Top NBA Rookies Pick Their GOAT, Favorite ‘2K’ Teams

Entering the NBA as a top rookie prospect is a cyclonic process. Everything changes. The paycheck is good, but you’re put under an oft-unforgiving microscope. The expectations are greater. The margin for error is smaller. The questions you’re asked get tougher.

On Sunday, with most of this year’s rookie class gathered at the New York Knicks’ training facility for the Panini NBA Rookie Photo Shoot, Bleacher Report asked a few of the league’s best newbies some of these tough questions. 

Wearing their new jerseys, Dragan Bender, Jaylen Brown, Marquese Chriss, Kris Dunn, Brandon Ingram and Thon Maker dished on the most important topics possible: greatest-of-all-time selections, NBA 2K wish lists and “Oh my god, I’m in the NBA” moments.  

The following questions and answers are edited for length and clarity.

Bleacher Report: You’re getting photographed in your NBA jersey. You’re getting your Panini rookie card. Is this a “Holy crap, I’ve actually made it to the NBA” moment for you?

Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns, No. 4 overall): All these moments are. It’s really nice to be here with all these guys and to be able to share these moments with them.

Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, No. 3 overall): I don’t think I’ve had one of those moments yet. I’ve been imagining, envisioning and working toward this for so long. I kind of feel like when it’s here, I deserve it. It’s been in my mind for so long. So I haven’t even really looked up yet—you know what I mean? I think around the first game of the season is when it will hit me.

Marquese Chriss (Phoenix Suns, No. 8 overall): Yeah, this is kind of crazy. It’s different being around everybody, seeing people you played against in college wearing NBA jerseys and realizing just how fast this all happened. Certain days I’ll wake up and be like, “Man, I’m not going to class. Just going to the gym is my classroom.”

Kris Dunn (Minnesota Timberwolves, No. 5 overall): Yeah, it’s exciting. Finally being here, this is the process of making the dream come true. And when I went back to Providence to celebrate with those guys, they made it feel so real.

Brandon Ingram (Los Angeles Lakers, No. 2 overall): Absolutely. I think just seeing my face on the card and having the Lakers jersey on allows me to reminisce about all my hard work and how I’m …

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