When the Charlotte Bobcats selected D.J. Augustin with the ninth pick in this year's NBA draft, questions began flying about Raymond Felton's future. Why would the Bobcats choose another point guard when, just months ago, they put Felton at the helm? Did newly appointed head coach Larry Brown want to go in a different direction with the University of Texas standout? The conspiracy theories were endless.
But Augustin doesn't listen to the rumors, he doesn't pay attention to the talks of running Felton out of town, and he isn't interested in stealing the spotlight in Charlotte either.
"Only the team knows and people are just making their own opinions and saying stuff,"
Augustin told HOOPSWORLD. "My thing is, I just want to go in and learn from Coach Brown and Raymond. He's a veteran point guard and I can learn a lot from him."
The 20-year-old New Orleans native takes his role to heart, not to his head. He knows first-hand the importance of selflessly running the floor after playing with Kevin Durant during his freshman year in college. His time spent with one emerging standout prepared him for playing with established pros, like the Bobcats' Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace.
"As a point guard, you've got to do what you've got to do for your team to win,"
he said. "For our team to win, we knew we had to get him (Durant) the ball to score. That's how it is in the NBA. You're going to be playing with superstars and you've got to be able to get them the ball. So I'm used to doing that and that's part of my basketball personality."
As Augustin eagerly anticipates helping his teammates, he has a proven player to turn to for guidance. He developed a close friendship with Texas alum and current Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. Ford during Ford's frequent visits to Austin.
"We have a great relationship,"
Augustin said. "We talk like every day. He's like a mentor to me as a point guard, a smaller point guard, and he talks to me about things on the court and regular life. He's a great friend."
Ford's help is paying off. Augustin averaged nearly 20 points and four rebounds during summer league, including a 30-point performance against the Golden State Warriors, and has already impressed his new teammates. Jared Dudley deemed Augustin "the most ready to play right away,"
while Wallace saw a bright future.
"He looked pretty good,"
Wallace told HOOPSWORLD. "He ran the offense pretty well, got the ball to guys in the right position, and they were able to score. So I think he'll be alright."
Not only does Augustin want to put his teammates in the right position on the court, he wants to put the organization in the position to win. It's not everyday that an athlete is drafted by his idol.
"It's a great feeling because growing up, I always looked up to Michael Jordan,"
he said of the Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations. "He's my favorite player and just watching him on TV and now to be playing for him is a great feeling."
Augustin's feelings of excitement to play for the Bobcats are more concrete than any rumor or speculation. And part of that excitement is growing with Felton.
"That's what I want to do,"
Augustin said. "I don't worry about what other people say."
It's hard to argue with a player who wants to learn.
