TWENTY-SIX years ago, a young post player named Bob Nash was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA draft. A.C. expected to join
UH’s first-round clubHe was the seventh player taken that season. It marked the first time a University of Hawaii basketball player had been chosen in the first round.
Two years later, the Atlanta Hawks chose Tom Henderson in the first round.
The next year, Jimmie Baker went in the first round of the ABA draft, picked by the Kentucky Colonels.
Those were high times for Rainbow basketball. Three first-round draft choices in four years and a handful of other players taken further down the line.
Next month in Vancouver, British Columbia, Anthony Carter is likely to join Nash, Henderson and Baker as a first-rounder.
And if the track record of Carter's agent, Bill Duffy, is any indication, we'll be watching A.C. in the playoffs about this time next year.
Duffy's client list includes Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics, Terrell Brandon of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns.
Three quality point guards, all playing for quality organizations. Duffy said he believes Carter is a quality player who will adjust well to life in the NBA.
"I always look in the long term," Duffy said about Carter's prospects. "A.C., to me, is going to be an NBA player. I think he'll be fine over time. He's a hard worker. The type of guy you want to be around."
Duffy said he believes Carter will be drafted "in the 20s" of the first round.
That's likely to be good news for Carter, Duffy said.
"Those teams are a little better and maybe he'll be able to play behind a veteran point guard and take his time."
Duffy said teams he has talked to love Carter's athleticism, tenacity and strength. There is some concern, however, over A.C.'s turnover rate.
"Over the course of the year, A.C. has been spectacular," Duffy said. "With a point guard, (teams) just want to make sure they're protecting the ball. He's regarded as one of the top five point guards."
Rainbow basketball coach Riley Wallace, who recruited Duffy to play for UH -- albeit unsuccessfully -- said part of the concern might be traced to a "tight" first game at the Desert Classic tryout camp in Phoenix.
"A.C. didn't have a good first game," Wallace said. "He was trying to thread the needle and had too many turnovers.
"The second night he loosened up a little bit and had 10 assists."
Carter's team won the camp's tournament.
"For his sake," Wallace said, "he's such a nice kid, you just hope he makes it."
The money would be pretty nice, too. First-round picks are guaranteed a certain amount, depending on their draft position. The last pick (29th) will average slightly less than $600,000 a year for three years.
That's the way it stands now. But that probably will change July 1.
Duffy, who serves on the agents advisory committee, said owners will lock the players out that day and open negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
He predicts an extended battle over a number of issues, including the terms of rookie contracts.
Stay tuned.
I'll bet Larry Bird's selection as NBA coach of the year was the best message that could have been sent from a player's perspective.
Bird's style is to make sure his players know what he expects, teach them the proper way to execute his plan, trust them, and then get the heck out of the way and let them work.
That has to be a refreshing break. There are too many coaches who somehow think fans pay to watch them hoot and holler and strut around in designer suits.
