Canadian/Russian prospect Ivan Chiriaev: "I can be better than Nowitzki"

[NYCdog]

Ladies and gentlemen......I present to you a lottery propsect who just might be the next big NBA trash-talker.........



High schooler from Canada to enter draft

March 22, 2004
OAKVILLE, Ontario (AP) -- If NBA teams picked players on confidence alone, Ivan Chiriaev would be a guaranteed lottery pick.

The 7-foot-1 high school star said Monday he will enter the 2004 NBA draft, skipping his college eligibility. And failure is not an option.

"The NBA wants and needs Ivan Chiriaev,'' the 19-year-old said at a news conference held in his school's library. I have a great opportunity right now and everybody from scouts to GMs to presidents of the clubs are saying I will go top five. And worst case, it will be a lottery pick.''

Chiriaev moved to Canada 16 months ago from Russia, to live with an uncle and pursue his basketball future. He has learned to speak English and put 70 pounds on what was a skin-and-bones 180-pound frame.

Over the past few months NBA and college scouts trekked to the gym for aglimpse at what they hope will be the next big international star.

"I was able to go from nowhere in Russia to this day and this press conference with hard work,'' said Chiriaev, who hopes to move his family from Russia if he is drafted. "This hard work will help me go from today and this press conference to the next level, NBA all-star.''

"Dirk Nowitzki at my age played in Germany in a league which was probably worse than Canadian high school basketball, and Yao Ming played professionally in the worst league in the world," argued Chiriaev, who played for Russia's junior team. "Those two players are all-stars."

Rather than play at centre or power forward, where Chiriaev believed he could have scored "50, 70, whatever" points a game this past high school season, he was the Raiders' starting point guard.

"That was pretty bizarre to see a seven-foot-one guy bringing up the ball," said Chiriaev, who averaged about 16 points, eight or nine assists, and in double digits in rebounding per game with the Raiders.

"I just tried to develop myself to be a better basketball player, not just a tall guy who can score under the hoop. Right now there are no players in the world who are 7-1 and can playing shooting guard and even point guard."

"The better the competition the better I play,"

Chiriaev will play for the 10-member World Select team against a top 10 prospects team from the United States in a high school all-star game April 4 in San Antonio during the Final Four.

More from Ivan.........

[dalmations202]

Wonder what he could learn playing beside Nowitzki?

[grndmstr_c]

Wonder what he could learn playing beside Nowitzki?

Not much with that attitude.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c

Not much with that attitude.

Sometimes I wish "just a little" of that attitude would rub off on Dirk, and make him start "taking over" games. I am guessing with this guy beside him, Dirk would gain a little attitude, and the kid would gain a little humility.

[MightyToine]

Great....Just what we need.



A Russian Antoine Walker.... [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: MightyToine
Great....Just what we need.



A Russian Antoine Walker.... [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

LOL...Thank you MT.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: dalmations202

LOL...Thank you MT.

You're welcome and you know what the funny thing is?


Check out the picture and check out the Number on his jersey!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ddh33]

I heard that the language might have posed some problems.

This really makes this kid sound bad. If he really feels this way, he's in bad trouble.

Rumor is the kid is only a late first rounder at this point.

[dalmations202]

Mavs need to trade someone for this guy, I mean, just for the sheer entertainment of going to a practice, watching Dirk school him, and getting to hear Dirk with his German accent say "Welcome to the NBA, kid".........LOL

[samoan-maverick]

Originally posted by: dalmations202
Mavs need to trade someone for this guy, I mean, just for the sheer entertainment of going to a practice, watching Dirk school him, and getting to hear Dirk with his German accent say "Welcome to the NBA, kid".........LOL

PRRRRREEEEEAAACH IT DM202

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: dalmations202
Wonder what he could learn playing beside Nowitzki?

Probably learn what it feels like to be in foul trouble.

[NYCdog]

"Dirk Nowitzki at my age played in Germany in a league which was probably worse than Canadian high school basketball, and Yao Ming played professionally in the worst league in the world,"

This what I thought was funny.........

1.........How can he tell if the German league is worse then Canadian high school level talent? Germany has produced some really good basketball talent like Dirk, Detlef Schrempf, Kiki Vandeweghe etc......I know Germany isnt a basketball powerhouse but last I checked, Canada wasnt either.

