Minnesota Timberwolves Photo
Having teammates go in the top eight picks of the NBA Draft is unusual.
Having teammates go in the top eight picks of the NBA Draft who were both freshmen is even more unusual.
Having teammates go in the top eight picks of the NBA Draft who were both freshmen and also roommates may never have happened before.
And throw in that neither one of them were starters and you have to know it has never happened before,
Yet that is exactly how it played out for Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard (third pick) and Rob Dillingham (eighth).
“It’s crazy. It just shows you a lot of things work in ways you never think because we came in and we were roommates and we were really in the same position,” Dillingham said. “We didn’t know if we were going to get past our first year. We were just playing basketball.
“Reed, my roommate, he’s a great dude. He always pushed me and he always helped me. Me seeing him and we going together, it’s just crazy to even see, and I’m thankful.”
Sheppard landed with the Houston Rockets and will have the higher salary. Dillingham, who has bought a new home for his mother and sister, is with Minnesota and despite making a lower salary is on a better team that made the Western Conference finals last season.
Dillingham is confident he can be the scorer the Timberwolves wanted and needed.
“Once I know the assignment and what my coach wants me to do, it’s not really me adjusting. It’s just me doing what he says,” Dillingham said. “I feel like anything Coach tells me to do, I can adjust to and I can make it happen. So I feel like it’s a good feel.”
One Response
Reed Sheppard is rare. Dillingham was an excellent BB partner – he was talented & willing to listen & learn. Those 2 were catalysts who rallied UK from a deficit as soon as they went in. If they started every game together. UK wins another 6 games, is a higher seed & not a typical quick exit.
I hope they both do well!
Barry Pritchett wrote about Reed & how he lived out the way his family raised him – it was summed up nicely.
Family, a high moral standard, unselfishness, helping others – it’s the America we older folks grew up in and it wonderful to see it lived out on a big stage for folks to see and hopefully follow.