First year in the league, I tried to block everything. And I'd foul out. I averaged the most fouls per minute.
First year in the league, it's going to be difficult.
Baseball is a rookie, his experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream.
I didn't start my whole rookie year.
It's hard to speculate, but it was tough when coach Paul Westphal drafted me and wanted me there and then got fired two weeks into my rookie year.
I ended up breaking a bone in my foot early in my rookie season, and honestly, it was kind of a blessing. I had so much free time while being laid up that I put a lot of time in on film to understand the game from a different vantage point.
It's always different when a guy gets drafted and developed and comes up in his first organization and makes an impact. There's something special and timeless about it.
You come into the NBA, dudes are trying to come after you. You're a rookie. They look at you as fresh meat.
When I think about defending Kyrie, I think about respect. His shooting percentages were close to 50/40/90 as a 19-year-old rookie. When you come into this league with numbers like that, defenders have to respect your jumper.
Not many people get to the major leagues and succeed right away. There are some struggles. Everyone seems to struggle.
I started rockin' the BowTie when I was a rookie with the New York Giants.
I came into the league in '94.
I had little or no expectations coming in. I was thrilled when I was drafted in the first round because that meant I was going to be given a full year's chance to make the team.
When I first came into the league, my first three, four years, I had a teammate from college win a Super Bowl.
My rookie year, Byron Scott didn't really want to sign me. In New Jersey, the New Jersey Nets. I got there, and Byron Scott didn't really like me, but they let me come to camp and I was having a great camp. Stephon Marbury embraced me.
Going into your rookie year, whatever team does take you, and you get to camp, there's going to be a lot of talent in that gym. You're going to walk in a gym - and no matter what - there's going to be a lot of talent.
A lot of people have compared being an NBA rookie to being a fraternity pledge. It's not really intense like that. It's more like being an intern.
My rookie year was huge for me as far as the learning curve, especially those last three games.
I wasn't ready for the majors when I joined the Pirates in 1955. I was too young and didn't know my way around.
I'll never forget when we won that game my rookie year versus Kansas City. We won one game, we were 1-10, and to sit there and watch everybody celebrate, there's nothing like it. I just sat there and enjoyed it.
It is very important to me to maintain a consistent workout regimen during the season. The Bulls staff does a great job with providing me with a weekly workout, and these kept me energized throughout my rookie season. In the off season, I try to increase my strength and add new dimensions to my game.
My whole first season was surreal. My first game was against Detlef Schrempf. There was German media everywhere. It was probably my worst NBA game. It was all a blur.
I know how difficult my rookie year in the NFL was and I know how competitive this sport is.
I can't imagine as a rookie actually playing good football. I went through it.
It would be special, just to know I had the best rookie season a running back has had in this league, especially a record that's been however old it is.