2..........This Yao comment really makes me wonder.......Yao didnt play in the best league outside of the NBA. But that Chinese league is in no way to worse league in the world. In that league, Yao, then at the age of 17, frequently played and dominated against members of the Chinese National Team who happend to play in that league. And the Chinese NT isnt exactly a push over squad anymore. I bet thay can take Team Canada (with Ivan Chiriaev) anyday.

[OutletPass]

i've heard a lot about this kid. Apparently, he's a wokout warrior who looks great in the gym but hasn't looked all that great with other players, even the Canadian HS players. He'll get his chance, though, because he's going to be playing against Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and the other top American HS players who are in the draft in some upcoming games. He'll be playing with most of the top International players in the US vs. The World format.

Right now, he's projected at the #7 pick by draftnet, but everyone is waiting to see him in better competition. ESPN has him as the 5th best SF in the draft and in the late first round. So there's a wide difference of opinion on him.

We'll see what he's got soon enough.

[#41]

"Dirk Nowitzki at my age played in Germany in a league which was probably worse than Canadian high school basketball, and Yao Ming played professionally in the worst league in the world,"

I hate guys like that... He will never reach Dirk's level, NEVER! Go back to russia and try to imitate AK's move in your room [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]...

[#41]

But I think I can be better than Nowitzki.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[kingrex]

I can't wait to see this kid play. We'll see if his ability can cash the checks his mouth seems to be writing.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: kingrex
I can't wait to see this kid play. We'll see if his ability can cash the checks his mouth seems to be writing.

Very doubtful he can cash. But, isn't it great to be young and full of self-confidence. LOL........Those were the days.

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: dalmations202

Very doubtful he can cash. But, isn't it great to be young and full of self-confidence. LOL........Those were the days.

More like "over-confidence".

[mavsman55]

The kid doesn't know what he's talking about. He's gonna get schooled in the NBA. But think about the statement "I can be better than Dirk Nowitzki."

I guess that would be compliment to Dirk, taken he could have picked Garnett or Duncan to compare himself to, but he chose Dirk. Not bad. Either that, or it's an insult, saying that he can be better than Dirk, but never will be better than KG or Duncan... hmm, that kind of makes you think a little bit.

[StvNash13]

I am not gonna trash this guy only because I am Russian and very excited about another Russian player coming into the league. And it is really weird that he chose to compare himself to dirk, of all people. Seems so random. Why not AK? Strange. Anyways, we'll see what he has.

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: StvNash13
I am not gonna trash this guy only because I am Russian and very excited about another Russian player coming into the league. And it is really weird that he chose to compare himself to dirk, of all people. Seems so random. Why not AK? Strange. Anyways, we'll see what he has.

Yeah, but if the kid is that cocky, I don't care if he's Bulgarian, American or Samoan, he needs to be a bit more humble until he can prove he can really compete in the NBA. Even LeBron who is the most hyped high school player ever, shows more humility.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: kingrex

Yeah, but if the kid is that cocky, I don't care if he's Bulgarian, American or Samoan, he needs to be a bit more humble until he can prove he can really compete in the NBA. Even LeBron who is the most hyped high school player ever, shows more humility.

I just want to see this cocky kid play against real competition. I think Dirk would school him daily.

I prefer the humble type myself, but realize that their is a fine line between "self confidence" and arrogance. I think he crossed it, but would like to see if he can back up his mouth, before I really trash him.

[mary]

From Real GM:

7-Foot Chiriaev Withdraws from Draft
Added: 12th May, 2004 9:06 AM ET

Toronto Star: The 19-year-old, 7-fee-tall Russian, Ivan Chiriaev, has opted to play in Europe and wait on the NBA.

"At this time, it is better for Ivan to play in a developmental situation — probably in Europe," his agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports said.

The Toronto Star evaluates Chiriaev this way: "With passable ball-handling and shooting skills but not nearly the overall skills necessary to even hope for an NBA tryout right now, Chiriaev is free to catch on with any team in any European league."

"Ivan is a young man with an excellent future because of his size and skills," Duffy said. "He is, however, not physically ready to compete at the NBA level."