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Portland Trail Blazers rookie Brandon Roy is one of the early InsideHoops.com favorites in our first Rookie Rankings of the upcoming season. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner met up with Roy back in August at Rucker Park during the EBC America playoffs for a quick exclusive interview. Roy was playing on a Seattle team that also featured Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford. Here's what Roy had to say:

InsideHoops.com: Let's go back to June. Talk about being drafted. You went lottery, as expected.

Brandon Roy: Yeah, it was exciting. Any time you go into the Draft, in the back of your mind you're thinking there's a chance you could slip; you're nervous about it. But the Portland Trail Blazers stepped up with the trade and said they wanted me with the sixth pick. It was a great feeling. It's close to home. And I think we have a good young team and you can tell they're trying to rebuild, so I'm just happy to be able to be a part of that.

InsideHoops.com: The Blazers went wild on draft night, flipping the squad around, dealing left and right, and they came out great. It was a success for Portland.

Brandon Roy: I thought that was good. LaMarcus Aldridge, they traded for him, and I was like, man, if they could get me too, that would be good for me to start my career with another rookie who's going to be exciting and really good in the future. So I thought it was a crazy night but in the long run I knew they were trying to do something to improve the team. And again, I was just happy that they felt I was one of the guys that could try to turn things around.

InsideHoops.com: Did the Blazers talk to you about anything in particular they wanted you to work on this summer?

Brandon Roy: Not as much, but I know now I'm going to start working out early with the coaches, and I'm working out a lot with Coach DeanNapolis. He's the guy right there in Nate McMillan's ear. Coach Nate is overseas right now, so you want to try to stay close to the coaches... I asked, what are some things you want me to work on and they just said, keep working on your ball-handling, keep working on your shooting, because you're going to have to do them both. You can't just say, do one. So I'm just trying to continue doing what I do, and they said at the end of the day make plays and you'll be fine. So I'm just trying to keep playing my game and keep getting better.

InsideHoops.com: NBA summer league, you rocked it.

Brandon Roy: It was good. I think I averaged like 20 points. It was a fun experience, and at the same time you get a chance to play with NBA rules, and NBA refs. It was a learning process but I think I picked it up pretty good and I'm excited about the season.

InsideHoops.com: And how'd you get involved with this streetball team here?

Brandon Roy: Jamal (Crawford) and Nate (Robinson) are both from New York and they've been asked to play in the Rucker, and they asked me to come and play, so I was like, it would be a great opportunity to play in the Rucker, I couldn't turn it down, so, happy to be here.

This was a quick talk. Check back later today for an interview with Ron Artest, Rod Strickland or Gerald Green. Once October starts, InsideHoops.com interviews will be longer and coming in regularly. Go INSIDE HOOPS every day.