Charles Jenkins couldn’t stop smiling.
The rookie guard from Hofstra, who fell to the Warriors in the
second round of Thursday’s draft, was just happy to be drafted
after so many teams, including Golden State, didn’t invite him to a
pre-draft workout.
By Marcus Thompson II – The Oakland Tribune
OAKLAND, Calif. – Charles Jenkins couldn’t stop smiling.
The rookie guard from Hofstra, who fell to the Warriors in the second round of Thursday’s draft, was just happy to be drafted after so many teams, including Golden State, didn’t invite him to a pre-draft workout.
“From my end, I looked at it like no one wanted me,” said Jenkins, listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. “I’m motivated tremendously. I know there are so many people who want this opportunity I have. I’m also motivated knowing that teams overlooked me.”
The Warriors introduced their three draft picks – swingman Klay Thompson (No. 11 overall), big man Jeremy Tyler (No. 39) and Jenkins (No. 44) – on Monday at their downtown Oakland facility.
The three are bonded by more than their rookie status. Each enters the league with something to prove.
They also all share offensive promise. Thompson is a lights-out shooter with enough skills to even run the point for stretches. Tyler, who goes 6-foot-10, 260 pounds, is regarded as a gifted athlete with the tools to be a good low-post scorer. And Jenkins, who averaged 22.6 points on 51.7 percent shooting last season, is best described as a scoring guard.
Golden State is hoping their offensive skills will improve a bench that last season often lacked energy and was usually impotent.
“We’ve got three kids who are going to have an opportunity to prove their worth,” coach Mark Jackson said. “Each one of them has a chip on their shoulder where they feel slighted and feel like they have something to prove. When you have talent and hunger, you can go anywhere you want.”
Jackson said all three will have a chance to earn minutes right away. That’s definitely good news for Thompson, who said he’s on a mission for respect. It wasn’t until the draft workout process that Thompson received national notoriety, when Jerry West, now an executive board member for the Warriors, put a stamp of approval on him. At Washington State, Thompson was scarcely mentioned among college basketball’s elite even while ranking in the top 10 in the nation in scoring
“I was overlooked in high school,” Thompson said. “I was overlooked in college being in Pullman (Wash.). I’ll be overlooked when I step into the league at first. I think it’s an advantage for me. . . . Still, being a lottery pick, I’m very grateful, especially coming here. But, oh yeah, I feel like I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. . . .I’ll keep that in mind every time I step on the court.”
Tyler, officially drafted by Charlotte and sent to the Warriors for cash as part of a prearranged deal, arguably has the most to prove. As a high school junior, he was ranked No. 1 in his class by Rivals.com over the likes of Jared Sullinger (now at Ohio State) and Harrison Barnes (North Carolina).
Tyler went off the radar when he decided to skip his senior year of high school and play pro ball overseas. After unimpressive stints in Israel and Tokyo, Tyler was written off by many.
“Every pick that got past me made me more and more hungry,” Tyler said. “That’s going to be my drive. And that I’m here.”Tyler stared down at the home Warriors jersey in his hands, and clenched even tighter.
“This is what I’ve been working on, to get this my whole life. Now I can’t lose it.”
– Tuesday the Warriors will announce the purchase of the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, according to team sources.
As owners, the Warriors will assume the business and basketball operations of the D-League franchise. The hope, one source said, is to move the D-League team to Northern California, probably San Jose. That isn’t expected to happen right away, another source said, and the Wizards will stay in North Dakota for at least another year. The Warriors’ previous D-League affiliation was the Reno Bighorns, which they shared with the Sacramento Kings. Golden State will be the fourth team to own a D-League squad. The San Antonio Spurs own the Austin Toros. The Los Angeles Lakers on the L.A. D-Fenders. The Oklahoma City Thunder own the Tulsa 66ers
n The Warriors will have a new name on the business side of the front office, as owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber continue to restructure the franchise. According to multiple team sources, the Warriors will hire financial executive Marty Glick as the franchise’s chief financial officer.
