HICKORY, N.C. — The San Antonio Spurs chose Hickory star Rob Dillingham with the eighth overall pick Wednesday night in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, the team traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He played for the University of Kentucky as a freshman last season.
“I just want to thank (parents and coaches) because without them, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Hickory hosted a viewing party to cheer on Dillingham. The Hickory native played for the University of Kentucky as a guard this past year as a freshman.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty was at Union Square where Dillingham learned his dream of playing in the NBA became a reality.
His dad, Donald Dillingham, says getting drafted was a goal Robert set very early for himself.
Donald Dillingham was his coach in grade school. The father says he knew early on that his son was special and doing things that even surprised him at a very young age.
“When I seen Robert at five years old his first YMCA game, Robert hit 16 points, second game 16 points, last game 30 points. He just had something different about him,” Donald said.
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A lot of folks know Robert from his freshman year at the University of Kentucky, where some of his plays as a guard got the attention of folks across the country. He averaged more than 15 points a game and made nearly half of his shots.
“People look at you like you’re crazy when you say something about your kid going to the NBA,” Donald said. “He asked me one day, ‘Daddy am I gonna get a trophy?’ and I just laughed at him.”
But now, he’s got the support of his dad and his whole hometown.
“I am proud of Robert. It is something that I look forward to and I’m so proud of him,” Donald Dillingham said. “I think that he’ll do great things in the NBA. I think people have not seen the real Robert yet and the best is yet to come.”
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