Kay Felder works out for Pistons
On the tail end of a more-than-10-city tour working out for NBA teams before the Draft on June 23 at 7 p.m. EDT, former Oakland University point guard Kay Felder made one of his last stops: the Pistons, who have the 18th and 49th pick.
“No nerves,” Felder said. “Just do what I could do. Just be myself. Definitely excited to be coming back home. … It’s pretty good. I enjoyed myself.”
Felder said the day went well and that there were questions about him coming in.
“I think I’m starting to take away some of those question marks,” he said.
One of those question marks was defense, something he had to prove he could do.
“Everybody says, well I didn’t know you play defense, and I just smile and laugh,” Felder said. “It’s one of my strong suits. At Oakland, you know, it was what it was.”
There’s no denying Felder improved his reputation at the NBA Draft Combine a month ago. He has been trying to ramp it up even more on this workout tour.
“At the Combine I didn’t show much of my offense, but in these workouts I have been, [along] with the defense,” Felder said. “It’s been a pretty good process.”
There are a couple of more tasks.
“Showing that I can shoot the long-range three,” Felder said, “and really just be that competitor that I am.”
The catch-and-shoot three is a priority as well. Felder said he’s practicing and it’s showing in the workouts.
Felder hasn’t run across the top point guard prospects yet.
“I’m waiting on them, though,” he said. “I might not get to run into them. … Hopefully I’ll see them, and when I do see ’em, they’ll know it’s me.”
His draft spot (currently 55 on DraftExpress’s mock) is not Felder’s main worry.
“They could say I’m first round then take me in the second,” he said. “You never know. I’m just enjoying the process and love everything that’s going on right now.”
It’s not just him.
“It’s just putting a smile on my face and my family’s face, honestly,” Felder said. “I love it. It’s a blessing. I don’t know many people that get to go through this.”
And if the words “Kay Felder” ring out on the big day?
“I’ll probably shed a tear,” he said. “Hopefully I don’t.”
The NBA Draft is June 23 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN and WatchESPN (cable subscription required). (Click here) for live updates on ESPN.com.