Monthly Recap: AprilPart Four: NLSC Rookie FocusMonthly Recaps are divided into several parts in order to give readers a quick and organized overview. Part Four of the Monthly Recap is the NLSC Rookie Focus where one NLSC rookie is chosen to be presented to you, the reader, in order for you to get to know them better. Part Five will feature the All-
Team Focus.Player Focus: Klemen Pirc
This has been a regular sight at many Wizards games# 9 | PG | Washington Wizards (38-44) |6’3” | 194 lbs | Age: 23 | Slovenia |2009 Draft | Round: 1 |Pick: 19 |Position Rank: 33rd
Overall Rank: 128th
Role: Sixth Man
Agent: "My client is extremely happy with his role”
09-10 Statistics: 6.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.8 spg, 18.5 mpg, 81 GP, 0 GS
Klemen Pirc started the season off, wondering if he would ever get any court time in his rookie year. As the months passed by, he slowly got more and more minutes. By the end of the season, he is one of only a few of his rookie class who will get a taste of the playoffs. And he has worked hard enough to be able to become a staple of the Washington Wizards’ playing rotation.
The Slovenian PG is now the sixth man, the first player off the Washington bench. “It was a hard time for me but I got to learn from one of the best point guards in the NBA and now I have earned my position with this team,” he says, “I knew it was going to be a challenge coming to the NBA.” Pirc’s career highs of 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in separate games indicate that if given the opportunity, he does have what it takes to be a solid contributor. The most he’s ever played in a game is just 28 minutes. For now he just does what he is told because he realizes he is lucky to even be here.
“One year ago, many doubted that I could make the NBA because I did not do so well in Europe. Even after Euroleague, people did not believe in my ability,” Pirc said. Washington, with the 19th pick, took a gamble on him and Pirc has proven to be one, if not the steal of the 2009 Draft. “I could not be happier with how it worked out,” Washington’s director of personnel stated recently, “The young fella really has stepped up and improved all season.”
The Wizards just made the playoffs and as the eighth seed in the East, it looks unlikely that they will get past the Detroit Pistons. However, Pirc vows that he will try his best to help his new friends Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler. “I want to get to the second round,” Pirc says, “(Fellow countryman) Sasha (Vujacic) plays for Detroit so if my team can beat them, I can laugh at him next Summer when we go to the (FIBA) World Championships.”
NLSC Rookie StatisticsByron Brock 7.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.3 apg
Mark Moore 15.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 4.6 apg
Martti Must 12.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg
Klemen Pirc 6.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.7 apg
Zoilo Resurreccion 10.5 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 8.5 apg
Andrew Watson 18.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.2 apg