Gatens relaxed heading into NBA draft
Former basketball Iowa standout Matt Gatens heads into Thursday’s NBA draft with a no-pressure approach.
“It only takes one team to like you,” said Gatens, the Hawkeyes’ most valuable player last season.
Matt Gatens said he has a chance to be a second-round pick in Thursday's NBA draft. (Press-Citizen file photo)
After working out for seven different NBA teams – Phoenix called him back for a second visit — Gatens has been told there’s a chance he could go in the second round.
“I don’t know how solid of a chance,” said Gatens, who is back in Iowa City but doesn’t know if he’ll watch the
draft on television. “I’m not holding my breath or anything. It’s the dream of every kid to hear their name called. There are also advantages to being a free agent, and picking where you spend your summer trying to make a camp. There are positives both ways. I’ve heard some good feedback.”
Gatens, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 15.2 points and shot 41 percent from three-point range as a senior and is Iowa’s No. 6 all-time career scorer, had his final workout with the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. He previously worked out for Chicago, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington.
Gatens shot the ball extremely well in his first workout with the Suns, earning a second visit 10 days later. Phoenix officials spoke with Gatens’ agents – hes’ represented by former Iowa and Chicago Bulls point guard B.J. Armstrong and Jason Ranne of the Wasserman Media Group – about playing for the Suns’ summer league team.
“The first time there I caught their attention, and the second time went just as well,” Gatens said. “I had some good conversations with them.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
