Local stars workout with Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Kellen Dunham, Butler’s former shooting star and Pendleton native, has seen more Pacers games than he can recall. So putting on the Blue and Gold, and even visiting with Larry Bird hold special meaning.
“Coming into this gym, watching as a kid from the windows up there, it’s just an amazing feeling to practice here in my hometown,” Dunham said after a workout with the Pacers.
Dunham was asked what he was feeling on the court Wednesday. Was it nerves? Was it excitement?
“A little bit of both,” Dunham replied. “22 years of basketball comes down to this, so you’re hoping for the best, but (I’m) confident in my shot and confident I can make shots with anybody.”
Confidence under pressure at Hinkle Fieldhouse led to a record-shattering shooting career. It’s a skill he knows the NBA covets.
“I can shoot at a high level with guys like (Stephen) Curry and Klay Thompson, and those guys I feel like are changing the game, hopefully for the better and my strengths,” Dunham said.
He’s all in, and if the NBA doesn’t call, Dunham will play overseas.
In addition to the Pacers, the Boston Celtics are among the five teams Dunham has worked out for recently. If there’s anyone who knows Dunham’s game, it’s current Celtics and former Butler head coach Brad Stevens, and what a dream that would be if Dunham landed in Boston.
Former UIndy guard Jordan Loyd knows getting his name called on draft night is unrealistic. Getting exposure and a possible summer league roster spot is the goal.
“A lot of people don’t know who I am,” said the 6’4″ Loyd. “I transferred from Furman, which is a small D-1 school, so (there are) a lot of questions with me but I play with that edge, and I just want to show everybody that I belong here and that I belong in the NBA as well.”
And a lot of credit goes to a Greyhound staff that means the world to him.
“It was awesome, I love UIndy,” said Loyd. “Coach Gouard and the staff are great people, look out for you, even to this day. I graduated, and they’re still looking out for me so they’ll be lifelong people I can always come to and talk to.”