because if I go to college I’ll still come out after one year, but if I decide to go now, it won’t effect me. I just feel bad for the guys next year, they have higher for the 2006 draft to come out.
DraftCity: Now there have been reports that you are strongly considering the draft because you are ineligible to play college basketball next year. If college were to start tomorrow, would you be eligible to play college basketball?
Monta: (Laughs)….Yes I would be able to play. I have a 2.7 GPA and a 23 on my ACT. As long as me and my high school coach know how my grades are. Rumors are rumors. People are going to talk about the negative things before they talk about the positive. I can do 10 positive things right now and I one negative thing and they’re gonna talk about it. Rumors are rumors. You know? You can’t stop that.
DraftCity: Well while we’re on the subject of rumors, is there any truth to the rumor that you have already been in contact and/or signed with the agent X XXX? [blacked out for Agent/Player's sake]
Monta: No that’s not true. I haven’t signed no papers at all yet. I’ve just been going through my senior year trying to finish out my high school career and worry about what I need to worry about after my season over with.
DraftCity: Do you think you can play point guard at the next level?
Monta: I know I can play point guard. I’ve played point before. I still play point. I played point the whole season this year. So it ain’t no doubt that I can play the point. I like to come off screens, but if I have to play the 1, I can play the 1.
DraftCity: So if you can play the point, why didn’t your coach do that all game tonight?
Monta: (Laughs)….. He figured that I was a better shooter then anyone on the floor, so he put me at the two. Then when I played for the first 7 minutes and I didn’t get in for the next what 20 some minutes? He expect me to get in and do what I need to do when I’ve been sitting on the bench for 20 minutes. You know? You get stiff like that. I can play the 1. Most people have seen it this year that I can play the 1. My last 15 games, I was up to about 10 or 11 assists a game, so there ain’t no doubt that I can play the 1. I can play the 1.
DraftCity: So when are you planning on making your decision as to if you’re going to enter the draft?
Monta: About a week from now.
DraftCity: So you’re going to make your decision before the Jordan game?
Monta: Probably so.
DraftCity: Where would you have to be picked in order for you to stay in the draft?
Monta: Top 15.
DraftCity: So let me get this clear. If you aren’t projected as a top 15 pick, you will withdraw and go to Mississippi State?
Monta: Yes I would.
DraftCity: Best of luck in the Hoop Summit and Jordan Classic.
Monta: Thanks a lot.