And, in the end, he probably made the right choice.
Former UCLA basketball player Arron Afflalo was selected with the 27th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
Afflalo was, according to most draft projections, a borderline first round or early second round choice.
That difference of a few picks may not seem like much, but it can mean a difference of a few million dollars.
Being selected in the first round of the draft guarantees at least a two-year contract. The second round guarantees nothing.
But that is not a worry for Afflalo anymore.
He will head to Detroit, where his defensive style and work ethic could pay dividends. The Pistons have a reputation as a hardworking, defense-first basketball team, with a structured offense. Does that sound like another team we know?
But even outside of the fact that Detroit and UCLA have similar basketball philosophies, Afflalo’s own personality should benefit him in his new surroundings.
“Detroit basketball really stresses mental and physical toughness,” Afflalo said. “I think those are my strongest qualities.”
Afflalo did not work out for the Pistons prior to the draft, so the pick was a surprising one.
“I felt a little bit of shock,” Afflalo said. “I wasn’t worked out by the Pistons, so I wasn’t expecting it from that particular team.
“I wasn’t even expecting to get up. I think I actually high-fived some fans before giving my mom a hug. So I was surprised.”
Afflalo was one of two guards selected in the first round by Detroit. With their first selection, the Pistons took Rodney Stuckey out of Eastern Washington. Stuckey is more of an athletic type of guard ““ not as polished as Afflalo, but with a higher potential ceiling.
The two guards will have to work to find a place to fit in on a team where the two starting guard roles are mostly locked up. Although point guard Chauncey Billups is a free agent, he’s expected to re-sign with the Pistons. Between him and shooting guard Richard Hamilton, Detroit has one of the toughest guard tandems in the NBA, and it will be difficult to break into that rotation.
But Afflalo sees himself fitting well.
“(Billups) is a competitive guy, as am I,” Afflalo said. “He plays hard and plays to win. It’s going to be fun to be around.”
Despite not knowing whether he would be selected in the first round, Afflalo chose to go to New York to attend the draft in person. Typically, the only ones who go to New York are the players likely to go in the lottery ““ the first 14 picks of the draft.
“I just wanted to be here and enjoy the experience,” Afflalo said. “I’ve cherished every moment (of the process).
“(The draft) was definitely electrifying. Especially in the beginning.”
The top of the draft this year was one of the more talented in recent memory. Greg Oden of Ohio State went first overall to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Kevin Durant of Texas went second to the Seattle SuperSonics.
Both the Trail Blazers and the Sonics almost immediately began building their teams around their new selections. The Trail Blazers sent Zach Randolph away to the New York Knicks for Steve Francis and Channing Frye, while the Sonics sent longtime franchise player Ray Allen to the Celtics for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the No. 5 pick in the draft, with which they selected Georgetown forward Jeff Green.
Both Durant and Oden will have their work cut out for them if they intend on making the playoffs next year, but they will also have franchises that are committed to building around them for the future.
Afflalo does not have that. He is neither an incredible physical specimen like Oden, nor a high-flying offensive superstar like Durant, and the Pistons are not putting the pieces of a team together to fit around just him.
But he is a winner. And the Pistons are a winning team, which puts him right where he wants to be.
“I’m just relaxed at this point in time,” Afflalo said. “I’m happy to be here and happy to have my name called.
“I wasn’t too worried, and I mean that from the heart. I know my work ethic, and God has blessed me.”