OAKLAND – For a brief moment last week, Sebastian Telfair stood where many predicted he never would: on a college campus.
It only lasted a little more than an hour, and he did not set foot in a classroom, but it was hard to miss the irony of Telfair preparing for his first game as a member of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers in the gym at the University of San Francisco.
The 19-year-old from Coney Island worked on his jump shot, joked with teammates and coaches, and drew stares from onlookers. It was the day when Telfair’s dreams and reality merged, the one he fantasized about as a child lofting shots at the playground: He was in the NBA.
Shortly after the shootaround at USF, Telfair experienced another part of his new life, sitting in a cab on his way to The Cheesecake Factory. A few of his veteran teammates were hungry, and the rookie was dispatched to pick up lunch. On his dime, of course.
“They call me ‘The Rich Rook,'” Telfair said with a grin.
Telfair would not see a second of playing time later that night in his team’s season-opening victory against the Golden State Warriors. But he’s not complaining. In fact, a smile rarely left his face during the game. He leapt off the bench during timeouts to encourage teammates and huddled with assistant coaches asking questions and receiving instruction.
Many days of the 2004-05 season likely will follow this pattern. After years of being the best player on the court night after night at Lincoln High School, Telfair must adjust to life on the bench. He is behind Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel on the Blazers’ depth chart and does not expect to see much action this year. Instead, Telfair and those around him are hopeful he can learn the game without facing the pressure of leading a team.
“I feel I’m in a real unique situation,” Telfair said. “I’m able to get so much better this year. Already, so far, I’ve improved so much and the season is just starting. This year I’m going to learn what I need to learn and then next year I’m ready to hit the floor.”
He already has ingratiated himself to his teammates and coaches with his willingness to learn. Portland coach Maurice Cheeks saw this early in the preseason when Telfair made a mistake by shooting a 3-pointer off a screen-and-roll rather than driving to the basket. When the same situation occurred in the team’s next game, Telfair took the ball to the hoop.
“He’s figured out he’s got to learn something every day,” Cheeks said.
The natural ability that had people talking about him from the time he was 13 has been on display at Blazers practice and in the preseason. His court vision and passing ability were the main reasons the Blazers used the No. 13 pick in June’s draft on Telfair, and they have been impressed thus far.
“Regardless of age, he has a feel for the game,” Stoudamire said. “He has a great feel for the game that that a lot of young guys don’t have. That to me seems to be the difference. I’ve played with five or six guys that have come straight from high school to the pros. He might not physically be the most ready out of those guys but mentally he’s the most ready.”
That may be because Telfair has been in the spotlight since he hit puberty. Word leaked out of Coney Island early about the kid with a killer crossover who also happened to be Stephon Marbury’s cousin. Branded can’t-miss, he led Lincoln to three straight PSAL titles and a state championship. ESPN2 televised his games, Sports Illustrated put him on its cover. Every college in America wanted him. Eventually he declared for the NBA Draft rather than attend Louisville, where he had signed.
Next month, his adidas shoe will hit stores, and in February a book about him will be released. The shoe company chased Telfair for years, finally signing him to a six-year deal that could pay him $12-15 million. As you would expect, Telfair is enjoying his new wealth. He has bought himself “a few toys,” and he is renting a home in Portland. He brought his best friend, Rasheem Barker, to Portland with him and has purchased cars for his siblings.
Astonishingly, his parents have chosen to remain in the Surfside Gardens housing project. Telfair wants to buy them a house but they do not want to leave. He said eventually he will force them to move out. Despite not getting a house, his mother, Erica, has received other presents from Telfair, including a Gucci purse.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “She’s walking around with a $1,500 bag in the projects.”
Telfair will get a taste of home Tuesday when the Blazers come to East Rutherford, N.J., to face the Nets. The true homecoming is not until Jan. 9 when he returns to Madison Square Garden, site of some of his high school exploits, to take on the Knicks.
All eyes will be on Telfair and Marbury that night. The two reportedly had a falling out last year but Telfair said it was a media-created controversy, that they have spoken recently, and that they never had a problem with each other.
That can wait until January, though. Right now, Telfair is enjoying his initial NBA experiences, waiting for his chance.
“When the time comes I’m going to show everybody,” Telfair said. “I’m still going to be smiling like I’ve been smiling.”
School days
Sebastian Telfair (Lincoln High School) is the latest in a long line of standout point guards from New York City. Here is a look at other Big Apple points and where they went to high school:
Player High School
Kenny Anderson Archbishop Molloy, Queens
Nate “Tiny” Archibald DeWitt Clinton, Bronx
Larry Brown Long Beach
Bob Cousy Andrew Jackson, Queens
Mark Jackson Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn
Stephon Marbury Lincoln, Brooklyn
Kenny Smith Archbishop Molloy, Queens
Rod Strickland Truman, Bronx *
Dwayne “Pearl” Washington Boys and Girls, Brooklyn
Lenny Wilkens Boys, Brooklyn
* also attended Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)