Giddens feels ‘blessed’

[yupitsme]

J.R. Giddens made a visit to a local sporting goods store after beginning the 2003-04 school year, his freshman year at Kansas University.

“The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey and green headband,” said Giddens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward who Thursday was tapped by the Celtics with the last pick of the first round.

“I wore that headband until it was dingy green. I wore it out completely,” Giddens added in an interview with Boston WEEI radio.

Giddens — he lasted just two years at KU before transferring to the University of New Mexico — now is a teammate of Pierce, who played three seasons at KU.

Giddens said he felt “blessed,” not just to land a guaranteed contract as a first-round pick, but that he’s now a member of Pierce’s NBA championship team.

“Everybody screamed,” Giddens said of the reaction of his former Lobos teammates, who watched the draft with him in Albuquerque, N.M. “I embraced the moment with my teammates and coaches. I prayed to God and thanked him. I can’t believe my dream came true.”

Giddens, 23, who left KU after an incident outside Moon Bar in which he suffered a deep stab wound in his right calf (he pleaded no contest to a battery charge), also was suspended from the team twice at New Mexico.

“I was a young guy, immature, and made some bad decisions. I didn’t put myself in the best positions. Now that I’m older, I feel I do a lot better in decision-making, staying on the right path. I feel I’ve overcome all those things,” said Giddens, who averaged 16.3 points on 51.5 percent shooting a year ago in earning co-Western Conference Player of the Year honors.

“They (struggles) made me the man and player I am today. I didn’t go through all those things for no reason. I feel it’s helped me build character that I have now, made me a better ballplayer.

“God does everything for a reason. The path I walked is the path God chose for me. I’ll continue to walk it with the best of my ability. I will try to represent myself with the Celtic organization with the utmost class possible.”

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said he’s not concerned about Giddens’ past. Remember, former Jayhawk Pierce also was stabbed in an incident in a Boston club during the early portion of his NBA career and has not been in trouble since. Of course Pierce did not face legal charges of any kind in that incident in which he was a victim.

the rest

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/30/giddens_feels_blessed/

[Petro]

I've been watching alot of video of this guy lately because in all honesty I havent seen him play before he got drafted by the C's.And I like what I see. Despite of what they are saying I think this guy will be Tony Allen's replacement.I see alot of similarities between the two but Giddens is probably a much better offensive player comming out of college.As far as Bill Walker is concerned Danny gambled because he can but Walker looks like a Kedrick Brown type to me.

[cordobes]

I've been watching alot of video of this guy lately because in all honesty I havent seen him play before he got drafted by the C's

Where did you find that video? Can you try to upload it or something?

JR mentions God a lot in his interviews. Does any Lobos fan know if he goes to the church regularly? Usually, when players with his past become faithful Christians that's a good sign.

[libermaniac]

“The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey and green headband,” said Giddens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward who Thursday was tapped by the Celtics with the last pick of the first round.

Huh?  I thought the first thing you are supposed to buy with your scholarship check is a) pay your tuition b) books!  This sounds like he might've let one slip, eh?  Shhhhh.

[cdif911]

“The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey and green headband,” said Giddens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward who Thursday was tapped by the Celtics with the last pick of the first round.

Huh?  I thought the first thing you are supposed to buy with your scholarship check is a) pay your tuition b) books!  This sounds like he might've let one slip, eh?  Shhhhh.

Maybe he was taking the history of basketball and that was one of the supplies he needed for the class

[nickagneta]

For all of the "character" issues J.R. is supposed to have, he is either being tremendously prepped for live interviews or is a very intelligent, well spoken young man that has gotten his stuff together because he is saying all of the right things the right ways.

He doesn't seem to be hesitating with his answers making sure he is saying just the right things. It seems all very natural and sincere. I think that's a great sign that some of his issues are indeed behind him.

I've You Tubed some video on him and if his character issues are behind him and he has his head on straight, he could be the late first round bargain of the draft.

[kozlodoev]

I've been watching alot of video of this guy lately because in all honesty I havent seen him play before he got drafted by the C's

Where did you find that video? Can you try to upload it or something?

JR mentions God a lot in his interviews. Does any Lobos fan know if he goes to the church regularly? Usually, when players with his past become faithful Christians that's a good sign.

God didn't help old Gin Baker too much.

[Big Ticket]

If I was drafted higher than anyone could've expected, nabbed the 30th and final guaranteed contract of the draft, and was headed to a team with 3 players as talented and well respected as KG-Pierce-Allen (and fresh off a championship), I'd probably feel like I was blessed as well...

[RockinRyA]

maybe what he spent was his athletic allowance.. anyway i get the same from my school. and i dont spend it for my "food etc" 

[Emmette Bryant]

Here's another Giddens article:

http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2008/06/30/News/Shipping.Off.To.Boston-3386500.shtml

[zerophase]

god... i can't imagine how he will turn out if the celtics trade him in the future. he could be the next gilbert, torching the celtics from another team.

[cordobes]

I've been watching alot of video of this guy lately because in all honesty I havent seen him play before he got drafted by the C's

Where did you find that video? Can you try to upload it or something?

JR mentions God a lot in his interviews. Does any Lobos fan know if he goes to the church regularly? Usually, when players with his past become faithful Christians that's a good sign.

God didn't help old Gin Baker too much.

hehehe

Well, not even John Lucas was able to help Vin, so I wouldn't blame God. Also, that's the reason I asked if someone knows if he goes to the church regularly, it can be BS.

I didn't mean any kind of religious prejudice, btw. It's just (limited) empirical knowledge from someone who is close to a ballclub who hires former college players (not nearly as good as Giddens, of course), many of them being guys who also had "character issues" in the past. Those who are committed Christians, born-again evangelics, etc, are usually more reliable - they come back after Christmas, don't ask for a new contract after a few good games, don't want to go back to the US because of a minor injury, they care about the community, etc. I guess that being in the NBA should be a big enough incentive but one never knows...