Kawahira declares for draft
Manabu Kawahira today announced his intention to enter June's NBA draft lottery. In a press conference, Kawahira denied rumors that his move was fueled by pressure from Phil Jackson, coach of the L.A. Lakers, who covets the diminutive Japanese low-post man to replace the aging Shaquille O'Neal. Instead, Kawahira (nicknamed "Kawabunga!") insisted his move was motivated more by a desire for sanitary playing conditions. "Zhuzhou, very dirty," Kawahira said. "NBA arena, very clean."
Kawahira was somewhat strained by the NBA's failure to provide an adequate interpreter. After the NBA-appointed interpreter translated the first question to him, Kawahira gestured with his arms and replied, "But, I am Japanese! So sorry, I don't speak Chinese."
In English, Kawahira showed a gift for dealing with press questions. Asked if his 5-foot-2, 109-pound body could withstand nightly poundings from the likes of Kevin Garnett, Kawahira paused long and hard. Finally, with confidence, he replied: "No problem. It's okay."
Asked about his greatest asset as a basketball player, Kawahira again paused before replying, "Larry Bird really likes left-handed layups." A scout, who requested that his name not be publicly associated with the Los Angeles Clippers, remarked, "here's a kid who knows his NBA history, who has great reverence for the past, who has the humility to defer to Bird on a question about himself, who can pronounce his l's and r's. The perfect package? Hmmm."
Kawahira further displayed his marketing appeal when a reporter asked about his current level of fitness. "I am working with an Arabic instructor every day," he said. Some reporters speculated that, along with electrifying NBA fans with his low-post moves, Kawahira could bring about peace in the Middle East. Again, Kawahira was deferential when asked about it. "I just want Skye," he said.
