NEW YORK -- Sebastian Telfair should be at the Madison Square Garden Theater on Thursday night. But the Brooklyn-born baller probably won't show.
New York's most celebrated high school player in years wasn't invited to the 2004 NBA draft. The 18-year-old wasn't asked to go through NBA physicals in Chicago, either, as one of the top 20 players invited to the pre-draft camp. He was, however, invited to play in the pre-draft camp games, but Telfair chose not to break a sweat.
He may or may not show in MSG, although his ASM representation say he's still considering crashing the party. Telfair choosing to shun the ultimate rookie photo op would be baffling. It should be Telfair's night, on his stage, in his city -- no matter where he falls in the first round.
In case you've been in a cave the past year, Telfair is the 5-foot-11 point guard out of Lincoln High (N.Y.) who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and had ESPN2 cameras following his every move at one of his high school games last season. He could have gone to Louisville, but instead, he is trying to become the first high school senior shorter than six feet to make the jump directly to the NBA. (Technically, he won't be the first point guard to make the jump from high school to the NBA, since Shaun Livingston of Peoria Central (Ill.) will go higher.)
Nevertheless, the flashy Telfair, a cousin of the Knicks' Stephon Marbury, has been on the fast track to the NBA draft. So, to miss the actual event doesn't make sense, especially when Telfair announced he was declaring for the NBA draft after he said he signed with adidas at the ESPN Zone in Times Square last month.
The deal, reportedly six-years at $12-15 million and the clincher to end any chances of him following through on his commitment to Louisville, is rooted in his hype and his credibility to sell and market sneakers in New York and nationally. Not capitalizing on the biggest night of his life, so far, deflates the pop of his adidas deal. By not showing up at the Garden, Telfair ends up being just another name on draft night. He'll be seen on Friday at the city in which he is drafted, but the next event will be some random summer league game in July.
So, instead of letting the world see him in another eye-catching white suit (like the one he wore for his draft announcement), Telfair could end up watching the draft in a comfortable sweat suit somewhere in the New York area.
The NBA hasn't told Telfair to stay home. In fact, the league has no problem with a player sitting in the Theater's stands and going up on stage, even if he wasn't on the official guest list. This happens quite often, especially in the second round. And, while the last first-round pick to come out of the seats was Seton Hall's Samuel Dalembert in 2001, it wouldn't hurt Telfair's rep if he were surrounded by well-wishers as the cameras were rolling.
Yet, for whatever reason, a player who is deemed a media creation, is actually ignoring the media. Adidas would like Telfair to be out front with the media and be more public. But Telfair's agents of Andy Miller and his marketing rep Chris Brantley refused repeated attempts to make Telfair available to ESPN and ESPN.com.
Telfair might end up being the seventh or eighth high school player taken in the first round, yet he's the most recognizable name. Forget about Dwight Howard, Livingston or Josh Smith.Telfair has the name and the bloodlines that could be more intriguing.
All of which makes Telfair's draft status one of the main stories Thursday night.
The consensus within NBA sources is that Telfair is a lock to go to Portland. But the question is with which pick? Telfair was in Portland for his second visit Monday. He met with Portland general manager John Nash and owner Paul Allen. Coach Maurice Cheeks has given glowing compliments of Telfair. But sources say there is a debate as to whether the Blazers take him at No. 13 with their first pick. Portland is considered the only team that would take Telfair in the lottery.
If Portland doesn't go with Telfair, it could take Al Jefferson of Prentiss, Miss., Oregon senior Luke Jackson, Nevada junior wing Kirk Snyder or a host of other players who could drop to them at No. 13. The Blazers might still be able to get Telfair at No. 22 -- a pick that is expected to come from New Jersey via draft-day trade -- or at No. 23. Boston wouldn't let Telfair slip past it at No. 24 or 25, keeping him in the first round.
There is also the possibility that Telfair could go between 13 and 22, to a team like Boston at No. 15, Utah (16 or 21) or Denver (20). Telfair worked out for all of those teams, as well as the Clippers, Toronto and Golden State. Telfair, however, is not expected to go in the lottery, which is were L.A. (4), the Raptors (8) and Warriors (11) will be selecting.
Make no mistake, Telfair's representation is concerned, questioning Seattle and Portland as to what they're going to do at 12 and 13. If Seattle doesn't take Jefferson (if he's still on the board), the thinking is the Blazers would take Jefferson at No. 13. If Telfair were to drop from 13 to 22, it's a $2.5 million difference of guaranteed money.
Sources at adidas, however, aren't too concerned about where Telfair goes in the first round because of his reputation in New York and his name recognition. But there is no denying that a late first-round pick doesn't have the same kind of pop for the shoe company. The truth is, it doesn't really matter where he goes in the draft for adidas officials. It's whether he can prove himself immediately on the court and start helping the company's shoes and apparel sales.
But while Telfair continues to get knocked as being too small and not experienced enough to make an immediate impact, teams warmly receive him for his knowledge of the game and fearless attitude.
Telfair didn't shy away from matching up with Saint Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson, the national player of the year in college basketball. The Clippers thought Telfair held his own in the workout with Nelson. The Jazz were stunned when Telfair first questioned them as to why they were bringing him in for a workout when they already had three point guards under contract. Telfair let it be known to the Clippers that he didn't plan on bringing in anyone significant to live with him his rookie season. That response caused the Clippers to look at him as being either really mature, or not having a true grasp on the pressure of being a teenager in the NBA.
But for now, Telfair won't be in front of the cameras. And while he has dreamed about being part of the 2004 draft since he splashed onto the scene at the ABCD camp as a rising high school freshman, Thursday night maybe his only and last chance to steal the spotlight.
If he's at home, all his hype will remain on hold until he makes a splash in the league. And that may not happen for a while.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.