BACKFlying Behind the Scenes of The NBA Rookie Photoshoot
A fly on the wall at the NBA Rookie Photoshoot leapt off his perch and zoomed around expensive camera equipment, beaming lights and a Panini-branded basketball hoop. It was quickly intimidated by another high-flying insect: A 6-foot-9 Hornet.
It was Tidjane Salaun, the supersized Frenchman who donned his new Charlotte threads as he strolled into the Lied Athletic Complex on the UNLV campus that, from July 16-17, had been transformed into a photo-op hotspot by the NBA and Panini.
That stroll swiftly changed to a sprint as Salaun started at the action station, which simulated in-game events on an empty court. The No. 6 pick looked surprised that he was being asked to do more than hold a ball and smile. Instead, he went through something akin to the NBA Draft Combine, running back and forth, showing off his vertical, getting shots up and calling for screens from imaginary teammates, all over the sounds of constant camera shutters.
He wasn’t the only player to be caught off guard by the intense station. Between the running and jumping and heat from the illuminating lights, most athletes worked up a sweat while getting pictures that’ll be used on some of their first Panini trading cards.
Competitive edges came out for a handful of players, who went all out in front of the photographers and needed a Gatorade towel as they walked off.
That same mentality also showed up at the autograph station. New York’s Tyler Kolek, a few hours removed from hitting a game-winner in Summer League, asked which guy had been signing his cards the fastest. His pen started moving a little faster when he heard teammate Pacome Dadiet had zipped through the penmanship process.
There was no timer and no player carelessly hurried, but some were naturally faster than others at the card-signing table. Detroit’s Bobi Klintman took his time. He chatted it up while looping a pretty autograph — one that he perfected while playing professionally in Australia — that every collector will enjoy.
On the other side of a black curtain, players went from signing hundreds of exclusive Panini cards to posing for even more pics. This time, things were less tiring, yet still exhaustive. No angle went untouched at the more stationary photo booth. Players slowly dribbled, held the ball firm and pointed at the camera. Some carried a mean game face, while others couldn’t help but smile.
The photographer, who estimated he took 20,000 pictures across the two-day event, gave the players a chance to get a first look. A handful of rookies simply nodded in approval, while others really admired those portraits. Orlando’s Tristan da Silva was particularly invested, leaning over the computer and commenting on the shots.
Speaking of shots, da Silva made plenty. Back in the action station, the first-round pick couldn’t miss — even when he anticipated he would. When instructed to jump, guide the ball between his legs, then throw up a finger roll, he commented: “I’m not going to make it.” After doing exactly what was asked, he managed to slip the ball through twine anyway.
Houston phenom Reed Sheppard was similarly sharp. Besides having to be reminded to keep his tongue in his mouth, the guard was flawless. He drained shot after shot while being aimed at by long lenses. That was part of a terrific trip to Vegas for the No. 3 pick, who also dominated in-game action. He made the All-Summer League First Team after averaging 20.0 points and 5.3 assists.
Natural scorers also shined at the Panini marketing booth, which featured an oversized video board and not one, but two rims. Between shots and videos, players casually flicked the ball into either net.
Some rookies were their team’s lone representative at the event, and others had a teammate or two with them. At one point, there was a Toronto trio stomping around the gym. Later, the facility turned into one of Vegas’ famous magic shows. Well, not quite, but there were three Wizards in the building.
Kyshawn George had fun with that, peeking into his Washington teammate’s photo shoots and offering playful jeers. Players who got to know each other throughout the draft process also remained chummy.
Midway through his photoshoot, Matas Buzelis challenged Jared McCain to a 1-on-1 battle. That came some 30 minutes after the two filmed a dance video together.
After an animated photoshoot, Buzelis went to the autograph table and was audibly taken aback by the size of his stack of unsigned cards. Cam Christie, who was already there and underway with his stack, agreed.
McCain arrived later, talking about his magical stay at Duke (“It’s like Hogwarts,” he said of the campus) as well as his high school days. He wore his 76ers uniform for just the second time as he laid down on-card autos.
All the players stuck with it and powered through the entire event. Some went the extra mile and battled nagging wrist injuries and sore feet to make the photoshoot a special one.
Shot-blocking Donovan Clingan fought the urge to play defense against players taking wide-open jumpers. Oklahoma City’s Dillon Jones had to remind himself he was a basketball player and not a DJ when he commented on the event’s music choices.
When he wasn’t hovering behind the photographers, ease dropping at the autograph station or zipping around a player, the fly on the wall made his way to the snack station, looking for an extra crumb or two.
There, the interested insect observed Baylor Scheierman inspect a bag of Fruit Gushers, Buzelis walk away with a complete sub from an over-ordered catering table and other players pick through snacks like AAU athletes between tournament games.
Most players aren’t far removed from their days as prep phenoms. Now, they’ve made the leap to the pros. Many of them saw their first-ever rookie cards at the autograph station. Most wore their official NBA jerseys for the first or second time. Some recalled meeting their teammates there in Vegas, others looked forward to those introductions.
Of the thousands of pictures taken at the event, only the best of the best will end up on Panini trading cards. The exaggerated crossovers, imaginary play-calls, chest passes to no one and make-believe dunks (the rim wasn’t cleared for jams) will all turn into something special, something you can excitedly unpack in a forthcoming product.
For players, the whirlwind of combine workouts, the draft, Summer League and photoshoots was almost complete. Most looked forward to a small break before training camps opened.
As for the fly, he’ll continue watching it all unfold and unpack. Or maybe Clingan finally got his rim-protecting fix and swatted him. Who said there was no defense played at a photoshoot? Not I.
