Another View of Brandon Roy

by Ben Golliver on Sep 28, 2009 5:14 PM PDT in News

My favorite exchange from Media Day this afternoon came from one of the other Blazers rookies, Dante Cunningham.

Over the course of this summer, I've written a lot about what's next for Brandon Roy, in terms of improving his game and taking the next steps to becoming a truly elite NBA player. Although it's good to look ahead I certainly don't mean to look past what Brandon has already become. Media Day is a great reminder of this: not only are the crowds the largest and most eager for Brandon, his charisma just radiates in a way nobody else on the team can hope to match.

It's the superstar thing. He's got it.

Watching the room empty out a little bit as some of the rookies came out, it struck me: Brandon Roy is by far the best player and biggest star these guys have ever played with. Walking into a gym and choosing up sides during off-season pick-up games with a player of Brandon Roy's stature seems like it would be intimidating.

Dante was one of many Blazers to show up early at the Practice Facility and participate in scrimmages this year. I asked him to size up Brandon's game, which he has been experiencing up close and personal for the first time. Dante was, not surprisingly, impressed...

His speed is different. It's not necessarily a blinding speed.

[And] it's not necessarily just strong and moving everybody out of the way.

He's just so fundamentally sound in how he gets around you and how he moves his body. It's amazing to watch.

Game aside, it's clear Roy quickly left a much bigger impression on Dante.

For somebody that just signed the contract that he signed, he's very humble. I love that about him. He's not all 'I'm the King,' he's very 'hey, how you doin'?' He's very approachable.

I remember the first time I met him I came out on the plane. Me and my father walked in the gym and he was in the middle of his workout. He stopped his workout, came over and shook me and my mother's hand and said, 'hey, come with me tomorrow and work out.' He offered immediately for me to work out with him.

That was tremendous right there.

I asked Dante what that exchange meant to him, now that he's had a few weeks to digest it.

That's a player, that's a team player. That's somebody that I want to go to battle with.

Today, Cunningham also joked about having his shot rejected repeatedly by Greg Oden. But I got the sense from the awe in his voice that this meetup in an empty gym -- no cameras around to capture it, just a quiet respect between two players -- was Dante's true "Welcome to the NBA" moment.

Could you ask for a better one?

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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Comments

brings tears to my eyes

Trade for Luis Amundson!!Do it KP!!

by CroRupt on Sep 28, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

We couldn’t have a better leader than Brandon Roy.

by bustabucket on Sep 28, 2009 5:23 PM PDT reply actions

Best evidence for this statement

“That’s somebody that I want to go to battle with. "

If you want to find a leader, just look to see who others are following.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Sep 28, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

agreed, love to hear that from your teammates

by bustabucket on Sep 28, 2009 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions

The USMC NCO Manual definition of leadership

The ability to obtain the cooperation,loyalty and willing obedience of your people to get it done

by southern oregon on Sep 28, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions

rec

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Sep 29, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I was thinking the same thing.

Roy has a quality to him where he could pretty much get anyone to roll with him no matter what. When a guy works that hard and is that good you just follow, period.

by ArbyOSU on Sep 29, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

He's the perfect

Blazer, plain and simple.

"I'm a man, but I can change.....if I have to......I guess." - Red Green

by antediluvian on Sep 28, 2009 5:24 PM PDT reply actions

That is all nice and well, but did Dante actually go and work out with Brandon the next day is what we need to know :-)

"I think he can still play" - Kevin Pritchard on Juwan Howard

by Norsktroll on Sep 28, 2009 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Brandon denies it.

Dante Gate

"Goals are good. Plans are better." -Ben.

by Sabonis4Ever on Sep 28, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Selfish.

Paladins are awesome!

"What I'm not looking for is, uh, some big overgrown monster that's always thinkin' about food."

by Starvin' Marvin on Sep 28, 2009 5:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec

Another article about another player and all we hear is Brandon Brandon Brandon

Has the season started yet?

by SabasforThree on Sep 28, 2009 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Brandon is so deceptively quick

I’ve watched numerous clips of Brandon’s best plays, and he almost always starts lazily moving towards the basket, then puts on a burst of speed that blows by his defenders. He just looks so casual about the whole thing.

by Bib Fortuna on Sep 28, 2009 5:40 PM PDT reply actions

Or he makes a couple of feeler moves

Then slows and allows the defender to reset and relax just a little, right before he drives by him. It really is a joy to watch.

It wasn't the first time I'd been kicked in the cherries and called a rat by a woman, but it was the first time I didn't mind.

by shenanigans on Sep 28, 2009 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions

It's the same sort of genius

As watching Jamie Moyer (in his prime) pitch the change-up.

by DonkeyShins on Sep 29, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Brandon

Is the perfect player to lead this time at this time, period.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Sep 28, 2009 5:43 PM PDT reply actions

BRoy andDC

BRoy never ceases toamaze me at what a great guy he is.He is nothing but real.I also like DC ,I think he’s smart ,physical and great with the pick and pop.Which is king in the NBA.I think he will see time at the 4,not only on ability ,but on bball IQ.How can we not have a great culture with Brandon Roy as our leader BLAZERSROCK

by DowntownVinnie on Sep 28, 2009 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

That is indeed a cool story--I loved reading it

Now take a moment to think about all the NBA stars who WOULDN’T react that way to a rookie showing up for his first workout. What are they interested in? Clearly not winning.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Sep 28, 2009 5:52 PM PDT reply actions

He and his father walked into the gym. And Brandon shook his mother's hand?

Wow, Brandon Roy does have a different speed.

*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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by staylost on Sep 28, 2009 6:00 PM PDT reply actions

He gave her a wink too

"Goals are good. Plans are better." -Ben.

by Sabonis4Ever on Sep 28, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Nic would have kissed her on the cheek

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Sep 29, 2009 1:28 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't even want to know

What Rudy might have done.

by DonkeyShins on Sep 29, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Naturally

he would have shook both her breasts, and she would have thanked him for it. That guy is my personal hero.

by ZigTic on Oct 1, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions

lol i think he meant to say his family rather than his father.

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben Golliver on Sep 28, 2009 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Ha, was thinking the same thing.

Brandon Roy is so fast that when you introduce him to your dad, he’s already shaking your mom’s hand.

by ArbyOSU on Sep 29, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

That's ok about the blocked shots, Dante

Greg was doing that in the Team USA camp to established players/borderline stars.

Chris Dudley for three!

by wilbjammin on Sep 28, 2009 6:22 PM PDT reply actions

Love what I'm hearing.

I watched a bit of the DC interview, and I loved everything I heard from him. He has a nice sense of humor, and seems to be a very personable guy. I could honestly see he and Greg getting along very well, and maybe even developing into what Greg had in Mike Conley at Ohio St./High School. Because I think that Greg needs a guy his age to motivate him, for him to succeed, then from there he’ll blossom on his own. He just needs to realize he can succeed, then he’ll strive to dominate.

by Jeremiah S on Sep 28, 2009 8:01 PM PDT reply actions

I went to the malls and I balled too hard
'Oh my god, is that a Black Card?'
I turned around and replied, why yes but I prefer the term
African American Express

by Claire on Sep 29, 2009 1:28 PM PDT reply actions