Raptors' Jamario Moon won't rest on his laurels
Standout forward has big hopes for upcoming season
At six-foot-eight, almost everybody was looking up to Jamario Moon this past weekend when he was in Moncton for the NBA 3-on-3 Tournament.
Height aside, everybody could look up to Moon for the simple reason he's one of the elite few making a living as a professional basketball player.
The Toronto Raptors forward only broke into the NBA last year, but the rookie has already made a name for himself on and off the court where he scored an average of 8.5 points per game last season.
At the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend in February, Moon was a stand-out performer in the Rookie/Sophomore player challenge and ended up coming third in the Slam Dunk competition.
It was a long road to the top in Toronto. Moon entered the NBA draft in 2001 but wasn't picked up so he was featured on many smaller teams before 2007, including a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. But Moon kept his biggest goal in mind.
So as kids and adults of all ages and sizes were looking up to Moon this weekend for his skill, strength and tenacity, who exactly did Moon look up to as he was making his way up to the pro-basketball ranks?
"I looked up to Scottie Pippin. Everybody loved the Bulls during the '90s so I looked up to Pippin," said Moon. "I patterned my game after Pippin. He's why I play the way I play and why I wear the jersey I'm wearing."
When Moon considers for a second that people look up to him like he looked up to Pippin, it brings a smile to his face. Moon is, after all, new to this whole NBA thing and the charm of meeting a fan hasn't grown old yet. For Moon, it probably never will.
"It makes me feel good to come and visit little communities like this and give back to the kids," he said. "It's always great."
In his off-season right now, Moon isn't resting on his laurels for what's ahead in the coming season.
"I'm just working out and working hard," he said. "We got some new additions to the team so I'm looking forward to training camp and getting back."
One of the additions Moon speaks of is the big news that Jermaine O'Neal, the 29-year-old American forward acquired from the Indiana Pacers earlier this month, is heading north to join Canada's only NBA team.
Moon said he can't wait for next season to start with the way the team's roster is looking.
"I'm loving it. They're bringing another rebounding machine and a big defensive presence that everybody knows Jermaine is for," said Moon. "I've never played on the same side of the ball with him. I'm glad he's on my team."
"With him and Chris Bosh, we can be unstoppable."
In addition to being a presence at the NBA 3-on-3, Moon also put on a two-hour basketball clinic for about 60 young basketball players aged 12-14 at Harrison Trimble High School Saturday. Moon said he relishes such opportunities because he gets the chance to mingle and interact with his fan base.
"Just because we're in the NBA, doesn't mean we forget about other people."
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