A Finn in the NBA!

[Aylwin]

This is cool! Is it a first?

Petteri Koponen was selected as the 30th pick in the first round of this year's NBA draft. He'll play for the Portland Trailblazers next season.

http://www.nba.com/draft2007/board.html

Note how they teach us to pronounce his name:

http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/P ... ponen.html

[javla_java0]

This is cool! Is it a first?

Petteri Koponen was selected as the 30th pick in the first round of this year's NBA draft. He'll play for the Portland Trailblazers next season.

http://www.nba.com/draft2007/board.html

Note how they teach us to pronounce his name:

http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/P ... ponen.html

Damn. First round.

I read that he was supposed to go later or maybe even undrafted.

[Rosamunda]

Aha, local lad.... played for Honka. He's not so "big" though: the Noah kid (son of French tennis player Yannick Noah) who got selected 9th, is 2m11.... now that's tall!!!!

[Hank W.]

He's first to be picked on the first round - but Hanno Möttölä was picked in 2000

[mCowboy]

Aha, local lad.... played for Honka. He's not so "big" though: the Noah kid (son of French tennis player Yannick Noah) who got selected 9th, is 2m11.... now that's tall!!!!

I was thinkin the same thing... that I shoulda taken up basketball when I was young, I'm the same height as he is.... coulda been in NBA now... makin them mega$$$

[Pilvii]

son of French tennis player Yannick Noah!

Athleticism runs in that family No wonder I don't stand a chance....

[Aylwin]

[...]2m11.... now that's tall!!!!

I was thinkin the same thing... that I shoulda taken up basketball when I was young, I'm the same height as he is.... coulda been in NBA now... makin them mega$$$

You should have and you could have! Dang, you're tall! I think I'm nearly 30% shorter than you. I'd kill to be 190. But 211? Man!!!

Oh well, we can't all be NBA players.

[Aylwin]

He's first to be picked on the first round - but Hanno Möttölä was picked in 2000

Two years with the Hawks.
Let's hope Petteri has a better career in the NBA. He's young so he has more time to adjust, develop and get better.

[mCowboy]

[...]2m11.... now that's tall!!!!

I was thinkin the same thing... that I shoulda taken up basketball when I was young, I'm the same height as he is.... coulda been in NBA now... makin them mega$$$

You should have and you could have! Dang, you're tall! I think I'm nearly 30% shorter than you. I'd kill to be 190. But 211? Man!!!

Oh well, we can't all be NBA players.

No man... bad quoting...

I'm the same height as:

Full Name: Petteri Johannes Koponen
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4 / 195

Thank Gawd I'm not 211... havin hard time already to fit in small cars and long haul flights...

[kmboll]

He'll play for the Portland Trailblazers next season.

Chances are they're actually going to have him play in the European league next year, not in the NBA. They drafted him for his potential. He needs more experience in a tougher league for a year or two.

[Aylwin]

Chances are they're actually going to have him play in the European league next year, not in the NBA. They drafted him for his potential. He needs more experience in a tougher league for a year or two.

Good point! He must have a lot of potential though to be picked in the 1st round and not play yet in the NBA. Very impressive considering that it's a very deep draft this year.

Anyway, all the best to him. I hope he becomes a superstar. Maybe then they'll finally start showing NBA games in Finland.

[FXP77]

He's first to be picked on the first round - but Hanno Möttölä was picked in 2000

Two years with the Hawks.
Let's hope Petteri has a better career in the NBA. He's young so he has more time to adjust, develop and get better.

Hanno Möttölä had the advantage of having a fairly successful collegiate career in Utah and in some ways that should have prepared him quite well for the NBA. On the other hand, there seem to be more and more success stories in the NBA of "European-trained" guards like Tony Parker. If Koponen can get a little bigger and stronger, who knows.. he might actually have a career in the NBA. I think it's a bit of a long shot, but I'll definitely be rooting for him.

By the way, I'm 200cm tall.. If only I had known I'd get this tall, I would've taken the 10-day "TS-Basket" basketball camp more seriously back in 1988 or thereabouts.

[Karhunkoski]

Thank Gawd I'm not 211... havin hard time already to fit in small cars and long haul flights...

Yup, I'm a shorty at 190 compared to Cowboy's 195, but can still vouch for it not being all roses being tall. 6" would be good, after that you find yourself bashing low-hanging light fittings and having to watch door frames. Even workstation desks, kitchen worktops, etc., all seem designed for the shorter person

[Aylwin]

Well, I feel a bit better now with my 165. I have no trouble at all with door frames.

Still, I probably should've eaten more Weetabix when I was young.

[Hank W.]

kitchen worktops, etc., all seem designed for the shorter person

I think Susan can extrapolate on a "designed by Hank" -sized kitchen. I don't bend my back for anything there... she found it slightly... unreachable.