Things didn't go the way DeVon Hardin hoped on draft night.
The former California center had to wait beyond the first round to hear his name called, but it eventually was called, 50th overall, by the Seattle SuperSonics.
A week later and the team isn't even in Seattle anymore.
t's enough to make a college kid dizzy.
In this, the final installment of his NBA Draft Diary exclusively for Rivals.com, Hardin talks about draft night, Seattle's move to Oklahoma City, and what's next for him as he tries to land a spot on an NBA roster.
Were you disappointed or did you still celebrate your draft position like you said you would?
I celebrated, definitely. Everybody was really supportive (his family and his former Cal teammates joined him at a club in Oakland, Calif., for the draft). I wasn't sure what to expect. Of course I would like to have gone higher. But I think it worked out in my favor. I'm in a good position with Seattle. Or Oklahoma, I don't know what you call them. I guess I read where the team name and colors are staying in Seattle.
You had told a California newspaper that Seattle was one of four teams you had the most feeling would pick you. How come?
I just based it on the feedback not only of the coaches there but how well I felt about my performance there. That was one of my really good showings during pre-draft workouts. They had been to a couple of my games at Cal and even practices, too. I got a really good vibe from everybody there. But the confusing thing is that you get a good vibe from just about everybody during workouts, so you never know. I'm just so glad it's over. It was so stressful all of the waiting.
Are you excited to go to the same team as reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant?
I'm trying to take his award next year. I wanna be the next rookie of the year. But yeah, I'm definitely excited to be playing with such a versatile player. I'm in Orlando right now preparing for summer league next week (where the team's roster will include first-round pick Russell Westbrook of UCLA and fellow second-rounder D.J. White of Indiana). I haven't met Kevin yet. I've met Jeff Green (a first-round pick last year who also will participate in the summer league), and I know Francisco Elson. He's a Cal alum. I know him. I know Robert Swift, too. I used to play AAU ball with him.
What do you think of believing you were headed to Seattle only to find out you'll be playing for a team in Oklahoma City?
Actually I'm looking forward to it. I just did a little research on the city on the Internet. I didn't even know where Oklahoma was. Now I come to find out Oklahoma City has the most tornados out of any metropolitan city. Oh my gosh, that's crazy to me.
I'm gonna make the best of it. In California we have earthquakes, but we haven't had a major one in a while. Out there they have tornado season. They expect it every year. That will be something to get used to. My house might just be a big basement.
Hopefully the city embraces us and I look forward to embracing the city.
