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Transcript of Matt Freije’s Post-NBA Draft News Conference 6/25/2004
Transcript of Matt Freije’s Post-NBA Draft News Conference Matt Freije met with Nashville-area media late Thursday night following his second-round selection to Miami in the 2004 NBA Draft. Following is a transcript from his news conference at Memorial Gymnasium. Opening comment:”It was a long night, a little of nerve-wracking. It feels good to be drafted. It’s a big relief. I’m happy Miami picked me. It seems my workout with them was one of my better workouts with any team. I worked out with them twice.”It’s good to be recognized and to get picked. It was a little later than we had hoped, but it’s still a dream come true and I’m happy to be picked.” How he might fit in at Miami:”One of the things that they had trouble with last year in the playoffs was outside shooting. Hopefully, I can go in there and show them that I can do that and earn a roster spot on their team.”I’m not expecting to go in there and put up ridiculous numbers my rookie season. But if I can get an opportunity to play and just have a chance to help the team in some way than that’s what I’d really like to do.” If he’s had the opportunity to meet the Miami Heat players:”I haven’t really been able to meet (Miami’s team). I’ve met Dwyane Wade and Caron Butler when I was down there when I briefly worked out down there. They seem to be great guys. They have a real young team, a great nucleus of young players. Hopefully, I can contribute.” On if playing in the NBA would be his greatest athletic accomplishment:”I’ve always wanted to play in the NBA, but my biggest dream has always been to play in the NCAA Tournament. Second would be to be on an NBA team. I’ve always dreamed about (playing the NBA), don’t get me wrong – it’s a huge accomplishment for me. But making the NCAA Tournament is still going to be the greatest thing I ever was able to accomplish no matter what I do.” On playing in the NBA:”It’s real competitive. There are a lot better athletes from top to bottom. You just have to find your niche, I’ve been told, and show that you have one thing you can do that separates yourself from everybody else. That one thing that I have the potential of doing is shooting. I have to go into the summer leagues and really shoot the ball well.” On if being drafted in the NBA will help continue to build Vanderbilt’s basketball program:”I think it will help. Myself and the rest of the seniors were trying to leave a legacy here at Vanderbilt. I think we were able to do that along with the guys that are going to play this coming year. Hopefully, they are going to be able to keep building and building. Hopefully, we’re going to be able move from a team that makes the Sweet 16 out of the blue to a team that makes the Sweet 16 team every year.” On if he would have left early for the NBA if he had the chance:”Looking back, I don’t think I could have left college early. When I came to Vanderbilt, I made a four-year commitment to Coach Stallings. I had to honor that. No matter what would have happened, I wouldn’t have cared if I had been a lottery pick or not. “Not only that, but just the experience at Vanderbilt. I’ve made friends that I’m going to have the rest of my life and had the opportunity to get a great education and be a part of a great student body. I would not have traded in my four years at Vanderbilt to be able to leave early.” |
