He couldn't help but play the role of star-struck rookie one morning last month at the Boston Celtics' training facility. Glen Davis had arrived for an informal workout session with his new teammates when he spotted one of the most famous players in the NBA. “I look up, look around the corner, see this tall guy and I'm like, 'That's KG',” said Davis, recalling his first encounter with Kevin Garnett. “I was like a kid, 'Oh my God. Oh my God.' “Then I'm like, 'Settle down. That's your teammate now.' But I'm still like a kid every time I'm around him. I used to watch those Gatorade commercials with him. I'm like a kid in the candy store.” When Davis joined the NBA as a second-round draft pick last June 28, the 21-year-old forward had no idea it would mean being a teammate of one of his idols. Davis, the 35th pick, and fellow second-round selection Gabe Pruitt, a guard drafted No. 32, figured they were going to one of the youngest teams in the league. The Celtics did add veteran guard Ray Allen in a draft-night trade with the Seattle SuperSonics, but the idea of landing Garnett appeared off the radar screen. Davis and Pruitt thought they would be part of a young crew that included Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, Gerald Green, Kendrick Perkins and Ryan Gomes.</p> Then came the blockbuster Garnett trade on July 31, and along with the signings of Eddie House, Scot Pollard and James Posey, the Celtics are no longer one of the NBA's youngest squads. Davis and Pruitt went from being surrounded by players not much older than them to having plenty of experienced veterans to look up to. The rookie duo will get a chance to learn the ropes in the NBA on a team that figures to be a contender in the Eastern Conference. “I had no clue,” said Pruitt, a University of Southern California product. “When I got drafted, Ray Allen came in and I thought, 'That's a good addition to our team.'</p> “Then Kevin Garnett came, and I had no idea I'd be in this situation. I was pretty excited. It really motivated me to really want to be part of this team and work that much harder to get a spot on the roster.” Davis and Pruitt don't figure to log a lot of minutes in their rookie seasons as Coach Doc Rivers goes with experience off the bench. The two played sparingly in two preseason games in Europe with Davis averaging three points and a rebound. There will be times, though, when they get called on as the Celtics lack depth in the frontcourt (where the 6-9, 289-pound Davis plays) and the point guard spot (where Pruitt may get time to spell Rondo). Pruitt, who suffered a sprained ankle during training camp in Rome last week, may have the best chance to contribute. The Celtics have non-traditional point guards (Tony Allen, Ray Allen, Eddie House) backing up Rondo, and if that doesn't work out, Pruitt may get a look from the coaching staff. “I think I definitely have a chance,” said Pruitt. “It's up to the coaches, but all I can do is open eyes and have people say, 'Maybe this guy should have the opportunity to play.' I'll focus on what I need to do and try to perfect it.” Davis, who figures to be one of the most entertaining interviews on the team, will need to get his body ready for the rigors of the NBA. After averaging 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds as a junior at LSU last season, the 2005-06 Southeastern Conference player of the year dropped into the second round. Davis was disappointed when that happened, but falling out of the first round has landed him on a team with Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce. “I really felt like, 'Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?'” said Davis of being a second-rounder. “But God works in mysterious ways. I'm a rookie on a team that has a chance to win a championship. How better can that get? It's just unbelievable. I'm just going to enjoy the moment. This is a moment for greatness and I'm going to try to be in it as much as possible.” Pruitt, who played three seasons at USC, will try to benefit from being around veterans like Garnett, Allen and Pierce as he adjusts to the NBA. “It's exciting being around them,” said Pruitt. “They have stories about the NBA. The teaching and advice they give is really helpful. It helps you where maybe other people couldn't help you because these guys have been through it.”</p> The Enterprise</p>
Get it, Glen in a candy store because he's fat with no pun intended. I hope he can crack to slim rotation.</p>
