In the last two weeks, some of the premier players in Thursday night’s NBA draft have auditioned for the Milwaukee Bucks at their training facility in St. Francis.
The Bucks brass got up-close-and-personal looks at Florida power forward Al Horford, North Carolina power forward Brandan Wright and Ohio State point guard Michael Conley II, among others.
While those aforementioned players certainly showed the Bucks why they are so highly regarded, there was another player working out at the facility who may have upstaged all of those more ballyhooed incoming rookies.
And that was Ersan Ilyasova, the Bucks’ young forward.
Ilyasova, the Bucks’ second-round draft choice two years ago, has made amazing – repeat, amazing – strides with his body during this off-season. Once the possessor of a somewhat scrawny frame, Ilyasova has transformed into the “Incredible Hulk.’’
When the Bucks’ 2006-2007 regular season mercifully ended, the 6-foot-9 Ilyasova weighed only 218 pounds.
And now?
“I’m 242 pounds,’’ Ilyasova said with a smile.
Ilyasova not only got bigger, he got stronger. He vaguely resembles the player who oft-times found himself pushed around like a paper bag when he battling for position around the basket last season. According to Tim Wilson, the Bucks’ strength and conditioning coach. Ilyasova recently squatted 315 pounds.
Ilyasova seemingly is on a mission to prove that he not only belongs in the NBA but that he can be a highly-successful NBA player. While most of his teammates have gone home for the summer or are on vacation to in some exotic locale, the 20-year-old native of Turkey has spent virtually all of his time in Milwaukee.
“He started working out here on May 7 and he’s probably missed, maybe, two times,’’ Wilson said. “His work ethic is top shelf.’’
His dedication could be rewarded nicely this summer. Ilyasova is a free agent and he’s bound to draw interest from several teams, especially considering how he well he developed last season.
After spending his entire rookie season in the D-League with Tulsa, Ilyasova played in 66 games last season for the Bucks. He started 14 times. He flashed his potential on several occasions, although his best game came against Detroit on March 25 when he scored 21 points.
While NBA teams can’t formally pursue Ilyasova until July 1, the commencement of free agency, several European teams, including some prominent ones, have already expressed an interest in him.
“There are a lot of teams interested: Real Madrid. Moscow. Turkey, ’’ Ilyasova said. “We’ll see. My first choice is the NBA, the Bucks. I like it here.’’
Es wäre wirklich schade wenn er nicht in der NBA bleibt...bitte Bucks ein kleinen Contrat fur Ersan :love2: