It's a big night for both former Orange Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins, making their NBA debuts from two very different perspectives. Johnson, of course, was a 4th overall NBA draft pick of the Timberwolves, and expected to play in the NBA for a while now. Rautins, on the other had, has always had to prove himself, and tonight the J-D grad is doing that again as a opening night member of the New York Knicks. And the fact that opening night is in Toronto against the Raptors is very fitting for Andy and his family. His father and former SU star Leo Rautins is a broadcaster for the Raptors, and head coach for the Canadian National Team that Andy has played on over the past couple of years.
"To be in this position now," pondered Leo Rautins, "where you're playing for the most stories franchise in NBA history the New York Knicks against the Toronto Raptors, you know my employer, where he's had the most familiarity with and become very close to the organization and the city (of Toronto), it's almost as if it's meant to be."
And while there are no guarantees Andy will play tonight, there is no reason to wonder if he ever will get quality time on the hardwood. The Knicks have switched him over to point guard and have confidence that he can develop him at that position.
"One thing I told Andy is the NBA is a long season, and it's a business, and things can change day to day, week to week and moth to month. You can't get too high or too low during any of this period. The most important thing is to be ready, and when you're ready for that opportunity you have to produce. I don't know what his minutes are going to be early in the season, but knowing Andy and how he works and what he's capable of, I think as the season moves along it's gonna be a good year for him in a lot of different ways."
Click on the video tab to hear from Leo Rautins.
