Aim high, they said. Shoot for the stars, they said.
Marvin Bagley III surely listened, as the Sacramento Kings rookie isn't short of confidence, picking himself for the league's Most Valuable Player award and Rookie of the Year honors during an ESPN interview with Chris Forsberg.
“I would say myself because that's the type of confidence I have,” said Bagley when asked of his vote for the MVP. “Not a lot of [rookies] do it, obviously, but if your dreams and goals aren't high, then you don't have nothing to work for. So I would say myself.”
Of course Bagley thinks he'll win Rookie of the Year, but if forced to pick somebody else, he chose Harry Giles, another former Duke player and current Kings teammate.
“I can't pick myself? Well, if I had to pick someone I'd go with [Kings teammate] Harry [Giles]. I've seen how he works, man. I've been around for a while now, seeing how he plays the game. When he's playing without thinking and playing at his best, he's real good.”
Giles was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 20th overall pick in 2017 and later traded to the Kings, but he didn't play at all last season as he continued his recovery from a knee injury, making this year's Summer League appearance his first.
Bagley will see instant minutes on a youth-infused roster, but while his ceiling is very high, it's rather unlikely he will be in the running for MVP. His ROY aspirations are much more feasible, despite the stiff competition in a talent-filled 2018 draft class.
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