Hendrickson Picked By Sixers
Mark Hendrickson, meet Allen Iverson.
“I’m ready to run with Allen,” Hendrickson declared Wednesday night, shortly after Philadelphia selected the 6-foot-9 Washington State forward with the 31st pick of the NBA draft. “If he’s ready to run, let’s get out and run.”
Hendrickson, the second pick of the second round, joins Iverson, Wednesday’s No. 1 pick overall, on a 76ers squad looking to start fresh under new ownership and rookie head coach Johnny Davis. Philadelphia went 18-64 last season, second worst in the league.
Hendrickson, who would have been guaranteed a three-year contract had he been selected in the first round, believes Philadelphia is an ideal fit.
“One big thing in comparing two slots up is, without a doubt, playing time,” said Hendrickson, staying with family in nearby York, Pa. “That’s something available in Philly right away, and it’s something you need to get better.
“That’s more important than going late first round.”
Hendrickson worked out for the Sixers last week, and Davis was present at a workout session in Portland last month.
“They seem to have brought the best out in me,” said Hendrickson, the second Pacific-10 Conference player selected, behind Cal freshman Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “I really shot the ball well for them. I’ve been working on my perimeter game and I think that’s something that even surprised Philly.”
The Sixers apparently didn’t share notes with cable television analyst Hubie Brown, who characterized the 240-pound Hendrickson as a “banger” during TNT’s draft coverage.
“That’s just ignorant,” Hendrickson objected. “People on the East Coast don’t know what kind of player I am.”
As a senior at WSU, the left-handed Hendrickson averaged better than 16 points and nine rebounds per game. He overcame a broken shooting hand to lead the Cougars into the National Invitation Tournament.
Assuming Hendrickson makes the Sixers roster, he will join a frontcourt that includes veterans Derrick Coleman and Clarence Weatherspoon. Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse form the rest of Philly’s young talent base.
Iverson, Hendrickson and Ryan Minor, taken 32nd, will be introduced at a press conference in Philadelphia today at 11 a.m. PDT.
If the NBA doesn’t work out, there’s always professional baseball. A talented pitcher, Hendrickson was a 19th-round selection of the Texas Rangers.
, DataTimes