Former Kansas Jayhawk Ochai Agbaji has his new home with NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff is looking for instant offense, including a steady stream of three-pointers from NBA lottery pick Ochai Agbaji.
“I thought he could be a weapon. He has a skill (that) no matter where you are in the NBA, you need it. He has the ability to put the ball in the basket, and it’s not just the ability to stand in a spot and make a shot,” Bickerstaff said Friday at a news conference in Cleveland to introduce former Kansas guard Agbaji, the Cavs’ selection at No. 14 overall in Thursday’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. Also on hand for the news conference was Khalifa Diop, the Cavs’ pick at No. 39.
“When we watched him play,” Bickerstaff added of first-team All-American Agbaji who averaged 18.8 points a game on 47.5% shooting last season for Kansas, “it was his ability to move and catch and shoot off screens, off handoffs, where he knew how to make himself difficult to guard. At this level, shot makers are a premium, not only as a young player, but as a role player, as a star.”
Bickerstaff continued: “With the steps Darius (Garland, Cavs point guard) took and Jarrett (Allen, center) took (last season), those guys will need help to keep eyes off them. That was one of the things we saw — a lot of people will just stare that pick and roll down. Now when you throw another weapon who can create shots off the move and make defenses shift, that frees Ochai as well. He is a great fit as a complement to those guys and then our expectations are for him to grow into that role as well.”
Agbaji told the media assembled at his introductory news conference that he is thrilled to be a member of the Cavaliers. He and Diop will be playing for the Cavs’ summer league team in July in Las Vegas.
“From the moment I got here for my (individual) workout (with Cavs a week and half before draft), I felt that home feeling the first second I walked in here. It actually does feel like home, so I’m glad to be here,” Agbaji, a graduate of Oak Park High School, said.
“I am just really anxious to play. The past few months I’ve obviously been blessed, winning a national championship then getting drafted in the first round is a dream come true for anybody. I’m so blessed to be here and be in this position,” he added.
He was asked at the news conference about critics saying at 22-years-old, he’s reached his “ceiling.”
“I mean that’s just more motivation to get better,” Agbaji said. “I think as my progression, my years have gone by, I feel I’m only getting better. Everyone finds their own place and way into the league no matter what age. If I am older than some of the guys here, it doesn’t matter. Basketball is basketball. I’m just excited to be with this team.”
The Cavs went 44-38 last season, placing eighth in the Eastern Conference.
“The key for any team, being successful on any team, is the chemistry. It does sound cliche, but the chemistry does pay off on the court,” Agbaji said. “Hearing about the Cavaliers and their organization and team, how close they are, it just makes me even more excited to meet the team and meet everybody.”
Self joins Braun in ABC interview
KU coach Bill Self and former KU guard Christian Braun, the 21st overall pick in the NBA Draft (with Denver), joined an ABC reporter for a joint interview in Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center after Braun’s selection on Thursday night.
“It feels great. I’m just grateful for the support. Coach Self being here and all my people that are here, I’m just grateful for all those people, and it feels great,” Braun said.
Self was asked what “outside of a national title pedigree” the Nuggets are getting in the 6-7 Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate who played at KU three seasons before turning pro.
“They are getting a competitor, toughness, a guy that knows how to play,” Self said, “and his ceiling is still way up here. I think everybody associated with that organization has got to be pretty happy right now.”
Braun was asked to sum up his last couple of months, first winning the national title then being taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.
“Looking back on it, it’s going to be crazy. I won a national championship with ‘Och’ and the guys. That was great. Now that I’m drafted it’s been an amazing process. I’m grateful for the support, grateful to my family, I’m just grateful,” Braun said.
Of Braun, Nuggets vice president of scouting, Jim Clibanoff, said Thursday night on the Nuggets’ Twitter account: “He is an NBA-ready guy. Winner. Played 40 minutes in the national championship game. Checks many, many boxes. Great body. Plays hard. We search for guys like this.
“We wanted to get bigger in the backcourt. He can play the 2-spot. He can play the 3-spot. He can join our rotation now. He’s not one of these wait and see projects. Winner, good dude, really good personality, chest thumper but he can also fit in,” Clibanoff added. “He played with Ochai Agbaji — another really good player who was a first-team All-American — and he fits in. He knows to step it up at certain times. Has upside as well.”
The Nuggets have been watching Braun a long time.
“His freshman year he landed on the radar for us and progressively got better,” Clibanoff said. “Playing for Bill Self, he knows how to fit in. That’s the real important part. His skill level has increased year after year. He’s a good shooter now. We think he has potential to be a very good shooter and he can defend too. We have to improve on the defensive end and Christian checks that box. He is what we need right now to take that next step up.”
Clibanoff noted that “the fans are going to like him cause he has the blue collar aspect with some white collar elements to his game as well.”
