SPORTS
JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 23
Kellis Robinett/KANSAN
Wayne Simien addresses the media at Richard W. Warren Middle School in Leavenworth, Kansas. Simien had just been selected by the Miami Heat in the 29th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Dreams come true in NBA draft
BY KELIS ROBINETT
krobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
LEAVENWORTH — Wayne Simien fulfilled his life long dream June 28, when the Miami Heat drafted him with their first round pick.
Never mind that the former Kansas forward, who was once thought to be a lottery pick, fell to the 29th selection overall. Simien was thrilled just knowing he would get to play at the next level.
"Today is my day," he said.
Not to mention the fact that he'll be living in Miami, Florida and playing alongside Shaquille
O'Neal for a title-contending team.
"I was going to be happy wherever I went," Simien said. "But going to a winning team with two superstars, one of whom is the most dominant player in the league (O'Neal), and the other is a rising star (Dwayne Wade), is obviously amazing."
The most surprising moment of the day, for Simien, was not the way he fell to the next to last first round pick. Rather, it was the fact that he traveled 28,000 miles to work out for 16 different NBA teams and not a one chose him.
"I never actually made it to Miami," Simien said.
Leigh Steinberg, Simien's agent, offered an explanation.
Simien said he was never worried about slipping out of the first round, because Miami Heat President Pat Riley called him to say that if he was available they were picking him.
"It was the possibility of Wayne playing along side Shaq that intrigued them," Steinberg said.
"Being a part of that 0.0001 percent of players that gets drafted," Simien said. "That's a real honor.
He truly didn't seem to care who drafted him, though.
By being selected in the first round, Simien will receive a
guaranteed two-year contract with the Heat that features a two-year option.
Steinberg said one of the reasons Simien was always a lock for the first round was the stellar character he showed during his four years at Kansas.
"We found out today that character does matter," he said. "Every team we talked to gave us great feedback in that area and it considerably helped our cause."
When asked what he would do with his new-found fortune, Simien said he had prematurely bought a present for his dad, which he promised him when he was 11 years old.
"I already got him a boat last
week," he said.
Simien watched the NBA draft from his house in Leavenworth, and then went to celebrate with hundreds of adoring fans and media at Leavenworth's Richard W. Warren Middle School.
The crowd erupted as the Heat drafted him, and got even louder when he showed up in person.
After speaking with the media, he went to the school's auditorium and gave a speech to his fans, who began showing up at 6 p.m. to congratulate him.
Simien couldn't stop smiling throughout the process, and said he was heading to Miami June 29.